Toon Zone Talkback - Live-Action Robotech Coming Soon to Big Screen

[ShadowGUN]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070907/film_nm/maguire_dc


TORONTO (Hollywood Reporter) - After slipping on a mask for Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire might be slipping into a giant robot for "Robotech."

After a lengthy negotiation, Warner Bros. Pictures has picked up feature rights to "Robotech," a 1980s Japanese cartoon series with giant robots known as mechas. Maguire is eyeing the lead role, and will serve as a producer.
"We are very excited to bring 'Robotech' to the big screen," Maguire said. "There is a rich mythology that will be a great foundation for a sophisticated, smart and entertaining film."
A sprawling sci-fi epic, "Robotech" takes place at a time when Earth has developed giant robots from the technology on an alien spacecraft that crashed on a South Pacific isle. Mankind is forced to use the technology to fend off three successive waves of alien invasions. The first invasion concerns a battle with a race of giant warriors who seek to retrieve their flagship's energy source known as "protoculture," and the planet's survival ends up in the hands of two young pilots.
The $686 million worldwide box office success of "Transformers" has inspired other studios to assemble giant robot movies. Last month, Fox-based Regency picked up 1980s Japanese anime series "Voltron."
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Sweet. Now I wonder if they will use a Jpop singer to play the role of Lynn Minmay in the movie?

[Andrew T. Hingson]

Spider-Man is eyehing the role of Rick Hunter? Hmm... I think maybe a younger actor should play Rick but McGuire certainly is talented so he'd be fine.

Man oh man Tranformers breakout success is gonna bring all kinds of robot oriented movies out of the wood work. And anime related ones for that matter.

[ShadowGUN]

Man oh man Tranformers breakout success is gonna bring all kinds of robot oriented movies out of the wood work. And anime related ones for that matter.
Hopefully The Big O will be next. The anime just screams big screen treatment.

[rubberchicken]

I bet the next one is G-Savior 2 :gir:

[GWOtaku]

Awesome, now this is something I think I'll want to see.

[Ducard]

Hey, wow. Initially I was going to skip the anime Robotech movie screening (http://www.funimationfilms.com/)that's happening soon since I haven't seen much of the show, but I might have to check that out now.

(First DBZ, now Robotech, both properties related to Funimation somehow. Come on Hollywood, you know you want to do Fullmetal Alchemist next...)

[EscaflownePilot]

Another Hollywood adaptation that will likely ruin a childhood favorite? Forgive me for not being the least bit excited.

The ONLY good that comes from this sudden influx of giant robots in Hollywood is that it will hopefully open the floodgates to more of the animated stuff coming over here and airing on TV, and maybe... just maybe... actually doing well for a change (I'm looking at you, Gundam).

[Zeonic Freak]

You know, a Robotech LA film would be rather interesting.

If kinda done like G Saivor (only with out what was in the G Saivor movie, bad acting, silly plot, other things that just made it bad), then it has a great amount of potential.

As for a Gundam Movie, better give it to the asians to work on it, god only know what kinda plot or story we would put in ours. And if there was a live action Gundam, you might as well base it off the original series, like the MSG movies, but just in live action...

[GWOtaku]

posted by EscaflownePilot:

Another Hollywood adaptation that will likely ruin a childhood favorite? Forgive me for not being the least bit excited.

Feh, at least wait for some actual details before you knock it.

[Sandoz]

Tobey Maguire as Rick Hunter? Not a bad casting choice. I'm wary of how they'll handle the "pop music saves the galaxy" plotline. We need another Mari Iijima, not another Reba West.

[Dark Fact]

Making an official live action movie out of a three anime splice job? I don't know whether I should be disgusted or flabbergasted.

[Movie06]

Wow, really? Sweet, this movie might rock and Toby McGuire as Rick Hunter? Not bad, he's cool.

[Matt Hazuda]

This is the talkback thread for Live-Action Robotech Coming Soon to Big Screen (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=18744)

[Movie06]

But I' am curious about two things, who's directing and if WB neogiated with Carl Macek, Harmony Gold and ADV Films.

[FlyByNite77]

Tobey Maguire as Rick Hunter? Not a bad casting choice. I'm wary of how they'll handle the "pop music saves the galaxy" plotline. We need another Mari Iijima, not another Reba West.

