Zac Efron to Star in Full Metal Panic Movie?

Posted by Sean on April 7th, 2009 Filed under: Action, Rumours, Sci-fi
Source: Hollywood Reporter

fullmetalpanic

Looks like the negative buzz surrounding Dragonball hasn’t stopped anyone from optioning yet another anime series for the big screen. This time it is Mandalay Pictures (Sleepy Hollow, The Jacket) who have negotiated the theatrical rights to Full Metal Panic!, a novel, manga and anime series about an anti-terrorist squad entrusted with the protection of a teenage girl who holds mystical powers. Yes, it has the requisite giant robot action, but there is also comedy and romance in a high school setting, which might explain why Zac Efron is currently attached as a potential star.

Considering how many anime properties have been optioned as of late, I’m starting to wonder how many will actually end up getting made. It seems like studios are just acquiring the rights and then sitting on them while they wait to see how other adaptations are received. So far the track record hasn’t been great. Are there any Full Metal Panic fans out there? Do you think this can work as a live action movie, and is Zac Efron the right man for the role?

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Comments (133)

It’s a tough call. I just finished watching the sequel series. This show has lots of high school comedy crap but it’s juxtaposed with military action and drama in a way that is kind of different. I don’t know it could be cool.
Posted by Ian on April 7th, 2009
The movie will suck, and whoever say it will work is because he/she never has watched any full metal panic episode, the movie will suck even more with that fool of sack or w/e, Sagara Sousuke is a cold blooded boy not like this f***ing guy that only moves like a cheerleader. The movie will suck like always that try to make a movie from an anime of videogame (example dragon ball, mortal combat, street fighter, etc).
Posted by Vlad on April 7th, 2009
I look forward to the day Efron actually is casted as the role of Light in a Western adaptation of Death Note. Much lulz would be had.

Who knows, at least there won’t be any singing in FMP. Probably.
Posted by Mei on April 7th, 2009
Always thought the guy looked the the generic anime hero come to life. Not sure what the deal is with picking Full Metal Panic before the colossal amount of greater mech animes though…
Posted by Ryan M. on April 8th, 2009
HELL NO!
PLEASE NO!
Zac Efron must NOT do ANIME. NO!
Posted by taylor on April 8th, 2009
Full Metal Panic was the very first anime that i bought, and so i’m very attached to the series. I have no interest in Zack because he has not been in any top movie’s yet (or any movies for that matter). I really dont call the High School Musical things movies. The only movie he is really working on is “17 Again” which does not interest me in the least, but then again they have not made it official to anything yet so i guess we just wait and see.

As for the rest of the movie goes with the giant Mech Robots, they could do that I mean look what they did with Transformers, It could happen. There still the question of who they could get to play the other characters like Kaname, Tesse, and every one else.

i just hope if they go for it They better take there time and get it right.
Posted by Clayton L. on April 8th, 2009
I love Full Metal Panic!!!

If Zac Efron is in it…. It’ll be rubbish…

I mean I’ll give him a chance in “17 again” to redeem himself of High school musical….

But not one of my FAVE animes!!!
Posted by Bethany on April 8th, 2009
OOwwww NOOOOO Zac Efron NOOO!!!
Please find another boy….
HeÂ´ll destroy the movie… and I love Full Metal Panic!!!
Posted by Baby on April 8th, 2009
Be honestly,the main actor better not to be Sosuke but can be any other American belong in different army in FMP World. Its not wise to choose American to be a Japanese boy’s role. Fans will disappoint and nobody like to see this kinds of stupid arranagement. This Movie will Failed. And worse is this movie will damage the original Anime’s reputation. Just like DragonBall Evolution.
Posted by Vincent on April 9th, 2009
well im not very happy just wanna scare the sh!t out of this zac efaron dude so he does not do the part of Sosuke i wish they get the original voices and say zac has the evil bad guy role that only has 2 lines if he is as bad as every1 says he is and yes that dragonball movie i did not get past 7 mins befor havin enough
Posted by Ryan on April 10th, 2009
I heard Zac Efron just wants to take on this role so that he can show off his muscles and play an assertive role. If he stars in this, all the Zac Efron fangirls are going to be watching this. They probably won’t even care what happens in the plot as long as they get to see him in uniform. I’d rather have anyone but him play this role. Anime fans won’t watch this and the Zac Efron fangirls won’t even care what happens. Full Metal Panic will be ruined! I hope someone like Shia LaBeouf gets the role. It seems he’s been doing well in movies based off anime and mechas. (Ex Transformers) He also looks like Sousuke a little bit.
Posted by Rindalin on April 11th, 2009
This is going to suck so bad…. Not to mention a anime that few little people know about. But they are going to make it a big thing like Twilight…
And all of those little popular bitches at school are going to be acting like Kaname.
THIS MOVIE WILL NOT GO ON!!!! I will make sure of it…
Posted by Sarah B. on April 12th, 2009
First Dragon Ball gets utterly defecated all over by piss-poor Hollywood producers, then I hear that M. Night Shyamalan (sp?) is going to ruin Avatar by making a live-action movie out of THAT, and now Zac Efron is going to be a voice actor for an anime movie?

Sorry if I get a little offensive, but giving that metrosexual any kind of serious role is probably the worst decision that has EVER been made. Actually, it would be the THIRD worst… Raping the Dragon Ball franchise with that abomination, Dragonball Evolution, is the worst thus far. M. Night Shyamalan might yet make his Avatar movie even WORSE. Zac Efron had BETTER have more skills than breaking out into a singing frenzy at the most inopportune times possible. If he doesn’t do that, this movie may turn out to not be THAT bad.

Note: In before M. Night Shyamalan or someone who works for him somehow ends up reading this and decides to make a character in one of his movies and calls him some variation of the name “The Unpromised One” and kills him in said movie while playing a character that is the second coming of Buddha or whatever god he believes in. Oh wait… he already killed one of his critics in one of his movies… oh shi… now he’s REALLY going to do it, LOL.
Posted by The Unpromised One on April 13th, 2009
According to the British magazine Empire, he is supposedly taking a lead role in a LIVE-ACTION film. No animation movie. I don’t believe that he’ll fit the role of Sousuke Sagara. Looks can be deceiving, fools!!! Is Hollywood too blind when it comes to “money talks”? Get real! If that happens in 2012 with Zac as the lead role, I’m sticking with my original animated series from Gonzo, Kyoto Animation and ADV Films!! All 3 seasons! GIVE US #4!!!!!
Posted by Dan Cee on April 13th, 2009
I liked the anime, but i’m not sure it would make a good live action movie. I think animes can get away with a lot more than live action adaptations. On the one hand, you could have a pretty intense action film with the whole anti-terrorist military plot, but on the other hand, you also have to include the whole highschool/cheesy teenage romance aspect that in itself could be a bizarre romantic comedy. Mixing the two within a two hour time limit?…hmmm…I just don’t know. Highschool students (led by Zac Efron) fighting terroists? It sounds like some sort of Disney channel flick gone wrong.
Posted by Ellen on April 14th, 2009
zack efron as sagara sousuke?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Posted by L on April 17th, 2009
Since a lot of the humour of the show derives from Souske using guns & explosives in high school .Anyone
see a problem with this .
He could do it I suppose only seen him in the horror
that is high school musical .
Posted by woody on April 17th, 2009
Jeez, whats with all you losers complaining about Zac Efron being in the Death Note movie, ditto; HE LOOKS LIKE LIGHT!!! I have faith that he can pull that off, i also think that he can pull of the Full Metal Panic movie (even though i have never seen the show). If it invilves high school (Death Note has this too) then Zac’s got it covered. Trust me.
Posted by Sanguinius on April 17th, 2009
HOLLYWOOOD!!!!!!!!!!!11

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

YOU WILL RUIN US ANIME FANS !!!!!!
every japan make you have taken has not even compared to the origianal on the rector scale

just take dragonball for example! The japanese should of created a dragon ball … THEN THE AMERICANS COULD OF RUINED IT … atleast then there would be one good version we could alway go back too … there is only one version of dragonball and its ruined us!!!!!!!

