Sony Pictures delves into the pricklyworld of anime adaptationsnext month withKnights of the Zodiacand Fandango has a new clip to show Mackenyu’sSaint Seiyacoming into his own. The first-ever feature film adaptation of theclassic 80s manga and animefollows the headstrong street kid Seiya as he’s recruited to become a member of the titular group of knights sworn to protect the reincarnation of the goddess Athena. In order to rise and lead the knights, however, he must reflect upon his past and hone his abilities to prove he’s fit for the job.The clip shows Seiya training with the help of his instructor Eagle Marin. To face the challenges ahead, she helps train not just his body but his mind through the use of meditation. The main goal, however, is to get Seiya to tap into the latent power that made Alman Kiddo (Sean Bean) so interested in him. Inthe original trailer, Seiya discovered his supernatural strength whilst fighting in the ring but learning to tap into it at will is still a challenge for him by the time he’s training with Marin. Once he lands a powerful blow on his master during a sparring match, however, it seems he’s finally discovered how to channel his inner strength, crushing stones with ease to Marin’s approval.Mackenyu, the son oflegendary Japanese actor and martial artistSonny Chiba, has become a favorite choice when it comes to live-action anime adaptations stateside or internationally. He’s notably set to star in Netflix’sOne Pieceseries as Roronoa Zorro, but he’s also appeared in a pair ofFullmetal Alchemistfilms and inRurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part 1 - The Finalamong other anime projects. He’ll havea strong cast surrounding himinKnights of the Zodiactoo with theGame of Thronesalum Bean starring alongsideMadison Iseman,Famke Janssen,Nick Stahl,Diego Tinoco, andMark Dacascos.RELATED:‘Suzume’ Just Became One of the Highest-Grossing Anime Films Ever
When WillKnights of the ZodiacBringSaint Seiyato Theaters?
Directing duties for the Sony Pictures project fell to Academy Award-winning Polish filmmakerTomasz BagiÅskiwith10 Cloverfield LanewriterJosh Campbellpenning the screenplay withMatt StueckenandKiel Murray. While there’s plenty of experience among that team, that hardly dissuades the typical fears that come withlive-action anime adaptations. In recent years, major production companies and creatives have delivered their fair share of bombs when trying to capture the heart of the source material. There’s certainly a different feel toKnights of the Zodiacthan is present in the classic anime, but Mackenyu and company hope to buck the trend and deliver something fun from the world ofSaint Seiya.
Knights of the Zodiacpremieres in theaters on May 12. Check out the new clip courtesy of Fandango below.
