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Rumor Killer: Joss Whedon to direct Sailor Moon?

Posted on Wednesday, February 7th, 2007 by Peter Sciretta

I would hate to be one of those blogs which creates and spreads ridiculous rumors. Today we received a “scoop” claiming that Joss Whedon may return to direct a live action version of Sailor Moon. Contacting publicists always seems to result in a typical PR response providing no usable information, even when there is truth to the initial news bit. So it’s easy to see why most movie websites jump the gun on this sort of thing. Everyone wants to post the exclusive. And it seems like some sites are already picking this one up.

But is it true? I wouldn’t bet on it.

The following e-mail came through to our tip e-mail:

Whedon now free to do Sailor Moon Live Action Movie?
Also Exclusive Casting News!

Acces Hollywod got the chance to talk with a Fox Studios worker in Century City, who revealed that one of the major movie studios is looking to quickly sign Joss Whedon as the director of the Sailor Moon live action movie, now that he is free from the Wonder Woman big screen adaptation. Also, a list of unconfirmed actresses attached to the movie that the studio has already contacted for main roles.

About a year ago, rumors said that Joss Whedon (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) was attached to direct the live action version of the popular anime “Sailor Moon” after doing Wonder Woman.
Now that Whedon is off the WW project it’s likely that he will take on the Sailor Moon movie right away, or at least that’s what Fox wants.
When the Sailor Moon movie was reported last year, Lindsay Lohan and Jennifer Garner were both set to play starring roles, but both now dropped out. This time new casting announcements include; Maggie Grace, Julie Gonzalo, Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, Danielle Panabaker, A.J. Cook, Rachel Blanchard, Mischa Barton, Deanna Casaluce, Amanda Righetti, Elisa Donovan and Emma Caulfield.
The plot will be a complete new story based on Naoko Takeuchi’s (Sailor Moon creator) unreleased material.
Whedon is also developing a horror movie called “Goner”.

Here is an unconfirmed list of actresses and the characters they are supposed to play:

Mischa Barton ————–Sailor Moon
Alexis Bledel ————— Sailor Mercury
Julie Gonzalo ————– Sailor Venus
Amber Tamblyn ————Sailor Jupiter
Deanna Casaluce ——— Sailor Mars
Danielle Panabaker——- Sailor Neptune
Maggie Grace ————– Sailor Uranus

A.J. Cook, Elisa Donovan, Amanda Righetti, Emma Caulfield and Rachel Blanchard would play the main villains.

Okay, I’m sure this e-mail can be debunked without contacting any publicists or studio sources. Here’s why:

Access is not spelt Acces: Spelling and Grammar errors are a surefire tell that something isn’t right.
Too many names: I could believe one name, or maybe even two. But this e-mail claims to have the names of all 12 big names cast in the supposed film. Usually it only takes one or two names before someone in one of the actresses camps let’s word slip.

Anyone else spot any other sure tell signs?

May-be I’m wrong. May-be this is a real scoop that we just passed up. But I’m thinking not?

Comments

Kai MacTane

Not only is Access not spelled "acces", Hollywood is not spelled "Hollywod". Now, this *could* just be a publicist who has trouble typing doubled letters, and who forgot to spell-check before sending... but it does seem odd to misspell *both* of the words in one's organization's own name.

More to the point, I think your "too many names" objection is a good one.

As a webmaster of a site that runs a human-edited news feed, I like your method of dealing with the "report it or not?" dilemma. It's the same solution I've previously used on the 5,000+ Wonder Woman casting rumors: I'm not going to report on something that's unsourced and unverifiable, but if a rumor is big enough, I'll report as my news story: "Such-and-So Rumor Is Making The Rounds"

I stand by my "make sure it's sourced and verified" stance, though, as it's kept me from reporting any number of hoaxes and falsehoods.

tlacook

This rumor seems to pop up once a year or so. I'm sure there is absolutely nothing to it.