Zac Efron if he played sousuke or kira in that matter we would be in bed crying.. knowing him he’ll start saying some thing like i am kira i got the death note and start braking out in song GAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHH bad idea… though i do think that it would help the americans get alot of money considering zac efrons rise to fame.. alot of fan girls would hang out to see it …. but anime fans such as myself would be comminting suicide

yours truley Anonyamus
Posted by anonyamus on April 19th, 2009
yes i agree besides i could not imagane that metrosexual guy playing a mass murderer kira and just because you found someone that looks like light a bit you have a billoin othersto play like L and so on. dude if your gonna ruin somthing ruin marvel (no effeince to those comic book guy types)
Posted by anonyamus 2 on April 19th, 2009
yes i agree besides i could not imagane that metrosexual guy playing a mass murderer kira and just because you found someone that looks like light a bit you have a billoin othersto play like L and so on. dude if your gonna ruin somthing ruin marvel (no effeince to those comic book guy types)

i will pesonaly make sure that they dont make this movie.

whats next they gonna get that sleeze miley sirus playing misa NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

i would not mind seeing him die of a heart attack at the end.

not only that whos gonna play L

there probly gonna get some random hollywood barsted slop on and som jeanes a hite shirt give a lollipop and call him L……..

just stick to high skool musical zac if you attempt to play light i will tell evryone your secret…….

if some producer is reading this i pray you take what us fans say…

but i do disagree with the comment above if americans want zac fan girls why dont they just make another corny craped up movie like hskm

and you dont want zac fan girls attraacted to a cult horror WTF……….
Posted by L on April 19th, 2009
Zac Efron is definitely on top of his game right now
Posted by nomad on April 20th, 2009
F U C K you Zac Effron and F U C K High School musical .

This motherfuc.ker is overrated !
Posted by Athelfirth on April 22nd, 2009
Let’s start a petition in order he doesn’t make the movie…
Posted by hisae on April 27th, 2009
I have seen the entire series of full metal panic and i don’t think this will be a good live action movie.

The anime is awesome so why ruin a good anime?
Posted by FMPfan on May 4th, 2009
You guys suck. This would totally work for a movie, in fact it kind of already did. Ever see The Pacifier? I’m a huge FMP fan, and if they even just stuck with the first mission, it would be a great movie. And since Zac efron hasnt been in many roles other than dreamy teen idol, idk if he can pull off Sergeant Sagara, but hell he’s hot
Posted by Marisa on May 4th, 2009
Besides, if they made a GOOD anime movie, I’d love to tell all those people who ever made fun of me liking anime to SUCK IT!
Posted by Marisa on May 4th, 2009
whaT the hell!!!!they dont wanna give us full metal panic season 4(so ive heard)but they wanna give us a movie with a panzie gay fucka whos in High skwl musical,sousuke looks 50000000000000 X Bette than that piece of shit ANY way.they just gna ruin it,they should rather start releasing new anime episodes and continue with da novels.
Posted by *GODLIKE PERSON* on May 6th, 2009
STOP THIS HOLLYWOOD! STOP DESTROYING ANIME! AND I SWEAR IF FRICKEN TROY WOTSHISFACE PLAYS SOUSUKE UR GONNA RUIN MY FAVORITE SHOW! i mean come on. 1st dragon ball ….i mean GOKU GOES TO HIGH SCHOOL? uhhh sure….and then going to video games….Street Fighter? I’m not even gonna ask. And now another one of the best animes out there. Why are they doing this?
Posted by Roop on May 6th, 2009
I love Full Metal Panic and I don’t want to see it get ruined by Zac Efron. Full Metal Panic is perfect the way it was left that’s what makes it so good.
Posted by (: on May 7th, 2009
Damn it! They better just make a 4th season of the FMP instead of making some crap like that Live Action thing with Zac Efron for God’s sake! What on earth had gotten on their minds to make such blunders! It will be the worst mistake Hollywood will commit! x(
Posted by Raphael on May 9th, 2009
Umm…NO! to me, i think Zac knows nothing about FMP…and yet, he doesnt fit the role as Sousuke. Look at him..he’s white or w/e and Sousuke is japanese! yeah what now, are they going to change Sousuke’s name?! that is just F-up. -.- omg…destroying a beautiful anime huh? im not going to watch it… well probably to make fun of idk. I hope they’re just joking around with us or something >.<
Posted by Latana Xiong on May 14th, 2009
DAM THIS TO F***ING HELL IF ZACH EFRON TOUCHES ANYTHING LIKE THIS WITH HIS PANSY CHEERLEADING FACE I WILL F***ING JUMP OF A DAM CLIFF. i mean since when does he look like he MIGHT DAM KILL U FOR NO REASON
Posted by Richo on May 16th, 2009
HELL NO!!! i mean zack!?!?! cant be serious i mean i would rather act than him! i look more like sasuke, and i am a huge fan of FMP. i even got same skin tone lol well anyways no way get someone else to this anime and not make it all quick like that dragonball z movie wich i didnt get….
Posted by danny marin on May 17th, 2009
lol they should pick an actor with brown skin like sosuke in my opinion
Posted by danny marin on May 17th, 2009
Shouldnt he be Japanese? And I dont think the mothers of Zac Efron fans would be really happy about him shooting everybody! Plus, the character never smile and doesnt seduce. How Zac suppose to play that? He has one character and its the high school musical one.