I think he's a little old to be Rick Hunter, but Rick is for some reason older in Robotech then in Macross. I guess they felt they couldn't have a 16 year old kid killing alien enemies in the US version. Still will have to age the character even more to fit Tobey.

[Matt Hazuda]

But I' am curious about two things, who's directing and if WB neogiated with Carl Macek, Harmony Gold and ADV Films.No director, no to ADV, but from the article
Frank Agrama of rights-holder Harmony Gold will exec produce; Jason Netter will serve in a producer capacity.

[Zam]

So an EVA announcement is not far away uh?

[macattack]

Now this is something I'm looking forward to. I had a feeling that Transformers' success would mean an influx of mecha in Hollywood. I hope it'll be a fun movie.

[Movie06]

Now this is something I'm looking forward to. I had a feeling that Transformers' success would mean an influx of mecha in Hollywood. I hope it'll be a fun movie.

Me too, I knew Hollywood was going to make giant robots when Transformers became a success.

[FlyByNite77]

Now this is something I'm looking forward to. I had a feeling that Transformers' success would mean an influx of mecha in Hollywood. I hope it'll be a fun movie.

Yea, that's what I've been saying since the Transformers movie went into production that once it made a ton of movie you'd see a lot of similar stuff getting made.

Voltron is in production with a script and I'm pretty sure it'll get made, I was surprised by Robotech simply because of the potential legal situation that could arise because there's always fights over products.

I think they might be able to make the movie if it follows the Robotech storyline, but might not be able to sell the toys.

Evangelion will probably get made at some point.

[Sandoz]

I think he's a little old to be Rick Hunter, but Rick is for some reason older in Robotech then in Macross. I guess they felt they couldn't have a 16 year old kid killing alien enemies in the US version. Still will have to age the character even more to fit Tobey.
Maguire can still play pretty young. Not teenager young, but young enough to be convincing as a wet-behind-the-ears n00b.

I'm really curious to see who gets cast as Lisa.

[Movie06]

If Robotech makes alot of money, then it means good news for the live action Evangelion movie and ADV Films as well. But I wonder if a studio like Lionsgate would want to distribute a film like Evangelion.

[macattack]

Evangelion has a lot of difficult concepts that may not go that well with studios. Not to mention that the sheer brutality depicted in the franchise would most likely net it an 'R' rating, which studios kinda veer away from for big-budget actioners.

[Zeonic Freak]

Maguire can still play pretty young. Not teenager young, but young enough to be convincing as a wet-behind-the-ears n00b.

I'm really curious to see who gets cast as Lisa.

Mmm, im thinking of Scarlett Johanson or maybe Kira Knightly (Shes more of a second pic), or better yet Megan Fox with blond hair? I mean, Lisa was about the same age or a tad older than Rick, and since the three acresses fit the age of Lisa and looks as well, it could work.

I guess to play the Zentrati roles could be John Travolta (He played the alien in Battlefield Earth), Patrick Walburton and not sure who else, hey Dwane "The Rock" Johnson...

[Movie06]

Evangelion has a lot of difficult concepts that may not go that well with studios. Not to mention that the sheer brutality depicted in the franchise would most likely net it an 'R' rating, which studios kinda veer away from for big-budget actioners.

But that never stopped The Matrix, 300 and Sin City.

[Sandoz]

Mmm, im thinking of Scarlett Johanson or maybe Kira Knightly (Shes more of a second pic), or better yet Megan Fox with blond hair? I mean, Lisa was about the same age or a tad older than Rick, and since the three acresses fit the age of Lisa and looks as well, it could work.
Lisa was a few years older than Rick (and nearly ten years older than Minmay) so whoever they cast should be able to convey that sense of maturity that made her such a good foil for Minmay.

[Karl Olson]

(mirrored on the Entertainment Board as this is a live action, N. American film project.)

[Beat]

Depending on how much of Macross and how little of Southern Cross and Mospeda is used, this could either be a lot of fun (Pop music saves the world from giant aliens!) or an utter disaster on the level of Battlefield Earth.

And who among Hollywood is going to play Max and Miryia?

[Zeonic Freak]

Lisa was a few years older than Rick (and nearly ten years older than Minmay) so whoever they cast should be able to convey that sense of maturity that made her such a good foil for Minmay.

