Mandalay reaches ‘Full Metal Panic’

It seems as thought Hollywood is gradually moving it’s eyes towards Anime and Manga as a source of new material, much in the same way it has with comic books and graphic novels. So long as it’s done properly, I find this to be a positive step towards a renewed “freshness” in Hollywood filmmaking.

Mandalay Pictures has picked up rights to ‘Full Metal Panic’ and plans to develop a big screen adaptation. The original series mixes comedy, action and teen romance.

The property derives from writer Shoji Gatoh’s series about a teenage anti-terrorist commando named Sousuke Sagara who is given the mission to protect a high-school girl with mystical powers. — HR

I’ve not read the Manga series or seen the anime, but ‘Full Metal Panic’ is certainly a story that would appeal to the ‘tween audiences. The story takes place in a world virtually void of adults.

Born as a serialized novel from Gatoh and the illustrator Shiki Douji, “Panic” was developed in the early 2000’s as a Japanese anime by the Asian firm Kyoto Animation and eventually also yielded a spinoff series. — HR

According to Hollywood Reporter, Zac Efron has been possibly connected to the project, which makes sense considering his target audience. I’m less interested in this potential adaptation as I would be more sci-fi/mature-themed sources, but it may surprise us anyway.

[source: Hollywood Reporter]