Have you heard anything about whos gonna be Kaname?
Posted by Frenchi on May 17th, 2009
They should just make another anime series DAMN IT!!
And use the original voices, if somebody else did the voices it wouldn’t be the same
Posted by (: on May 20th, 2009
HELL NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
THE MOVIE WILL SUCK BECAUSE IT REQUIRES SOOOOOO MUCH TECHNOLOGY, FIGHTS AND MILITARY STUFF, IT WILL NEVER WORK ON SCREEN UNLESS ITS A REAL MILITARY FIGHT MOVIE!!!!!!!!! IT SHOULD BE MADE WITH PEOPLE FROM ACTION MOVIES!!! NOT THIS BRAT! WITH HIM THE WHOLE THING WILL BE A KIDS STORY
SO: I PROTEST!!!!!!!
Posted by Shotgun on May 24th, 2009
they need to SEARCH for the best person to play the characters in this anime. They can’t and I hope they dont just give the role to famous brats like Zac Efron. If someone plays it better, then give the role to him/her. I hope they make this movie really good because i love the anime series a lot. they need to put effort into this movie because it could turn out amazing if they tried. Look at the Batman movies, they’re were some really shitty Batman movies but then they actually put effort into it and made it badass. idk i hope for the best because if this one isn’t viewed a lot in theatres then there will be no remakes because movie companies will see no point in making others if it will bomb.
Posted by Pshooter on May 26th, 2009
I am a die hard fan of FMP and i really don’t think it will work as live action. You will end up with a power ranger type action for The Arm Slaves and are you kiding me with ZAc Efron? I’ll give it to you that he did pretty good in 17 again, but if he so much as touches Sagara i’m gona freak out. Z.E. doesn’t have the demeaner(horrible speller, sorry) or the harsh look that Sagara should have. He doesn’t look like a kid who has spent his hole life on the battle feild. He looks like he’s spent his hole life in Starbucks. As much of a fan as i am and OMG would i love to see FMP on the big screen i’m gonna have to say thumbs down so far
Posted by sam Moshae on May 27th, 2009
I’m a fan of FMP and I think making a film of it is great. BUT Zac Efron is not the guy for the role. Just imagine him as Souske. It doesn’t fit. And maybe the movie should just be an anime because its so hard to pull off a real life one. I know how the special effects will be good but the actors and actresses shouldn’t be just famous people, they should be good in the role and relate to the characters. They want Zac Efron because he’s famous cause of the High School Musical. But the chemistry and the action parts won’t be good. So please be careful on making the movie.
Posted by Jaina on May 30th, 2009
I love Full Metal Panic!!
Please don’t ruin it!!
My Tips:
1.Think carefully on making the movie or else its nothing.
2.It could just be an anime because its easier and it will be a hit.
3.Real life movie will be hard. Think carefully when choosing the actors and actresses.
4.View comments/opinions on how the movie would look like.
5.Choose what to put in it. Don’t end the whole thing in a flash. Leave some questions for the next seasons to come if there is gonna be one.
6.Watch all the series of FMP!!
Posted by Jaina on May 30th, 2009
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t let Zac Efron be in anime Movies!!!(Not in leading Roles)
Please people don’t ruin good animes, for the sake of us fans!!
Posted by Jaina on May 30th, 2009
I agree there should be more series than a real life movie! The voices should be the same too. It would be weird if it was different.
Posted by Jaina on May 30th, 2009
No way in hell! He would fit in it as a fan of te anime and manga i say hell no! I mean he doesent even remind Sousuke one bit. ^^
Posted by Kunkku on May 30th, 2009
FMP can be interesting film, Zac could play in this film but not as Sagara Sousuke, I think he would be quite good as Kurz Weber.
Posted by Smolky on June 2nd, 2009
I would love to see Full Metal Panic in the big screen. I would love another installment in the anime, too, but a movie is the next best thing. And as FMP deals with military and high school (things that appear in a lot of American movies, so they are used to them and should know how to show them) maybe they could manage a somewhat decent adaptation.
I’m not so sure about Zac Efron, though. Sousuke is a really serious, no common sense, military kind of guy. I haven’t seen Zac playing anything alike before, so I’m not sure if he can pull it off (maybe he can, who knows?). Personally, I’d rather someone more tough-looking, or at least for Zac to dye his hair darker.
Posted by Dama del Puente on June 4th, 2009
NO NO NO !!!!! He will RUIN the whole Anime please don’t do this we as fans beg of you ! I hate to see American companies screw nice things like this up .
Posted by The Great German Knight on June 14th, 2009
IF THEY EVEN MAKE THIS I WILL SLASH THE TIRES OF THE CAR SO HE CANT GET TO THE FILMING AND RUIN IT !
Posted by The Great German Knight on June 14th, 2009
So how many of you retards realize that all these characters you say ‘might be able to work with Zac Efron’ are actually supposed to be japanese?? Sousuke is japanese, and Light is japanese. So the simple fact of the matter is, no matter how awesome or respectable I find an actor to be, if they are white, I will not support them playing a role that is asian, because that’s just plain disrespectful and insulting to the asian community, especially the community of asian actors. There I said it, I’ve posted one of the only intelligent comments I’ve seen here.
Posted by stardust005 on June 15th, 2009
I mean, do people just not see the problem, or are they absolutely oblivious to the fact that there are people out there in the world (crazy I know) who are not caucasian, or that names like Sagara Sousuke and Yagami Light belong to characters who are of JAPANESE origin?!?!?!? It wouldn’t work the other way around either. If somebody cast a chinese actor to play an obviously white character like iunno, Spiderman, or Peter Griffin (god forbid a live-action Family Guy movie xD), I would be just as confused and angry at the obvious ludicrousy in casting choice. I hope that at least some of you understand this.
Posted by stardust005 on June 15th, 2009
stardust005 you sayid that Sousuke is japanese, but I must disagree with this, there isn’t said that he is japanese we only know that at age of 8 he was fighting in afghanistan, but Kurz Webber is from germany and Melissa Mao is from New York so as you can see not all actorss should bee japanese
Posted by Smolky on June 16th, 2009
please no_! if thei do to the full metal panic what thei do whit the dragon ball so its better thet thei let it be
Posted by lumiersan on June 19th, 2009
Effron as Souske? Next they’ll be telling us something equally as horrifying like Steven Segal is playing Cdr. Mardukis! The only way to balance out Effron’s dicklessness would be to cast Dolph Lundgren as Gauron or something…. Even then I’m not sure it’s enough. If these are the types of choices being made with one of my favorite IP’s I say NO GO.
Posted by COLT19111 on June 23rd, 2009
my problem is not with efron possibly being chosen for the role, but how the series is going to translate to the big screen, i do think it has a lot of potential because of all the great action and the main plot, if you’ve read the novels you’ll know it only gets better after where the anime ends, however i dont understand why characters who are japanese can’t stay japanese etc i mean the characters are quite diverse anyway, tessa is american kurz is german mao is chinese-american, kalinin is russian etc but anyway its still early days and im very excited by the prospect of a FMP movie.
Posted by xxxx on June 24th, 2009
Dont touch it. It’s such a good anime and novel on its own. I’d hate to see american subculture twisted on it and turning such an original story into something. Since when does real-life acting, western context and a 2-3 hour block of time ever accurately illustrate an episodic plot of an anime? The humour would never be able to be carried forward, because its simply restricted by its japanese context. I’m sure the mechas would turn out great, but it seems like someone just wanted to borrow a storyline to show off some of the latest special effects available. While I’m sure a film could give this wonderful anime the publicity it deserves, the movie would naturally be a flop. The harm to the brand is simply not worth it.
Posted by lala on June 27th, 2009
This is the worst idea ever…Way to ruin an awesome series…fuckers
Posted by grim on June 27th, 2009
O ya. Well not only does Zac Efron not belong in anything good…but this movie should simply NOT be made is what I mean. Seriously…don’t make it……or I will kill you. lol jk…but seriously…
Posted by grim on June 27th, 2009
Man efron is not playing sousuke if its da last damn thing i do lol i mean seriously he’d b no good at think of all the comic stunts in the show he’d never be able to keep a straight face not to mention he’s just not hot enough to play sousuke….i do think this could be made into a really kewl movie if enough efforts put into it i mean look at transformers movies and all the detail in those….it just needs the right director and actors and efrons not right for the part….Shia LaBeouf would be pretty good actually…i hope he gets it
Posted by Cass on June 28th, 2009
I like the anime Full Metal Panic, and when I see that they want to give Zac a main character, therefore, certainly as Sagara I think the only way.
This is not good. Not good at all.
Sorry for my maybe bad English.
Posted by MiyuGreer on July 8th, 2009
there is only 1 way to settle this take out zac affron and possibly get the guy who played light in death note live action to be sagara eventhough he needs to learn to stop smiling all the time but cut his hair abit and he would be a goo sagara but zac affron can suck a dick because he is not japanese and he would not fit sagaras role i rly hope this dosnt fuck off…
Posted by cloak on July 12th, 2009
Zac Effron could never pull it off, there are way too many jokes that are required in the series that are based on the Japanese language. He would also have to adopt the position of a very cold disconnected person, which frankly would be impossible for him considering his previous roles.