If that were the case, ill kick Knightly outta my list.

I was picking them for the outer apperance, but im sure both can pull of Lisa charactor very well. But hey, im just some shmuck on a internet thread naming names, dunno if the movie people will see what i put down...

[Conan-san]

Easyest way to solve the problem, just take the script to "Do you remeber love" and use that.

[FlyByNite77]

Easyest way to solve the problem, just take the script to "Do you remeber love" and use that.

Works for me ;) but with the licensing situation what it is...

Wonder who will play Miriya and she damn well better be in this movie (well depending on how much of the story is in the first one maybe not, but damn well better be in the plans) heh

[Beat]

Easyest way to solve the problem, just take the script to "Do you remeber love" and use that.

I loved DYRL but that movie had plotholes big enough to drive the SDF-1 straight through.

I will say however, that no song any artist in the entire US makes will be able to match Ai Oboete imasuka (Do you remember love). I just don't see it happening.

The ending of DYRL, with the titular track playing over the storming of Boldoza's flagship is quite possibly one of the best moments in all of animation, peroid.

[Gokou Ruri]

I will say however, that no song any artist in the entire US makes will be able to match Ai Oboete imasuka (Do you remember love). I just don't see it happening. Yeah, that's not biased in the least bit.

[Beat]

Yeah, that's not biased in the least bit.

Ten minutes later, and adding in some European artists...I still can't really think of anyone. Maybe I am biased, but that scene was a rather incredible blend of music and visuals. I don't see them pulling it off in live action with ANY singer.

[Zam]

And what type of music they´ll use now, to confuse the sentrady?

[SpaceCowboy]

I don't know how they're going to pull this off.

[wonderfly]

I, for one, would rather they did a live-action TV series, rather than a movie. It'd make for a great replacement for Battlestar Galactica on the Sci-Fi channel.

C'mon, the whole "gotta cram an entire television series into 2 hours of screen time" always hurts a franchise, (that's my major complaint with the live action Transformers movie).

[Kurokawa41]

Hopefully The Big O will be next. The anime just screams big screen treatment.

I don't usually like the idea of adapting anime into live-action, but that actually sounds good.

[FlyByNite77]

I, for one, would rather they did a live-action TV series, rather than a movie. It'd make for a great replacement for Battlestar Galactica on the Sci-Fi channel.

C'mon, the whole "gotta cram an entire television series into 2 hours of screen time" always hurts a franchise, (that's my major complaint with the live action Transformers movie).

I don't think Sci-Fi channel could afford it. BSG has even cut back on the space-based stuff and switched to a cheaper special effects studio the past season. Robotech would require a lot more space-based action then BSG.

I think the Macross saga (Which i pray to God is all we're talking about with Robotech that gets adapted) can be done in the movies as shown in DYRL, and if its split into 3 movies then that makes it even better since it'll give more time. Some of the transitions in DYRL were a bit rushed.

I hope they're not thinking 3 movies like Movie 1: Macross, Movie 2: Southern Cross, Movie 3: Mospeada...


BTW, if you were looking at an anime Sci-Fi channel could probably afford and turn into a series I think Death Note would work. I know at one time they were looking into a Witch Hunter Robin series, but it never got made. Gantz would be an awesome movie/tv series but it would need to be on HBO..

Gantz on HBO is my dream among anime to live action dreams... :anime:

[zimbach]

Ten minutes later, and adding in some European artists...I still can't really think of anyone. Maybe I am biased, but that scene was a rather incredible blend of music and visuals. I don't see them pulling it off in live action with ANY singer.

Mari Iijima lives in Southern California now (for more than a decade in fact) and as far as I know is available should the new project be offered to her. She did perform as Minmay in the AnimEigo Macross English dub recently. Granted, she is much older now than when she first did the character, but you wouldn't know it by looking at her.

[Sandoz]

Basing the movie on Macross: Do You Remember Love? would be ideal (it's one of--if not the--best "anime show retold as a feature film" adaptations) but with all the legal issues involved...ehh. I really hope they don't throw all three sagas into a blender and hit the mix button (though some anti-Robotech fans would probably find it fitting).