Scottbert

Also, "Goner" is spelt "Goners" and I'm speculating, but unsure as to whether or not JW would want to work with Fox after their differences in the past

sarah

I think that a sailor moon movie should be stop motion animation with the voice talents of natalie portman as sailor moon and hayden christensen as Tuxedo Mask
Keria Kinghtly as sailor venus, sarah michelle geller as gailxia, holy marie combs as luna , alyssa milano as sailor pluto. That all i have for cast so far and the soundtrake should feature the orignial theme song and the music of bond.
the story line of the manga that the anime is based on instead of the anime would be better to do.

Tiana walters

Sailor moon is the best show i eva watched and i wish it waz still on tv and all my friends love it and if it was on air again its stuff will sell again and i wont have to spend hundred$ of dollars on stuff on e-Bay.dont ya just miss Sailor moon,Sailor mini moon,sailor venus,sailor mercury,sailor mars,sailor jupiter,sailor neptune,sailor pluto,sailor saturn.Said by Sailor moon #2

Eric

Although I wish it would happen, it may very well be a rumour.

deanna lover

hey i like deanna casaluce (l)

i see her on the television on degrassi the next generetion

she's so beautiful!!!

i leave in antwerp but i will deanna see in really live but i dont now were she is :( pleas can you help me !!

xx kelly xx i like her very much

carlos

I think a sailor moon movie should be good, but the plot needs to be more scary.

Michelle

if you read the mangas, it is scary. princess serenity stabs herself w/ endymion's sword after she dies. lots of nice bloody deaths. i even think guys would go to see this. i know a few guys (yes, straight ones too) that like sailor moon.. plus, some would go see it for the lesbians (uranus & neptune) ;) they better not change THAT.. making them cousins.. **rolls eyes**

Tavon

Okay... if this is real.. I probably will go see it, but be dissapointed the whole way through. Only three of the scouts look believable (mercury, neptune, and uranus only if she chops her hair and becomes manly). And.. Deanna as mars? I love her, too, but... I dont think that fits... But, this is coming from someone who is currently watching the japanese live-action series and I have those faces in my head as a standard.. Eh..

Leslie

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE KNOWS IF IT IS TRUE OR NOT. i would likr to know if i should get excited about this. and if that e-mail is real...lindsey lohan shouldnt play sailor moon anyways.

Tiana

HEYY DEANNA CASALUCE!!

thats my cousion, I swear to god.

she is always buse with the Grassi High that I never really get to see her, but I always see her dad.

Lacey

I just though I'd say this, I WOULD LOVE it if they could get Melissa Joan Hart as SALIOR MOON nothing against Mischa Barton. I just see Melissa in that role... just a though is all.... =)

Heather

Melissa Joan Hart would be a perfect sailor moon!!! I think she could act exactly like Serena.

YokoXinfinity

As popular as anime has become in the US, and as big as the fan base is for Sailor Moon, I just don't think (or really have lost all hope) that a live action movie will ever get made.

To make a Sailor Moon live action movie, it'll be Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles all over again. A beloved show from our past becomes ruined with new actors we didn't choose, new voices, and most likely a funky storyline that will not relate to the manga or anime in any way, shape, or form.

Of course we'll still go see the movie, but we won't be happy.

And the casting in the phony release is... Not great.

Casaluce as Mars is WONDERFUL, but Mischa Barton? No. But it's not up to me. If it were... Laurie Holden as Sailor Uranus if only because her as Cybil Bennet in Silent Hill was awesome and because she's tall and just screams HARUKA to me. Or I'd like someone just like her...

GEENA DAVIS as Beryl?

What I'm also scared of is the casting is a bit older than they're supposed to be. Melissa Joan Hart was good... Maybe five-ten years ago. I don't want the older cast to make another Blood and Chocolate or like any movie from the 90's where people in their 20's - 30's play freshmen to seniors in high school...

Let's hope all goes well if this ever does happen...