How the hell are they going to be able to convert 6 hours of anime into 2 hours of movie footage without losing everything that the characters had?

Bad. bad. bad. bad. bad. bad. bad.

Their only saving grace could be if they got the original anime and manga peeps on-board to do it.

@Smolky – Sagara was from Helmajistan which was a fictional country made up for the anime. Many believe it to falsely represent afghanistan.
Posted by Fumoffu! on July 14th, 2009
Why do people keep saying that Sagara is Japanese? If I remember correctly, he’s Afghani (although it’s called something else in FMP). Several of the characters are, in fact, from countries other than Japan.

Further, most anime/manga is purposely drawn in such a manner as to keep the characters’ features racially ambiguous (supposedly, this is done to make them more easily marketable in other countries). Just look at Digimon. The characters were supposed to be from all over the world, but they all had remarkably similar features. I don’t think it matters what race they cast Sagara as.

That said, It really, really shouldn’t be Zac Effron. He’s too effeminate and too emotional for the role. Sagara is an emotionally cold (mostly) soldier. Effron just couldn’t do it. In fact, I’d have doubts as to the ability of most younger actors to do that, as today’s favored teen guy image is the emotionally in touch girly guy.
Posted by Sintar07 on July 14th, 2009
He’ll just keep smiling. Besides, Sagara’s smile is rare to see… You think a cheerleader-face boy could do a serious face.
Sorry but I do not agree with this…
Posted by Anonymous :) on July 19th, 2009
this is horrible…
Posted by whatthehelliswrongwituall on July 22nd, 2009
I think he’d actually do a pretty good job. Everyone’s looking at is as he can’t play the part b/c he’s not Japanese. Wasn’t Sousuke middle-eastern or something anyway? Besides, Zac really broke through his HMS role with Seventeen Again and hairspray. And to those who are saying he can’t pull it off, how do you know? I’ve seen tons of actors who stick to certain roles pull off something entirely different.
Posted by Erika on July 23rd, 2009
i really like FMP i want them to make a film but i dont think they can pull it off i mean how will they make the A.S’s i mean they will have to use some CGI or something and that may look bad and as for Zack playing Sagara, i really think they will be making a mistake, although we have no idea what he can do but from the films hes been in i can say they are the usual chickflick type and this has alot of action and i cant see him being a military maniac like the character requires, but oh well.
Posted by amiee on July 24th, 2009
I don’t understand.
Why they’re doing this to us.
Why. Why. Why.

They’re going to treat it like a high school comedy with weapons, aren’t they?
They’re going to take away everything that makes it Full Metal Panic and turn it into something STUPID, aren’t they?

Can’t they just fund another season instead!?
Posted by I HATE YOU AMERICA ;A; on July 26th, 2009
omg i love full metall panic and zac efron but i love zac efron more..if he was in it i would watch it but not just cuz zac efrons in it but cuz i like this anime!
Posted by jackie chan on August 9th, 2009
Maybe some part in the movie, but not as a lead. x.x; Please. Make this one good!
Posted by Ani on August 16th, 2009
Smolky,

Sagara Sousuke’s parents are japanese.
Therefore, Japanese + Japanese = Japanese Sagara.

lol his parents died in a crash so the KGB adopted him and trained him to be a soviet assassin when he was 5 but then he was captured and adopted by the almajistan resistance leader at the age of 8 and was given the name Kashim.

THEREFORE, he is still jap even though hes lived in russia and almajistan
Posted by THORAXE on August 20th, 2009
Efron as Sagura, Umm lets do some simple logic, The dragonball live action film got a 3 or something out of 10 in reviews, now lets imagine the rating if Efron was Goku, yeah, the movie would have got a much worse rating of .2, if lucky, however it would have made billions due to a heap of stupid girls going to see Efron on the big screen, I guess it would be a record or something.
Posted by Blueguardian on August 24th, 2009
I use to think the way many people do ( hell no not Zac Efron) but after awhile and also seeing 17 Again I’m starting to realize actors are suppose to able to change their personality and appearance. Is it possible people are being to hard on Zac because we keep on putting him in that role of Troy Bolton and thats is all we see him as. I say give him a chance who knows he might surprise. You got to remember he is also trying to break out of that Troy Bolton view of himself.
Posted by ST3V3 0h on August 27th, 2009
Why don’t actually get an asian actor in holiday to act? I mean how racist is hollywood?
I do not want to see Zac as Souske. This will ruin FMP reputation. Souske is an cold-blooded soldier and for sure Zac won’t look anything like that.

I say no to this Zac being cast as Souske but yes to Full Metal Panic movie. =)
Posted by LaLa on September 1st, 2009
Agh I really don’t like it when they make anime’s into live action movies, They never work out well imo… And Zack Efron as Sousuke? WTF And if they do go ahead with this movie, I will watch it for the sake of it since I love FMP but if chidori’s hair isnt long and blueee…..-fist-
Posted by Joanner on September 2nd, 2009
full metal panic is the best for me
im dreamin of watchin it 6 years ago, but now ive watched it completely..
its comedy action + romance makes it the best for me, and the theme song, characters@_@
but im not satisfied tho coz i think its not yet finished..
anyway, well my point is,
i was hoping that FMP will have a movie but not an american movie coz anime is best for japanese people..
pls make it a japanese actor + actress.
i dunt want my best anime move all my life to go to waste like dragonball..
Posted by ImmortaL on October 3rd, 2009
firstly, let’s pray dat FMP doesn’t crap like Dragonball.
shuld Mandalay gain the rights, please get the best director to craft diz muvie. Can’t bear d’feelin shuld diz one flop too.

I think wat’s important is the film’s storyline. it mustn’t hav to deviate itself from d’original anime story. dat’s wat happen 2 DB i think. the film must recreate d’original feeling of the anime itself..not alternatin it.

many oppose the casting of zack efron. most of the fan insist dat the actor will never surpassed the needed integrity of the real Sagara Sousuke. sum insist dat Efron can only do d’smile..sum even worried, shuld Efron br8 the scene wif HSM choreographed dancin plus sum singin..well, dat’s d’general picture we had in mind bout diz boy cheerleader..

but i took the liberty..doin sum xtra unnecessary wurk with photoshop..Efron face & hair wuld fit the general traits of Sagara i must say. he’s not dat tall either. wif the right massive work of screenplay, which most of them is to teach d’dude to act stern & no smilin..i think dat dude is gonna be able to pull diz..let’s hope again. let’s imagine the slimmest possibility eh? personally, i cannot think of anyone else whu’d match Sagara physical & facial traits other than dat GreaseBoy.

