According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisition and Toei Animation are currently adapting a live-action film adaptation of Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac, based on the classic 1980s manga and anime series. Production on the live-action Saint Seiya movie has already been completed, after filming took place in Hungary and Croatia.
The project will officially be led by Japanese actor Mackenyu (Pacific Rim: Uprising, Rurouni Kenshin: The Final), and Madison Iseman (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), who have been cast for the respective roles of Seiya, and Sienna. Joining them are Game of Thrones alum Sean Bean, Famke Janssen (X-Men films), Nick Stahl (The Man Without a Face), Diego Tinoco (On My Block), and Mark Dacascos (John Wick: Chapter 3-Parabellum), with Bean set as Alman Kiddo, the man who recruits Seiya into the Knights order.
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Saint Seiya or Knights of the Zodiac was created by Masami Kurumada in 1986. Due to its popularity, it successfully spawn off an anime adaptation from Toei Animation, followed by five animated films and several spinoff manga. It tells the story of mystical warriors called as The Saints, who received their powers from the constellations. They are tasked to defend the reincarnated goddess Athena from other Olympian gods, who sought to take over Earth.
The film adaptation is being described as an origin story. Its synopsis reads: “Mackenyu is starring as Seiya, a street orphan and the title hero of the franchise. When a mystical energy known as Cosmo awakens in him, Seiya embarks on a journey to conquer the ancient Greek armor of Pegasus and choose his side in a preternatural battle for the fate of Sienna (Iseman), a young girl who struggles to control her godly powers.”
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The live-action Saint Seiya is directed by Polish animator Tomasz Baginski (The Witcher) from a screenplay written by Josh Campbell and Matt Stuecken (10 Cloverfield Lane). Veteran stuntman, and martial arts choreographer, Andy Cheng, who’s worked was most recently featured in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is also involved the project as its stunt and fight coordinator.