Wolverine

u r right n i think honestly if their is a movie of SM it will not be so good, just like they just made a movie of DB evolution and it looks suckish as hell. The thing is that if they make a movie it should be pretty much identical to SM with the anime storyline and not the manga, cause i've seen the anime and if i see a movie that wont look like i already know it then it will disappointment me if u know what i mean. but really i just hope cause out of all the beloved shows i've seen that have been made a live action movie like the ninja turtles albin and the chipmunk ant many others that have actually become really sukish and i would not want that to happen to SM cause i have always love SM and its really important to me and i dont want a live action movie that will have characters that have nothing alike among the characters from the anime ruin my favorite show and possibly favorite thing of all. I wish i could make a Sailor Moon movie and not some guy from holiwood will make it all wrong. I just would'nt know how to explain it very well so....?

Mike

I enjoy Sailor Moon myself. And a live-action movie would definitely not be a bad idea. But most of you are right, you need to find some decent movie team to head the project (Edgar Wright, who can both lampoon AND pay homage to various genres). We don't need to estrogen-filled-to-the-max mushfest that Hillary Duff fans will flock to see. While it will pay honest homage to the anime and manga (Serena and Raye will have tongue battles, there will be a backstory to the Sailor Scouts' origins, Serena and Darien begin to fall for each other), Sailor Moon the Movie, in my opinion (say what you wanna say), should come with a jolt of new attitude that can be welcomed to boys AND girls. I'm not too much of a fan for the anime/manga's awkward mix of campy comedy and tearjerking pathos (think of "Dawson's Creek" in the anime world with slapstick, sailor suits, magical attacks, and colored hair). I'd say stick with some of the original source's blueprints, but have more of an aim towards action, comedy, fantasy, and some romance. And a PG-13 rating is recommended.

What I'm saying is that the film, to quote a famous review for "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer", "doesn't need to be pitch black to have integrity, but some dignity would be nice for a change."

For those who want to know, here would be an ideal cast for the film:

Serena/Sailor Moon - KIRSTEN DUNST
Amy/Sailor Mercury - EMILY BLUNT
Raye/Sailor Mars - DEVON AOKI
Lita/Sailor Jupiter - MARY ELIZABETH WINSTEAD
Mina/Sailor Venus - KALEY CUOCO
Darien/Tuxedo Mask - JOSH DUHAMEL
Queen Beryl - ANJELICA HUSTON
Jedite - JUDE LAW
Nephrite - GERARD BUTLER
Zoecite - ALI LARTER
Malakite - DWAYNE "THE ROCK" JOHNSON
Luna - JILL FRAPPIER
Artemis - RON REUBEN

That's right. I'd like to see the two voices of the cats from the dub appear in the live-action movie. It worked for the "Transformers" movie getting show star Peter Cullen to voice Optimus Prime again.

DeannaM

I am an avid sailor moon fan, I've watched the dubbed and subtitled versions, and am currently working on the manga and rewatching the anime movies.
if they make a movie, I would hope to God that they do NOT use mischa barton, I have no offense to her, but I CANNOT see her as sailor moon...even tho i would watch it anyway...
I want to know what they are going to do about some certain issues, if they are using unreleased material from the master Takeuchi herself, what exactly are they going to do about some homosexuality issues concerning Zoisite, Haruka/Amara and Michiru/Michelle?
as to whom i think should play the senshi/warriors, I'm still working on my list, however, I do think that they should keep it closer to their original age range, some of the actors/actresses i've heard slated and/or suggested just seem to old to me, especially when youth is such a prominent theme in the series. the actors can't look mature already, we have to grow with them in their journey to maturity

GameOverGirl

They are NOT going to make a Sailor Moon movie! Maybe in Japan, NOT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES! Takeuchi would never give her "Unreleased Material" to some foreign director fuck it up. I love Sailor Moon (Japanese versions), its unlikely that a group of American actresses/actors are going to play the cast--Considering how horrible the dubs were and not to mention Saban nightmare! WE LOSSED THE RIGHTS FOR EVERYTHING RELATED TO SAILOR MOON! Come one people. FUCKING THINK!