Mandalay shuld hire neill blomkamp as d’director. he did tremendous wif district 9. FMP gonna need great CGi artiste for the mecha so i can only think of Michael Bay or Neill Blomkamp to cater the CGi & effects. but Blomkamp seems much fresher, braver & mur creative. merely a suggestion for d’high hope dat i hav for FMP

in the end, anime adaptation muvie is always enlivenin but effort often decide the outcome..we meerly as audience can only hope & support d’gr8 effort made by those whu accept d’challenges like Mandalay pictures.
godspeed..
Posted by RuLeR XtReMe on October 6th, 2009
OMG IT’S GOING TO BE SOOOO BAADDD. I am going to be soooo pisssed and so will everybody else. Everybody who has never watched the actual full metal panic anime series is going to be like this is a cheesy romantic rip off of transformers. Which it is not. And to have freaking Zak Efron as Sousuke? OH MY GAWD. That will ruin his career, and it will piss me off to no end to have a bunch of 14 year old preadolescent girls going to watch the movie JUST BECAUSE Zak Efron is in it. Nobody who is a true fan of Full Metal Panic will like this movie just like nobody who was a true fan of dragon ball enjoyed watching Dragon Ball live action. God I really hope they drop this stupid notion they have.
Posted by LightDreamer on October 13th, 2009
Well, I used to think Efron was a bad actor myself–until I saw him in 17 Again. The truth is, he was put in a much more mature role (a 17 year old 30 year old, lol), and he did amazing in it. Much better than his HSM performance, so I think it might end up being a good match for him. He needs that more mature role, I think, and I think if we did have a Live Action with him as Sousuke, it won’t be as awful as everyone thinks.
Posted by Mai on October 14th, 2009
fullmetalpanic season 4?WHAT IS THE LOVE STORY OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS?
Posted by richard on October 16th, 2009
i’m dying to see FMP on big screen
but ZAC as Sousuke..HELL NO!!!
Posted by mer on October 22nd, 2009
This is hilarious. While I, based on what I’ve seen of Efron, don’t think he’d be an awesome choice for Sousuke, I’m finding it hard to see the alternative actor to play Sousuke, really. Someone mentioned Shia LeBouf in an earlier comment, and another one “wants it to be some action guy, not some kid”. Dude, Sousuke is 17 around The Second Raid. Efron is nearly too old. It’s usually relatively painful to watch grown-ups try to act like children.

Of course, if you don’t like Zac Efron in the role, then we could always choose from the plethora of other young actors… Wait, you want Harry Potter to be the main character?

While I sorta don’t want Efron to play Sousuke, fact remains that anyone who could properly pull off Sousuke’s standard demeanor, is most likely above 30.
Posted by Exerci on October 28th, 2009
Also, it wouldn’t really be that hard to change for the movies where Sousuke’s parents were from. It’s not like it’s ever much of a plot point that they were Japanese and shot down in a plane. It’s not like the anime didn’t butcher part of the novels (Zomg, Afghanistan has turned into Helmajistan, and North Korea into Khanka, where did Chidori’s black hair go, and Tessa’s hair doesn’t look very ash-blonde to me.) Any adaptation frees itself a bit from the source material, the anime as well, you just don’t know that unless you’ve read the novels.
Posted by Exerci on October 28th, 2009
I dunno why Hollywood takes Japanese anime with Japanese characters and tries to make them Caucasian. I thought we had moved passed that point in the States! If Zac played Sousuke it wouldn’t be right. If he played Kurz or another caucasian character then that would make more sense. The creators of the novels and manga probably get tired of seeing American Movie adaptations crapping all over their work. Are the Japanese not good enough to play in the roles that they created themselves?
Anyways, the movie probably will suck because Hollywood knows how to ruin everything. They wont please the fans that were here before the movie and loved that anime and novels. Oh no, They’ll just mainstream it to 8 yr old boyz and girlz who tell their parents that they want to see High School Musical with robots!!!LOL.
Zac is a delicate flower that shouldnt be picked on. He should be ripped outta the ground and planted with the rest of the panzies so they can all sing, dance and brainwash the next generation of children that watch Disney and he should just stay away from anime unless he’s gonna play a panzy. I’d watch that biography!
Posted by Lou on October 29th, 2009
ohmydamn.
i love this show.
but dude, i dunno if zac is the right choice to be put in the show.
i don’t want him to play as sousuke.
well, he has the hair, haha, i give you that.
but then i dunnno…
they should use like, an older person.
someone like, i dunno, ryan reynolds or something. (haha, he was the first person who went through my head.)
haha, and i should be kaname!!
Posted by sammy on October 31st, 2009
Hey2..why do you guyz hate me so much eh? Is it because of the synergy from perfect dancing & astounding singing voice that I have? Or is it because of my big dreamy eyes that has put me 1st place on the favorite to star as Sousuke?

But hey, despite all hatred & hostile criticism towards me..I’m still casting for Sousuke’s role..right back at your face..err but my thanks to fellow supporters, thank U guyz.

For those who don’t really have the faith on me.. let me slip in some secrets with you..that I’m now currently on to extensive language learning, Japanese & Afghanese Arab (been going for 2 months). Got tanned all over for a week now and scheduled to undergo yet another extensive combat & physical training at Fort Bragg.

When the training completed, I hope to possess not only the right Sousuke traits & demeanor, (so Exerci would called it) but also the trust & faith from all FMP fans all around the world..With your undying support, I’ll definitely pull this off.

Mondai nai..
Posted by Zac Efron on November 1st, 2009
No way in hell that was Zac efron before and also rumors of Efron playing a star in a lot of anime hollywood movies are going around. Someone probally made all this up to try to make people pissed. How do I know this? Because almost the same thing was said for a american verison of Death Note. None of this crap about Zac Efron being a star is true and neither is the douche bag anymore Zac Efron then I am.
Posted by Connor dino on November 10th, 2009
I can see this working out IF they do it right.

First of all, I am a huge fan of this series and I love novels and anime (haven’t read too much of the manga), but I have to say that whenever it is adapted in America be it through voice acting or the big screen I am usually disappointed. But that’s not to say that all English dubs/ American adaptations are total flops (the English dub for Full Metal Panic for example, was exceptional) and I do believe that this has real potential. That being said, there are a few things the people working on this movie will have to look out for or they’re going to completely botch it.

The things I would recommend are 1.) stick to the original storyline as much as possible in all ways, shapes and forms 2.) Keep the characters in character 3.) Know the characters and get actors who can play the role in both their acting and physical characteristics 4.) DO NOT just higher popular actors solely because they are popular actors.

If they’re going to do this (which obviously they are) they need to stick to the storyline or they will have a lot of angry or at the very least, disappointed fans. That aside, as someone has mentioned before, the storyline is solid. There’s no need to deviate from it. I can almost guaruntee that if you stick with the plot as is you’ll walk away with a pretty penny because everything about this story is already set. I understand that the film can’t exceed a certain ammount of time and you havce creative license but as much as possible, stick with what you already have and work with it. Don’t just change things for the sake of doing so. (An example of this being -though I’m not sure if this was the same group working on it, you can still learn from the epic fail – the Dragonball movie. They already had a great plot, characters and a setting to work with and yet they made major and unnecessary changes that ticked a lot of people off and ruined the original story). Stay true to the plot, stay true to the setting, stay true to the characters and what makes them who they are.

Kaname, Sosuke, Kurz, Mao, Tessa, Kalinin, Mardukas, even Gauron are all great as is. Please keep them in character. A lot of the interesting events in this series play on their character traits and personalities and the decisions they make because of them. For example, a lot of the comedy aspects are the result of Sosuke’s 24/7 war mentality and (sometimes) Kurz’s perversness.