Mari Iijima lives in Southern California now (for more than a decade in fact) and as far as I know is available should the new project be offered to her. She did perform as Minmay in the AnimEigo Macross English dub recently. Granted, she is much older now than when she first did the character, but you wouldn't know it by looking at her.
Mari Iijima's involvement would be nice, but it's unlikely. She's not associated with the Robotech version of Macross and Hollywood's much more likely to hire a rising pop star. I hope they import a singer from Asia rather than re-imagine Minmay as a blonde, American pop tart.

[Chris Wood]

Awesome news. No idea how they'll pull it off, but awesome news.

[Gokou Ruri]

C'mon, the whole "gotta cram an entire television series into 2 hours of screen time" always hurts a franchise, (that's my major complaint with the live action Transformers movie). The Transformers movie wasn't really based on any specific series, though. It was a stand-alone movie. Though we're still not sure how this adaption will work out so who knows.


Mari Iijima's involvement would be nice, but it's unlikely. She's not associated with the Robotech version of Macross and Hollywood's much more likely to hire a rising pop star. I hope they import a singer from Asia rather than re-imagine Minmay as a blonde, American pop tart. Eh, casting an Asian as Lynn wouldn't really be fitting because she doesn't look Asian at all.

[Chris Wood]

That's debatable. She looks Asian by anime standards of the time.

[Sandoz]

That's debatable. She looks Asian by anime standards of the time.
And Minmay was still written as being Chinese-Japanese even after all the other characters were Americanized. It's a part of her character.

[AstroNerdBoy]

>After a lengthy negotiation, Warner Bros. Pictures has picked up feature rights to "Robotech," a 1980s Japanese cartoon series with giant robots known as mechas.

Uh, in Japan, there's no such thing as "Robotech" is there? Had they said, "a 1980's Americanized version of the original Japanese cartoon series with giant robots (known as mechas) called 'SDF Macross'," well then they'd have a factual statement.

[Paul_Cousins]

The $686 million worldwide box office success of "Transformers" has inspired other studios to assemble giant robot movies. Last month, Fox-based Regency picked up 1980s Japanese anime series "Voltron." (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070907/film_nm/maguire_dc) Yes! :cool: And given the number of different mecha series there are, I look forward to this happening.

I pray someday to see a live action Megas XLR and Big O movies on the big screen. :D

Here it is rumor that Tobey Maguire is eye a possible role in the movie, given the talent he has shown in playing Peter Parker/Spiderman in the Spiderman series, I think he could pull off playing a mech pilot: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotech#Robotech_Live_Action_Movie_Rights

[Beat]

He'd make a much better Roy than Hikaru/Rick. At this point, the "Still somewhat young but grizzled jet jockey" would fit more than "the barely out of high school stunt show pilot turned lead soldier".

There are so many ways this movie could go wrong. Trying to squeeze in the other unrelated series, or insisting on some of the Robotech plot changes (First Civilization, or Protoculture, are now magic batteries!) would utterly kill the movie where it stood.

Yes, it might annoy some hardcore Robotech fanboys, (all three of you) but while the movie will be called Robotech, the plot should be an adaptation of Superdimensional Fortress Macross. At least if they want it to be watchable.

And for the love of all that's holy, don't cast Aviril Lavenge or the like as Minemi. PLEASE.

I'm reading they want to do more than one movie. Personally, I'd make it a double-feature.

Part 1 would end with the Planet of the Apes style "THEY BLEW IT UP!" discovery in the middle of DYRL when they find out the Zentraedi have obliterated Earth

[Sandoz]

He'd make a much better Roy than Hikaru/Rick. At this point, the "Still somewhat young but grizzled jet jockey" would fit more than "the barely out of high school stunt show pilot turned lead soldier".
Except that there's nothing remotely grizzled about Tobey Maguire. Roy needs to be someone older and craggier.

[FlyByNite77]

Except that there's nothing remotely grizzled about Tobey Maguire. Roy needs to be someone older and craggier.

My thoughts as well. I think Tobey personality and appearance wise is best suited as Max then any other character in the story, but he'll probably be Rick since he's the big star.

[Beat]

How old is Max in Robotech? In Macross, at times he came off even younger than Hikaru/Rick.

[FlyByNite77]

How old is Max in Robotech? In Macross, at times he came off even younger than Hikaru/Rick.

Max and Hikaru are the same age, they're 16 in the original Japanese and then age during the course of the show.

For Robotech they're both changed to like 18/19 at their first appearance.