Senshi

I really doubt they will make a Sailor Moon live-action in the U.S. However, they did make a live action of Sailor Moon in Japan, it came out rather corny, but addicting non-the-less. It was titled, "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon", in short, "PGSM". Also, since this, "Sailor Moon live-action rumor", has been floating around for years, it also makes me think it's not going to happen. Oh, and like "GameOverGirl" says, the U.S. no longer has the rights to Sailor Moon (Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon). So, naturally it would be strange that they would be able to make a live action movie.

game-gurl

Hi i wanna know iz sailor moon iz true bec some one toled me dat sailor moon iz really real in japen i heared the japen news itz true iz it plzzz tell me dat sailor moon iz true and my fav chart izzzz sailor jupter and sailor mars and sailor moon i know sailor moon iz a big cry babe and i luv sailor moonz filmz and video it izzzz so kool and i got heaps of sailor moon video =] see ya

Cheralle

Today,
i was on the computer for 3 hours now and im sitting here looking at sailor moon pictures and being bored and wish that sailor moon is back on tv so i could watch it. When im alone i always wonder why did sailor moon cut off? and i need to no and i try to find a way to bring sailor moon on air again.But i need your help,Write to sailor moon and tell er to bring sailor moon back on air [ sailor_moon@sailormoon.com ] I think thats her address and i all right email her and i hope that she gets it and yeah ... I love watching sailor moon and I watch all the Ep. and i want to start over now so yeah i gunna go now!
Sign:
cheralle vi

Jadeite-fangirl

I personaly beleive that this will never hit into America because of the fact of the fighting in SMLA, in Japan because the girls do cartwheels and if your wearing a skirt and you do that your panites will show,and there's now way you can stop the from happening on a real person like in anime. But that will be so cool to have it here, but hey the may change the fighting style so that will not happen, who knows.

Michelle

actually, if you watched the uncut episodes, there was lots of panty flashes. lols

Mimi

Here is my list of the actor how should plays the character:

-Sailor Moon: Mischa Barton (She is Perfetct because she got the same type of face).
-Sailor Mars: seriously Deana is the worst choice... I love her but she is to skinny an the role of mars should be play by Jessica Sutta (Pussycat Dolls) or Nan Zhang (Gossip Girl).
-Sailor venus: Julie Gonzalo...beautiful! or another blond beauty.
-Sailor Mercury: Alexis Bledel, Emily Rossum, etc... someone whith a sweet face :)
-Sailor Jupiter: MARY ELIZABETH WINSTEAD!!!! She got the look! Maybe Michelle Trachtenberg, or Leighton Meester.

So tell me wath you think about this list.
(Sorry for my english... i'm french:))

Michael Zimmerman

I actually own a Sailor Moon movie website where fans can send in any ideas for cast, directors, score composers, music to appear on the soundtrack, and fan-art. Better yet, it won't be 100% faithful to the DiC or Cloverway versions. For example, the Black Moon Clan, Witches 5, Amazon Trio, Amazoness Quartet, Shadow Galactica, etc. will remain the same (for the first one, we'll use the dub names of the villains - Emerald/Esmeraude, Prince Diamond, Prince Demand, Sapphire/Blue Saphire, Rubeus, Crimson Rubeus). And instead of Sailor Scouts, it will be the gutsier Sailor Soldiers. Additionally, the Outer Soldiers will appear in the outline for the Sailor Moon Super S movie that a fellow writer is scribing for my website.

I won't go into any further details, but visit my website. And my other contact is at MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/smfanmichael.

Stephanie

I believe that they would never be able to do it because the U.S. doesn't have the rights to Sailor Moon. They lost it a long time ago after the creator of the series pulled the show because of too many changes. Plus that cast is completely ridiculous they are Junior High School Girls. They'd have to rework the entire series to make it possible for those actors. Plus I really wish that people would use the proper names for Usagi Tsukino and Mamoru Chiba. I prefer watching the japanese live action version.

chibiusamoonprincess

PGSM is cheesy, low-budget, campy CRAP. If there was gonna be a Sailor Moon live-action feature film (which there ISN'T and never will be), you guys would hate it because it's not cheesy and girlie and has foam costumes and dancing girls waving batons at plush monsters. If done correctly a Sailor Moon live-action movie could work very well. However, that will never happen because Hollywood only brings to the big screen the animes that nobody gives a shit about like Aeon Flux. The only exception to that rule was Transformers which turned out to be OK.