Finally, one of the most important aspects: the acting. For the sake of not boring people to death PLEASE use actors who can play the role. I’m not talking “hey, this guy was really believable in that one gushy romantic comedy where he played the well-rounded boy next door, so let’s put him in our movie -that has romantic and humorous aspects, but mainly revolves around anti-terrorism and war- as a highly-trained mercenary!” I know that there are auditions involved in casting and maybe the acting can be pulled off, but it’s a major turn-off if we can’t stop thinking about another role in another movie an actor you cast has played. It’s also a major turn-off when you don’t stick with actors that resemble (if only a little) the characters physically. The make-up can only take you so far (as with the Dragonball movie) so use people with similar physical traits.

Kurz Weber, for example, is described as having blonde hair, blue eyes, and of German ethnicity. He loves the ladies, has somewhat of a potty-mouth, but is overall a fun character. Not too hard to find someone to play this role, but other characters like Melissa Mao (to add to this example) need to be cast correctly as well. Mao is described as being in her late-twenties and of Chinese ethnicity. I’m not trying to make this a racial thing, believe me. I’m just saying that you need to stay true to the characters all the way around or its not as believeable and takes away from the original story. Mithril is not directly affiliated (though sometimes it works with) with any one country and it is said in the novels that the people on board the Tuatha de Danaan are all of various races with different ethnic backgrounds. If you have a bunch of soldiers that look like they’re from America with American “accents” that’s not going to be very believable and people may think that Mithril as well as the plot is centered around the USA.

I am a huge fan of the series and I really want this to work out. I’m not one of the haters who will automatically put it down but I do admit to having doubts as to whether this will be successfully executed. I gave it some thought and if you take into consideration the things I have said, I believe this can be a success.

Sosuke is Japanese and though I would prefer that you stay true to who these characters are all the way around, I’d say that this is excusable. However, I’m assuming that Zac is being considered for Sosuke and I don’t want to think of High School Musical or 17 Again whenever I see him on screen (generally, I think having popular American actors in the movie will take people out of the story ). Sosuke doesn’t have Zac’s baby-face or pretty boy appeal, though I must say that other than that, physically je is well fit for the role. If he can pull of Sosuke’s military-mentality, and stony, expressionless face, then maybe this could work.
Posted by Maine on November 12th, 2009
A wonderful & thorough dissertation by Maine..
Put in summary..even she believes dat storyline & screenplay is all dat matters for diz muvie 2 accomplish d’right feels.

Hasn’t had d’chance to read it from d’novel yet..(being amazed enuff juz via d’stunnin anime)..but to be able 2 profile each character in such manner, she’s truly a fan..a die hard one.

A real fan shuld write in diz manner, wild critics doesn’t lead us anywhere, only creative minds would.
Wishful thinking & godspeed..diz will wurk alright.
Posted by RuLeR XtReMe on November 14th, 2009
no god damn zac as the somber sgt. he may work as shinji or possiby kurz but if he does play the lead fmp will be ruined what they should do is finance season 4. oh the final novel of fmp will be released on april first 2010 in japan so hopefully the will scrap the movie till they get a better actor
Posted by me on November 16th, 2009
No, please no!

Dont do this to me!!! I dont want to see either Death Note or Full Metal Panic ruined by this. PLEASE dont do this!!!

Sousuke and Light are FAR too awesome for Zac Efron to even begin to play!
Posted by Lexi on November 19th, 2009
hell,,,,zac efron??,,,id rather be the one act as sousoke,,,i cant imagine zac as the main char,,the movie will be ruin,,,no matter how good the script or the production is,,if the actor,,isnt suit to the character,,,the whole movie will be just a kiddie show,,,

NO!! to zac efron!!
Posted by mikel on November 21st, 2009
eh ?
can’t believe it . . . he’d really
be sousuke sagara ? ~OMG . xD ~ ! who’ll be
the kaname chidori ? . . .
i don’t think that he would suit to the
role ) no hard feelings but that’s what
i think ^__^ i love full metal panic! =’D
just inform me if the film would go on
okay guys ? ~arigatou ) ~

:]]
Posted by kaname chidori :)) on November 29th, 2009
FULL METAL PANIC is FULL METAL PANIC
haha xD

:]]
Posted by kaname chidori :)) on November 29th, 2009
YOU CANT DO THAT ZAC IS FREAKN CAUCASIAN!!!!!… if you really wanna do a FMP movie with real humans then find an asian actor… GOSH… ZAC EFRON… are you f@#kn me?…i mean he’s great and everything but not for anime style okay?!?…if you want me to prove that this idea is horrible then go to asia and call all that knows FMP…..

but if your desperate try the S.east asian actors… and pls dont make chidori blue haired in real life maybe dark blue almost black… there.

lastly i suggest DONT DO IT…..or at least just make it like a Spirited away style.
Posted by lee on November 29th, 2009
I’ve read the novels, seen the anime..I’m big fan and I don’t think Zac Efron can pull this off. I’m not saying he can’t act, it’s just that you shouldn’t even have Full Metal Panic and Zac Efron in the same sentence . It’s just not the right story for him…as so many before me have said.
Posted by Gyo on December 20th, 2009
NO NO NO NO, that is really i can say.
For Zac Efron to Play such a great character it would be murder. Curse the person who thought up of making FULL METAL PANIC into a live action movie.

I cant say that i didn’t like Dragon Ball Evolution because i did. Only because i did not watch the anime series. But i have to say if they do this too FMP it will be the worst because i have seen Full Metal Panic and it is one of my very fave animes so if any one messes with it they will be in for a hell of a life.