Like I said I see Tobey as being too old for Rick and I don't think he appearance or personality wise really fits the character perfectly so if they were going to age a character I'd rather they do it with Max and then have Tobey play him because I think Tobey fits the image of Max more.

Of course if they plan on 3 movies of the Macross storyline and I pray to god this isn't Movie 1: Macross, Movie 2:Southern Cross, Movie 3: Mospeada.

If it's all the Macross storyline then we probably wouldn't see Max until the 2nd movie.

[Chris Wood]

If they can even legally do the Macross storyline. Some posters on ANN suggested that legal complications forced the recent Robotech DTV to avoid Macross material.

[Sandoz]

If they can even legally do the Macross storyline. Some posters on ANN suggested that legal complications forced the recent Robotech DTV to avoid Macross material.
That's an unfortunate possibility. Though if they can't use the Macross storyline (at least more than including the name "Rick Hunter") they might as well not even bother with a Robotech movie. Southern Cross and Mospeada have their fans, but the Macross storyline is what most people remember fondly.

[Chris Wood]

I don't care much for Southern Cross, but I'd be happy with either Macross or Mospeada. They're both great.

[lordsmurf]

Some things have to stay animated.

As much fun as Transformers was, I won't watch it again. It wasn't that memorable, it wasn't that good. Decent yes, worth watching once yes. But that's about it. Let's be honest here. It wasn't some amazing film, it was just a level above ho-hum, and ranks right alongside Steven Segal, John-Claude Van Damme and late-career Arnold Schwarzenegger action movies.

On the other hand, the DVD player laser may someday burn holes in my Rhino TF G1 DVDs. Same for Robotech DVDs.

I'd rather hear an update on the next installment of Shadow Chronicles.

I'm actually quite floored at how Hollywood just recycles old 70s-80s television into movies these days, often butchering the crap out of them in the process. I'm nostalgic, yes, but not enough to watch re-imagined versions that have little in common with the show I once was so fond of.

As a toy collector too, I used to look forward to these types of movies, in the hopes that cool toys (especially re-issues) would happen too. Aside from a few General Lee's on the shelf in Wal-Mart, this never panned out. Transformers, for example, resulted in little more than crappy plastic Chinese junk that looks sad when compared to the 1980s toys. If a Robotech live-action movie doesn't result in transformable Skull fighters and SDF-1's lining the shelf of the nearest toy store, and Shadow Chronicles getting a full-time series green light, I'd just assume they not even bother making the movie.

[Movie06]

But you know, if the movie becomes a success, it might get more people into Robotech and Anime and Manga might become more popular than ever.

[EscaflownePilot]

But you know, if the movie becomes a success, it might get more people into Robotech and Anime and Manga might become more popular than ever.Not likely. Same as with all the comic book movies we've been getting - no doubt a small number of people who saw Spider-man or X-Men decided to check out the comics as a result, but most don't really care. In fact, most "average Joes" I know of that enjoyed those movies honestly thought that most of the grittier aspects of each movie (like, for example, Peter Parker's conflict with being with Mary Jane and at the same time protecting her from Spider-man's world) were added into the movie version to make it more adult-appealing.

We'll likely see the same thing here - 99% of the movie goers will be snobs who otherwise wouldn't give the story a chance just because it's animated, yet will enjoy the movie and conclude that having a bunch of hack Hollywood writers and famous faces were just what was needed to make the story acceptable to a non cartoon watching audience.

[Movie06]

Not likely. Same as with all the comic book movies we've been getting - no doubt a small number of people who saw Spider-man or X-Men decided to check out the comics as a result, but most don't really care. In fact, most "average Joes" I know of that enjoyed those movies honestly thought that most of the grittier aspects of each movie (like, for example, Peter Parker's conflict with being with Mary Jane and at the same time protecting her from Spider-man's world) were added into the movie version to make it more adult-appealing.

We'll likely see the same thing here - 99% of the movie goers will be snobs who otherwise wouldn't give the story a chance just because it's animated, yet will enjoy the movie and conclude that having a bunch of hack Hollywood writers and famous faces were just what was needed to make the story acceptable to a non cartoon watching audience.

Trust me, people would be going to Robotech stuff, I mean Transformers gained new fans thanks to the live action film and Robotech might do the same, bring in new fans.