Cheralle J.Ã¢â„¢Â¥

I WANT SAILOR MOON TO COME BACK ON AIR.
IM A BIG FAN OF SAILOR MOON!
PLEASE !!!!

erdonita

hello sailor moon. my name is erdonita.I'm 10 yours old.good bay.si you kiter

SerenityQueen

Well now shocking news for me ! Although I didn't like the PGSM i would like to see a US version. Although I would change a little the cast.... For example those characters...
Usagi Tsukino / Sailor Moon: Hilary Duff
Rei Hino / Sailor Mars: I think Ashley Simpson would be ok for it...
Haruka / Sailor Uranus : I would choose Charlize Theron

And by the way, what about the others Pluto, Saturn?

by the way for all SM fans if they want they could contact me at my e-mail adress sw33t_rebel@yahoo.com

Cheralle joseph

PLEASE LET SAILOR MON
BACK ON AIR.!!!
I REALLY LIKE WTCHING HER!

I DONT WANT TO LET Hilary Duff
TO PLAY SAILOR MOON...
I WANT THE REAL ACTORS
>:( PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

arta

uaaaa...sa foo t bukraa..;p

greta

heeeeeeeey, sailor moon you beautiful, My frendes yes, bay see you later!

sabrina

helo sasilor moon a i love you

ung

huuuuuuuuuufhhhhh,,,,,,,,,,sailor moon,,???!!! long time no see..........ya............???

linda

i reallly love sailor moon i wish u could write more more and more

linda

A.

A live action Sailormoon would be a shit idea, and would bomb, and rightfully so.

Sailormoon is something that, ultimately, is fundamentally Japanese to it's core. From character names, to situations and such, it wouldn't do right to be staged in America. It would another example of an anime raped to be commodified to American audiences.

I don't know why the fuck American kids just don't learn how to watch subtitled crap.

TrophyBoyfriend

WHELP! looks like this rumor has finally died. bummer. but in all honesty people have been talking about it for YEARS. its time we all face the truth

Ashley

Oh man, I always wish this would get made
back in the day I sooo wanted Melissa Joan Hart to play Sailor Moon

but if it ever got made I would choose

Michelle Tractechenberg-Sailor Moon
Keiko Kitagawa-Sailor Mars
Maki Horikita-Sailor Mercury
Hayden Paneteire - Sailor Venus
I'm still debating Sailor Jupiter, I dun have a clue who could play her I would say Ellen Page but Jupiter is really tall and Page is short stuff! Maybe Demi Lovato?

I say keep the Sailor Mars from PGSM
That show was crap but she was the perfect Rei.

Now I know people get pissed cuz of the western actresses being suggested but ummm...blame Naoko Takeuchi for that, Sailor Moon and Sailor Venus clearly look CAUCASIAN!

Mischa is too skinny man, Michelle can get into Serena/Usagi's character better

Darien....I dunno yet

as much as I would love to see this I doubt it will happen seeing how Naoko Takeuchi removed the US license from anime and the manga.

Ashley

btw get a GOOD stylist man.
PGSM those girls look incredibly stupid with those wigs on
and the outfits=cheesy cheap material!

The scouts are supposed to look fashionable dammit!
I say hire Christian Siriano ASAP!!

janett

Hillary Duff is 100% ok to be sailor moon. She is fresh,young and the most important ..she likes sailor moon.

For Mercury, I considered to Selena Gomez.
Mars.. Keiko Kitagawa, she has the best performance in this moment, and she worked in Fast and Furious 3.
Jupiter..Maybe Enma Watson??
Venus... Ashley Tisdale or another beautiful and funny actrees?

vjosa

ich liebe dich i love you

AdelleNorigie

I would love to see them in the roles:

Usagi (moon) - Emilie de Ravin

Rei (mars)- Megan Fox

Makoto (jupiter)- Keira Knightley

Minako (venus)- Amanda Seyfried

Ami (mercury) - Alexis Bledel

Haruka (uranus)- Katee Sackhoff

Michiru (neptune)- Emmy Rossum

Setsuna (pluto)- Fatima Siad

Hotaru (saturn) - Suzuka Ohgo

Chibiusa -AnnaSophia Robb

Mamoru - Wentworth Miller

wolverine

Well I hope who ever is making a SM movie out there will read this comment even though they might not care, but anyways here it goes.