SO NO ZAC EFRON HE WILL JUST RUIN THIS BRILLIANT ANIME.
Posted by Kassandra on January 9th, 2010
NOO!!!! no way i don’t care, there is no way they are going to ruin full metal panic, i LOVE the ANIME ***
ANIME ONLY
Please don’t kill sousuke. Why would you do this to us.
And not Zac Efron he’s just not right for it.
NEVER!!!
Posted by Gittymow on January 9th, 2010
NO! NO! NO! AND NO! zac efron NOT HIM NEVER HE WILL NEVER FREAKIN MAKE GOOD OUT OF THIS ARE YOU TRYING TO RUIN ANIME FAN’S LIFE?! HE DOESN’T EVEN KNOW WORD A IN ANIME! and S IN SOUSUKE….
Posted by Jason on January 10th, 2010
Im sorry but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FMP is an amazing anime and if you put him in it… it doesnt bare thinking about no!!!!!!!
For one thing Sousuke is basically the main character and Efron isn’t right!
I doubt he would even be able to pronounce the name right! Does he know this isn’t a musical?
If they do make it a film i hope its better than Dragonball because TBH the was the biggest waste of Â£5 i’ve ever spent to see a film.
I hope they put a decent actor as sousuke or they kill him off within the first 2 seconds if Efron is playing him.
I’d rather Sousuke not be the lead if he’s playing him and put Kurtz as the lead or something.
They do realise the only people they would get to go see that film if they put him as Sousuke is his 2 year old fan girls who havent even a clue about the anime.
Please stop this stupidness…
Ask any FMP fan what they think about him being cast and im sure they would rather eat their own hand than go watch that film… i know i would
Posted by FrankieCesca-Chan on January 17th, 2010
Zac Effron as Sousuke Sagara? NO! By the Gods, the concept is just too horrifying! If they wanted to make a FMP! movie, what’s wrong with an anime movie? With authentic voice casting? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! I’d rather force myself to sit through Eragon again before I’d watch Zac Effron play Sousuke! What’s next, Hilary Duff as Tessa?! Miley Cyrus as Kaname?! NO! PLEASE, NO…
Posted by Tia on January 20th, 2010
When they start the movie creating???
If somebody know it please tell me.
Posted by Makito on January 31st, 2010
hell no ur crazy if u make him Sousuke Sagara,it wouldn’t work and have u seen what has happen to anime when u make it real life, ye nooooooo! IT IS CALLED ANIME FOR A RESIGN PEOPLE!!!!
Posted by ELLLLL on February 2nd, 2010
wtf?????gagawin nyong live movie ang Full metal Panic??!!!!’tang’na nyo,hollywood!!!!!wala kayo magawa na matino??and Zac Efron???you can’t possibly be thinking of casting an american actor in a japanese character’s role?you cannot be serious!!!all you’ll do is DESTROY THE SERIES.MANDALAY FILMS,I HUMBLY REQUEST THAT YOU CEASE ANY FURTHER ACTION REGARDING THE PRODUCTION OF THIS FILM, FOR YOU WILL ONLY DESTROY MR. SHOJI GATOH’S,AS WELL AS HIS PARTNERS’ NAMES AND BRING THE FULL METAL PANIC UNIVERSE TO SHAME.THE SAME THING IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO IT,JUST LIKE DRAGON BALL EVO.JUST LEAVE THE SERIES ALONE.IF MITHRIL AND THE S.R.T.- URZU TEAM WERE IN EXISTENCE AND THEY WERE EXPECTING SOMETHING GRAND ABOUT THEIR LIFE STORY AND YOU FAIL TO DO IT RIGHT,I’M SURE THE XO OF THE TDD-1 WOULD RECOMMEND THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP TO FIRE SABRAS CLUSTER BOMBS TO EVERY MOVIE THEATRE IN THE U.S.BECAUSE FOR ME, IWOULD DO THE EXACT SAME THING.YOU FUCKERS!!!!!!!!
Posted by Alexeis delas Alas on February 6th, 2010
nope..no..dame…nai…zentai..no way..it’s bad..

is dat all u can say? not havin a single bit of imagination nor visualization is sumthin i’m willin 2 understand but not havin a single hope is wat frustrated me the most!

u guyz claimed 2 be the most die-hard fans of the anime 2 ever write bout the topic yet, all you did was simply writing cheap critics towards certain actor/actress whu for personal reasons (matter of to like or to dislike)

some even curse while writin in their native language which i think to empahasize one’s opinion on how important havin an asian actor to lead the main cast..
it’s cute but i think it’s doesn’t wave anythin.

d’idea of being a voice in a forum is to convey & develop ideas or constructive criticism towards the topic..but so far, all i’ve seen is cheap & selfish regards which reflects your own IQ.

thus, why dun we write sumthin dat’s worth readin & sharin..for instance..if we dun agree wif efron as sousuke..then, whu would be the most suitable candidate for the role? and why? ur cousins maybe? Wayan brothers? C’mon..other than ur relatives maybe?
Posted by Heath Ledger on February 7th, 2010
I think that having Efron as Souske is a BAD IDEA. I really love this anime and I really believe that they are going to ruin it. Just like they ruin everything else. I oppose to the live action movie in general. Why don’t they just make a anime movie pursuing loose ends?? That would be sooo much better. NO ZAC EFRON!!!!!! IT WILL SUCK! and thousand of anime fans will be PISSED!
Posted by Sstgo on February 22nd, 2010
Awe come on PLEASE don’t do the movie! KEEP IT ANIME! freakin’ caucasians always trying to ruin EVERYTHING thats good =( …fuckers. I protest to this dumb ass idea, who the hell came up with this crappy idea?! He/she oughtta be bitch-slapped silly.
Posted by Jade on February 22nd, 2010
why can’t they just leave it as anime not make it with real people in it that stupid gay fucking prick will ruin this anime why would you do that to us ?
Posted by ryan on February 24th, 2010
That is bull shit they better not make this movie….. and if they do they need to pick some a lot better then that asshole he dosn’t even look like the main character….. like in the DBZ movie none of them looked like bulma or goku……..so i say DOWN WITH THIS MOVIE….THERE HAS TO BE WAY TO STOP IT
Posted by tylrgamster14 on March 9th, 2010
That is bull shit they better not make this movie….. and if they do they need to pick someONE a lot better then that asshole he dosn’t even look like the main character….. like in the DBZ movie none of them looked like bulma or goku……..so i say DOWN WITH THIS MOVIE….THERE HAS TO BE WAY TO STOP IT
Posted by tylrgamster14 on March 9th, 2010
Is it for REAL? Im hoping it to have another season…

Its a good thing that they are planning to have it in the Big screen.. the robots and all the effects will be easy for them… but with the characters?? Not only with Sagara… Im not sure but with Manga/Anime Adaptations.. I like it when its Koreans versions.. not sure why.. LOL…

But if you are making a FMP movie.. pls.. not ZAC EFRON!!!
Posted by nukawa on March 16th, 2010
How about DEATH NOTE?…. I love “L”… who is going to play the role of “L”?….. another freaking EMO guy?…..

Dont ruin Anime fans’ fantasies… huhuhuh
Posted by nukawa on March 16th, 2010
what the ….if you do this , make sure the film panic is a lot lot better to DB evulution …. plz dont ruin the Full metal panic …

make sure that the quality is like the movie transformer,… and get another actor, sagara is a soldier not a high school cheer member..
Posted by yojram on April 19th, 2010
They didnt actually say that he would play Sousuke, he could play Kurz Weber, or Ono D.
Buh still, Zac is a homo.
Posted by Ganga on April 22nd, 2010
If your reading this then please listen.I don’t know if your going to
use Zac or not but please understand that I’m not going to bash on
him but I’m not saying I like it,you could pull this off with Zac if you
try.you need to really fit the character,not just look like him but
be him.sousuke is tough,sensitive,and obedient.you have to
understand why in order to have that personality.when being sousuke
you have to forget yourself and be like “Im Sousuke,what would
Sousuke do.” you gotta do ghat for all the characters too.you got
to have everyone say”that’s Sousuke(or whoever)and no one else.
Posted by Callie on May 17th, 2010
Zac Efron was young Simon Tam in Firefly before he was anyone else.

Did you guys who saw that after HSM came out know that? No?

Then he’s good enough.

But a live action mecha movie doesn’t quite sit right with me. We’ll see.
Posted by (S)Kit(tle)(s) on May 25th, 2010
I love Full Metal Panic, but I don’t think I’d watch this movie if it came out, and I’d boycott it if Efron played Sousuke.
Posted by Guy Incognito on May 29th, 2010
For the love of Full Metal Panic! and all anime alike. Please don’t let Efron near it!!!

Let the Japanese do the anime-movie adaptation.. Death Note movie was a good example of a near-good adaptation.

Who in the right mind would use non-Japanese to cast in a Japanese anime-movie adaptation?! Does Justin Chatwin looked like Goku?! Does Kristin Kreuk looks like Chun-Li?? Hell NO!! and Zac Efron is definitely not gonna look like Sagara Sousuke in a million lifetime!
Posted by Ben on May 30th, 2010
Some 15 years ago when I heard about the movie adaption of Super Mario bros I was both excited and giddy. Then I watched it….

15 years later and movie adaptions of video games still suck. This recent wave of live movie adaptions of Anime is no different. Anime and videogames simply isn’t that easilly adapted.

