Update on DiCaprio’s Ninja Scroll
Ninja Scroll Live-Action Movie — By Nix on April 7, 2009
Haven’t heard much from Leonardo DiCaprio’s live-action version of “Ninja Scroll” in a while, so here’s (kinda) something: according to a Japanese newspaper, DiCaprio is considering casting the film’s leads with the five members of a popular Japanese band called SMAP. This, we’re told, is in keeping with DiCaprio’s intention to fill out the cast with Japanese actors, thus keeping the film true to its roots. I suppose it would be kind of difficult to cast, say, Keanu Reeves when your story is supposed to take place in Feudal Japan.
Writes the Nikkan Sports (via Anime News Network):
In addition to performing a string of hit singles, the five members of SMAP — Masahiro Nakai, Takuya Kimura, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Goro Inagaki and Shingo Katori — have acted in many films based on manga and anime. However, they have not acted together in the same film since 1994’s Shoot.
I’m not sure how hiring five guys form a boy band to fill out the “male leads” of the movie would work. There’s actually only one male lead and one female lead, and rest are all villains that try to stop our hero as he goes about his business.
But hey, an update is an update, so here’s your “Ninja Scroll” update.
Below: Oh snap! It’s the boys of SMAP!
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5 Comments
if they keep it japanese casting they could pull it off
Well all of them are huge stars in Japan. And Kimura Takuya’s dramas (t.v. series) always do well, about 30% or more audience viewership. In addition, Kimura Takuya is probably not a bad choice since he was in Wong Kar-Wai’s 2046 (which exposed him more to an international audience) and he did do the voice of Howl in Hayao Miyasaki’s Howl’s Moving Castle. The other members are fairly popular, probably Kusanagi Tsuyoshi is the next in terms of success. If things come to worse, Ninja Scroll would have a high appeal for the Japanese audience due to SMAP’s popularity (and perhaps have Pan-Asian popularity as well due to Kimura). But I wonder what language this will be done…because that might be a issue.
Your photo is not of SMAP. That is the Korean pop group Tohoshinki. Here’s a recent photo of SMAP: http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8663/smap.jpg
I guess they could pull off casting all five members if they adapt the story a bit. Like the previous commenter said, they’re all hugely popular in Japan and are pretty well known across Asia. They’ve all been acting in dramas and movies for over 15 years. I can see Kimura Takuya as the main character in Ninja Scroll. He has won international acclaim for his role as a blind samurai in the movie Bushi no Ichibun, and was even nominated for a Japanese Academy Award for it. Either way, it is good that Leo wants to stick close to the original.
Below: Oh snap! It’s the boys of SMAP!
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you’re wrong ! the man in the picture they are DBSK NOT SMAP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NINJA SCROLL MOVIE.
Leonardo DiCaprio is producing Ninja Scroll for his production company Appian Way
and Warner Bros,Japanese pop group SMAP is romoured to be cast in the film and what if Tila Tequila would play Zakuro in the film it would be good and one of the MMA actors to play Tessai,just a suggestion.
Ninja Scroll is a action fantasy adventure which a American company Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way to make the movie.
Thank you.
BRUCE ACOSTA
AUSTRALIA.