A Japanese live-action Fullmetal Alchemist movie is in the works

Contributed by
Apr 1, 2016

Fans of Hiromu Arakawa’s hit Japanese manga series Fullmetal Alchemist, rejoice! According to a report over at Crunchy Roll, there are currently plans to bring a live-action adaptation of the comics to the big screen for 2017. Yay!!

The Japanese movie is set to be helmed by Fumihiko Sori (Ping Pong, Ashita no Joe) and they've already cast Hey! Say! JUMP (that’s a Japanese idol group) member Ryosuke Yamada (Assassination Classroom) as Edward Elric. The site says the movie will start shooting in the summer of 2016 in Italy (from June to August) and that heavy CGI will be used to re-create the more fantastical elements from the manga series, including Alphonse Elric's full-body armor (see the pic above).

Fullmetal Alchemist is set in a fictional world influenced by the European Industrial Revolution where alchemy is an extremely advanced scientific technique. It follows the Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse, as they search for a philosopher’s stone to restore their bodies after an attempt to bring their dead mother back to life by using alchemy horribly fails. Did I say it horribly fails?

Here’s a detailed description of the story (via Geek Tyrant):

Imagine a world in which Alchemy is not only possible, but used frequently. Alchemy, though, is a science, and with all sciences there are laws that must be followed. Welcome to the anime, Fullmetal Alchemist. The story begins about two brothers, Alphonse and Edward Elric. Ever since they were young they had practiced the science of alchemy. You follow their journey of being alchemists and their quest to regain that which they have lost.

Their father was a well recognized alchemist, which is probably where their knack for it comes from. However, when they were young their father left, and they remained in the care of their mother. One day their mother died, and in their innocence and ignorance, they attempted what was forbidden, human alchemy.

What happened next, they were obviously not prepared for, and in the aftermath the brothers lost more than just their mother. In the freak accident Alphonse loses his body, and in a moment of panic Edward ties his brother's soul to a piece of armor. Edward himself loses an arm and a leg, a costly reminder of what has happend.

The story begins and details the brother's journey to find a alchemy amplifier so that they may return to their normal bodies.

The manga series (which was translated into English) was first serialized in a magazine and published between 2001 and 2010 before being collected into 27 volumes. It was adapted into two anime TV series: Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. There were also two full-length anime movies made: Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa, and Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos. The franchise was so popular (the manga sold about 64 million volumes worldwide), it also gave rise to a couple of video games. 

What do you think? Are you excited to learn there’s a live-action Fullmetal Alchemist movie in the works in Japan?


(via Geek Tyrant)

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