Filming on the live-action Fullmetal Alchemist movie began in Italy this past June before moving to Japan in July. A trailer was constructed and released fairly quickly, back in November. This led many fans to predict that the film would hit Japanese theaters in the second quarter of 2017, perhaps even in the first quarter. However, the speediness of the shoot and first trailer release were red herrings as the film won't hit Japanese theaters until December 2017. The news was confirmed
[via ANN] by the film's staff at the Tokyo Comic Con in Japan, which was held yesterday. Of course, this also means that it will be a LONG wait before the film makes it's way over to the States. Case in point, the live-action Rurouni Kenshin films were released in Japan in 2012 but didn't make their way over to North America until 2016...
Some mans were concerned that the rushed production would lead to shoddy SFX, particulary concerning Aphonse Elric, whose medieval armor body will be 100% CGI. However, with a year-and-change to polish any defects, perhaps the live-action Fullmetal Alchemist movie will be a high quality release?
Other than the set photos which leaked in an Italian newspaper (the location of the shoot) details on the project have been kept relatively quiet.
The full cast for the film includes:
-
Ryōsuke Yamada plays as Edward Elric.
-
Tsubasa Honda stars as Winry Rockbell.
-
Dean Fujioka costars as Roy Mustang.
-
Fumiyo Kohinata as General Hakuro
-
Ryuta Sato as Maes Hughes
-
Misako Renbutsu as Riza Hawkeye
-
Natsuna as Maria Ross
-
Natsuki Harada as Gracia Hughes
-
Yo Oizumi as Shou Tucker
-
Jun Kunimura as Doctor Marco
-
Yasuko Matsuyuki (pictured bottom right in image to the right) as Lust
-
Kanata Hongou as Envy
-
Shinji Uchiyama as Gluttony
-
Kenjiro Ishimaru as Father Cornello
The first Fullmetal Alchemist television anime began airing 2003 and spawned a 2005 sequel film, Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa. In 2009, a second anime series, which adhered more closely to the manga, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, premiered and was also followed by a sequel film, 2011's Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos.
Acccording to director Fumihiko Sori (live-action Rurouni Kenshin trilogy), the film will attemtp to adapt Nobuhiro Wastsuki's entire Fullmetal Alchemist manga series in one movie. The manga series is 28 volumes long. In comparison, the Rurouni Kenshin manga series is 27 volumes and WB Japan split that series up into three films.
Sori also revealed tht Edward Elric will be 20-years-old in the film, whereas he's 15 in the manga and anime. The film shot on location in Italy for two months before wrapping production in Japan.
"In order for something to be obtained, something of equal value must be lost."
Alchemy is bound by this Law of Equivalent Exchange—something the young brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric only realize after attempting human transmutation: the one forbidden act of alchemy. They pay a terrible price for their transgression—Edward loses his left leg, Alphonse his physical body. It is only by the desperate sacrifice of Edward's right arm that he is able to affix Alphonse's soul to a suit of armor. Devastated and alone, it is the hope that they would both eventually return to their original bodies that gives Edward the inspiration to obtain metal limbs called "automail" and become a state alchemist, the Fullmetal Alchemist.
Three years of searching later, the brothers seek the Philosopher's Stone, a mythical relic that allows an alchemist to overcome the Law of Equivalent Exchange. Even with military allies Colonel Roy Mustang, Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, and Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes on their side, the brothers find themselves caught up in a nationwide conspiracy that leads them not only to the true nature of the elusive Philosopher's Stone, but their country's murky history as well. In between finding a serial killer and racing against time, Edward and Alphonse must ask themselves if what they are doing will make them human again... or take away their humanity.