On the occasion of the release of “Knights of the Zodiac”, here are five things to know about this live film adapted from the famous Japanese manga.
What is it about ? Seiya, a teenager with a strong character, is used to participating in fights to earn enough to survive on the streets, while looking for his sister who has been kidnapped.
During a fight, he unwittingly taps into unsuspected mystical powers and finds himself propelled into a world where he will encounter knights in armor, drawing their power from an ancient magical training and Athena, a reincarnated goddess who needs his protection.
If he wants to survive, he will have to face his destiny and sacrifice everything to take his rightful place among the Knights of the Zodiac.
How much did the film cost?
Knights of the Zodiac has a budget of $60 million, which is twice as much as Dragonball Evolution (2009). However, this is a production cost well below most blockbusters of 2023.
For example, Guardians of the Galaxy 3 cost 200 million and Fast and Furious X 340 million. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, slated for June 28, was priced at 300 million.
Mackenyu in Stage 6 and Toei Animation KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC © 2023 CTMG, All Rights Reserved. Mackenyu
A hit manga
The Knights of the Zodiac is a live action adaptation of the famous manga Saint Seiya created by Masami Kurumada, comprising 28 volumes and pre-published between 1986 and 1990 in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine.
This successful manga (sold over 50 million copies worldwide) has, among other things, given rise to an animated series of 114 episodes, created by Tōei animation and broadcast in Japan between 1986 and 1989 (in France, c It was Club Dorothée that hosted the program between 1988 and 1997).
In addition, the live-action film The Knights of the Zodiac is directed by the Polish Tomasz Baginski, producer of the series The Witcher on Netflix. For the occasion, he directed his first feature film.
Who for the hero?
Seiya, the hero of the saga, is played by the American-Japanese actor Mackenyu. Revealed in Pacific Rim Uprising, he will also be one of the outstanding characters of the One Piece live series on Netflix, another adaptation of a cult manga.
Note that Mackenyu is the son of the late martial arts comedian Sonny Chiba, who died in August 2021.
2023 CTMG, All Rights Reserved.
Nick Stahl
Nick Stahl is back!
A certain Nick Stahl embodies Cassios. The American comedian was a big star in the early 2000s, with strong roles in Bully, In the Bedroom, Terminator 3 and the HBO series The Caravan of the Strange.
His drug problems kept him away from the sets for a long time. He is now back, as evidenced by his performances in the series Animal Kingdom, Let the Right One In and Fear the Walking Dead.
Big things
Knights of the Zodiac is set to be the first installment in a six-film saga, Toei Animation producer Yoshi Ikezawa told Variety. The studio thus has great ambitions for this franchise that it has been developing for more than ten years:
“The Knights of the Zodiac manga has been very successful in North America, Latin America, Europe and China, so we have a fan base in many parts of the world. That’s why Sony Pictures contacted us .”
“The original manga has 28 comic volumes. The original anime series had 140 episodes, plus 30 or 40 sequels that belong to the original comic. So that’s almost 200 episodes. You can make a lot of movies with that.”