If Someone is really making a SM movie.

For starters, I could possibly be Sailor Moon's biggest fan and umm I really would enjoy a SM movie. However, I dont really think that who ever is making this movie is really gonna do a good job, no ofence, but Sailor Moon is really important to me so much I mean so much and I would hate it that some idiot will try to make a movie and make the same mistakes that went on the produciton of Ninja turtles, Dragon Ball Evolution etc.

You want to know what was the mistake.

First of all when you watch an anime in this case Sailor Moon, which lets face it, its really awesome and it has alot of style and nice long colored hair and beautiful skinny hot teenage girls, the question is, will this movie look exactly like the anime?

wolverine

that means same colored hair and skinny delicate perfect face girls will be included obviously, will it look like it at all or will it be bad as the SABAN Sailor Moon which was horrifid or will it look bad like those chinese girls up there that are a bit chunky and whose outfits look so fake and whose hairs look so bad?

will the movie look so terrible and nothing like the anime like Dragon Ball Evolution looked like where there is a guy who'se hair looks nothing like gokus and the storyline is messed up?

will the Sailor moon movie have good effects to make the Sailor Scouts transformations perfectly exactly the same? Will it be a kids movie rated PG and that wont be so special at all?

will it have the same fuckin storyline for God Sakes? will it?

wolverine

My point is that us Fans fell in love with Sailor Moon and we want to see Sailor Moon, not some ridiculous version that is trying to look cool but it will suck at the end like they all do.
We want to see the Sailor Moon and the sailor scouts we met with the same transformation and attacks we witnessed.
We want to see something big going on with a good start and a good ending, a long movie that shows us what we saw in the anime but this time with real people.
It really doesn't matter what actors come out or what actresses to.
But even though Sailor Moon is Japanese, NONE OF THE CHARACTERS IN THE ANIME LOOK A BIT JAPANESE!

Michelle

that's just the style of animation. the eyes are exaggerated so that the girls look cute/innocent. now, the sailor soldiers that actually DO look japanese are mercury (maybe b/c she's tiny & is an awesome student? i just have that feeling about her) & mars (duhhh... raye lives in a shinto shrine!).. & i think mamoru/darien is also supposed to be japanese.. but he's so TALL... the rest definately appear to be caucasion based by hair colour.

wolverine

My point is I fell love with the Series as it is so if whoever is making this movie or thinking on making a movie of Sailor Moon movie, I would HARDLY RECOMMEND YOU TOO FIRST WATCH ALL THE ORIGINAL ANIME WITH ALL THE EPISODES ITS BETTER IF YOU WATCH THE ENGLISH VERSION BUT THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT,
SAILOR NEPTUNE/MICHELLE AND SAILOR URANUS/AMARA ARE LOVERS OKEY THEY ARE LESBIANS BUT IN THE ENGLISH VERSION THEY ARE CAUSINS AND I FIND THAT WRONG. IF THEY ARE LESBIANS THEN LET THEM BE LESBIANS NOT CAUSINS PLEASE SHOW THE PEOPLE THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH HOMOSEXUALITY.

I have much more to say but I do not have the time so who ever is making this movie or is thinking to make a movie, i would love to hear your opinion and you mine so here is my e-mail address for whoever wants to know anything about what i think so please lets talk.

luisg_7sagen@yahoo.com

contact me before doing anything else

Michelle

BLAH.. to the english version. once i started watching the subbed version, i could never watch the dubbed again. the voice actors are just so damn ANNOYING.. & i don't like how they changed what they say & plot. japanese version is a 1000x better!!

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