Somebody mentioned that it’s because they pick American actors to play the parts of Japanese people. But that isn’t the sole reason… I’ve when many japanese live action adaptions and all of them sucked. (except maybe the Death Note one.)

No the problem is the budget, the timelimit and the lack of involvement. The best actors for a part aren’t the biggest stars… I’d be happy to see movies with roles being played by people that have just been “picked up from the street” as long as they had been given enough training to actually be able to play the part.

A live action adaption of a long anime series should not be made into a movie I think. It should be made into a tv-series. Yes, I think the people playing the characterrs need to LOOK the part… and I think that production companies should recruit people “from the street” in order to do this. Likewise just as with keeping the ‘race’ of a character the same as in the anime, I think they need to keep the age the same as well. A 25 year old should not be playing a 16 year old. It is ridiculous.

So that is basically why all real life adaptions of video games and anime will suck. It will suck because they will chose actors that are already known and because they wont be able to put enough time into it.
Posted by Skittles on June 3rd, 2010
In the end, the movie will be make or not?
Posted by Ana on July 5th, 2010
i hate zac efron. i don’t believe he could play sagara sousuke.’cause sousuke is MANLY. zac efron looks like a girl. really.people who didn’t watch fmp shouldn’t say anything like “zac will pull off the role because he is hot” or something like that.i hate people like that. but if japanese movie companies made the movie it would be strange.in anime their eyes are normal. but hollywood will make it look like a fu..ing piece of shit.i hate people who makes animes look like shit. and yes, i’m a emo.and a bit psycho.
Posted by Vixen on July 22nd, 2010
I see people moaning about zac not being japanese however sosuke doesnt really have a nationality as such so i personaly dont see that as a problem. what i do find a problem is wether ZE will be able to show that his character has been killing people scince he was 8 and show that he is a genuine mercenary. with very little in the way of social skills.

i reckon it could work as long as they get the dialogue right, the plot right and they dont heavily focus on teenage highschool part rather than the AS/military part
Posted by tom on August 5th, 2010
No!!!!! Sagara doesn’t see himself as having any nationality however, both of his parents were Japanese! Therefore it is only logical that he himself has the appearance of a Japanese person! I dunno if you have noticed but that is something that Zac is ever so slightly lacking in… XD

Anyhoo aside from the fact that we would all die from the pain of the movie being produced (and thus halving the human population of the earth),I believe that the Zac fans would all go on a rampage! The reason? The fact that (if he were to partake in the movie) he would have a scar on his face and he gets shot every once and a while!! The Zac fan-girls (being as dense as they are (I’m prejudest… Get over it. XD)) would all be infuriated and seek out the one that had caused him ‘Harm’ (I’m of the opinion that they believe that all the Zac movies acctually occured in real life!!). Either that or they would go into a shock induced coma as I am sure that many people would have attempted to assassinate him (and succeeded)!XD

Getting back to the point Zac is deffinatly not the man for the job! If something is not done, the image of Sousuke Sagara will be forever tainted and defiled! Would you watch a stranger lead your best friend to into a loins den knowing he wil be eaten? Or would you do something about it?

OK I’m over exaggerating but you get the point! I’m not the person with the answers but somebody out there will!!

Forgive my bad spelling but I cba looking over this for mistakes!

Dewa mata!
Posted by A bleary eyed idiot on August 10th, 2010
lol@haters, I think at a constructive point of view, hating him isn’t really a reason to say that he shouldn’t be in the live-action adaptation of FMP.

SO~!….. Zac Effron……. ok sure he’s a pretty boy and all that shit but since Sousuke isn’t really Japanese (Wasn’t he Middle Eastern?? Kashim isn’t really a jap name….) I think it won’t be too bad, I mean, it’ll be interesting to see him do something different, so to be fair, I don’t think it’ll be as bad as Dragonball.

Not saying that I’m a Zac Effron fan, but “17 Again” was really a long shot away from that High School Musical bullshit, I think it won’t be fair to say that he doesn’t have a chance in hell at doing justice to Sagara, coz who knows, he might surprise you.

I mean, even Daniel Radcliffe did a play with him casted as a crazy horse loving lunatic that likes to run around naked! (Gross!!!)

Dragonball was an epic fail because Goku was obviously Asian (BLACK HAIR AND BLACK EYES), but they somehow casted a white guy with BROWN hair and BROWN eyes in it…… Zac Effron can probably act the part of a cold blooded killer, but no white guy can ever be an Asian guy (eg, Dragonball), so that’s epic fail #1 for me.

At least in Mortal Kombat, they got the nationalities correct.

The funny thing is that if Zac Effron actually does end up doing a good job with the movie, I wonder what the haters will do….. it’ll be a crazy moral dilemma or something hahahhaaha. That’s y it’s better to stay neutral ppl~!
Posted by Dubious on September 2nd, 2010
ok, my bad, so he actually is jap, but either way, the anime made it so that a white guy can kinda play him in a live action lol
Posted by Dubious on September 2nd, 2010
I don’t think FMP could ever be made into a good live action movie. Regardless of who was in it. I want to know who thought it would be even slightly acceptable to make a live action movie of FMP, and then put Zac Efron in it. This will fail miserably.
Posted by JohnDoe1 on November 9th, 2010
personaly i have nothing against zac efron. its just that i see him kind of cheesy… but any way, i think that the best way do do this is to FINISH the anime and show it on tv (which i heard will be happening in 2011) and DONT let zac be sousuke. since many people…and i dont see him very seriously. and to take on the roll of sousuke… i just dont think he can pull of his personality. also i really like chris pattons voice as sagara and if some person came on screen with a completely diffenrent voice i would not. be. happy. ):( and if people have seen the anime they wont be happy that peoples faces look completely different. i think they should just leave it as a anime. but if they have to make it into a film they need to think about the characters and where theyre from.as some ones said kurz is german yada yada and sousuke is darker toned than kaname since hes not just japanese.. from middle east… but if they are gonna make it into an anime, it BETTER be good or someone will answer to my machette… im joking but anyway, think about it.
Posted by roberta on December 2nd, 2010
roberta, yeah,…orrr..they could just NOT make an anime
Posted by anmaJenson on December 2nd, 2010
i mean *movie an keep it as an anime
Posted by anmaJenson on December 2nd, 2010
… i agree with @skittles.
Posted by roberta on December 2nd, 2010
THIS WILL BE AS WORSE AS WHEN THE FAGGOT PUT NIPPLES ON BATMAN

GOD WHAT WERE THESE BLOODY YANKS THINKING

HARMONY GOLD DESECRATED MACROSS

HOLLYWOOD DESECRATED DRAGON BALL TEKKEN ETC ETC ETC
Posted by Ra on January 3rd, 2011
I don’t want live action I want fucking animated movie with all the same voices and people. AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Posted by WIll on June 1st, 2011
Hopefully a new season will be great than just wasting all their effort in a movie.

I’m a die hard fan of FMP, it has been 6 years and until now i’m waiting for a new season for the anime. It only shows that the anime is more worth looking into than a movie with no assurance of making it good.

pls. if only i could tell the people kyoto animation or the people behind this to release another anime version. We the FMP fans are still waiting, it has been years and we will still wait for the anime.

i can’t get over the story having bith sci-fi,action and romance blending so well and the cahracters.

I am very attached with the anime so pls do another anime series.
Posted by FMP FAN on October 11th, 2011

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