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DBthemovie has gotten their hands on new scans from Roadshow Magazine showing the first official look at the cast of Dragonball. I’ve cropped and cleaned up some of the photos for better presentation.
Emmy Rossum as Bulma and Joon Park as Yamcha
 Chow Yun-Fat as Master Roshi
 Justin Chatwin as Goku
Justin Chatwin as Goku
Jamie Chung as Chi Chi
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May 22nd, 2008 at 2:16 pm
that doesn’t even look right
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
WRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYY!
*ahem*
If I see it right, it looks like they might be trying to do what Super Mario Bros. did; try to make it fit into our world as hard as they possibly can and utterly failing.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Oh man. Yeah, I spent last night looking at these pics and the other set pics that I emailed you about. I don’t know if I want to cry or throw a fit. The more I read about how they are trying to bring DB into the modern world (with Goku going to school and Bulma not having blue hair, which would totally blend these days, etc.) the less and less it seems like DB. It might get better the closer it gets to release but right now I just don’t see it.
Abandon hope all ye who enter here.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
“as Chi Chi”
haha. And these pictures are hilarious.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
this movie is going to be an absolute cultural abortion.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
What a shit load of crap……….
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
This looks like a Stone Temple Pilots video made for $10 and shot in the Third World.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:53 pm
He is smellin’ like the rose that somebody gave him on his birthday deathbed.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I think people need to back off of this film, its not as though they’re fraking aiming for an Academy Award, Its a movie made for the fans of series, unfortunately to say, people like myself. Yes, Bulma has no blue hair and Chatwin may not be Goku’s splitting image, but seriously what did you expect? Its as though everyones forgetting that its a cartoon thats being made into a movie, and a cartoon that was pretty exaggerated to begin with. Do you seriously think the movie would be better if it followed the traditional DBZ formula, their would just as many people bitching about how corny it is. Atleast wait till the trailer before you all run to the hills screaming murder.
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
“Do you seriously think the movie would be better if it followed the traditional DBZ formula”
Yes; much better.
“their would just as many people bitching about how corny it is.”
No, cause the series itself was very cheesy. That’s part of its appeal. Yes, people would bitch; but not the true Dragon Ball fans - the people who this movie should be targeted to.
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
@Mecline
It’s not so much that they are trying to make it ‘real world’ as that it seems to have completely lost touch with the source material. I was a huge fan of DB when I was in high school. Such a big fan in fact that I actually ran a very popular Gohan shrine for about 2 years. Trust me, I am one of those ‘fans’ that they are supposedly making this movie for and I am not impressed one iota.
GOKU DOES NOT GO TO FREAKING HIGH SCHOOL. He spends those years training. What are they trying to turn this into?
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
This movie isn’t being made for fans. A movie made for fans would bear some resemblance to DB. What did I expect? I expected Bulma to have blue hair, and for the cast members bear at least look a little like the characters they’re portraying. If they’re going for a real world approach how do they plan on incorporating Piccolo? I can’t wait until we see his picture - lulz all around, amIright?
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
@ Chimaera
I completely agree with you on Bulma’s hair. Speaking of hair, why does Chow Yun-Fat have hair? I thought Master Roshi was bald. Yamcha is at least “close”. For the most part, these photos are not boding well for the film at all.
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I hate all this true fan bullshit, I have seen every episode of DB and DBZ along with the movies and people who call themselves true fans are just looking to bitch to others about whatever it is their a fan about. Fans should get some joy out of seeing an epic quest for the Dragonballs, which if handled even at a fraction of what the series offers would be cool. Plus I think Emmy Rossum makes a good bulma even without the blue hair.
And no offense, but marketing a film to all the TRUE dragonball fans is not exactly a genius move commercially. What the frak did you expect.
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
“And no offense, but marketing a film to all the TRUE dragonball fans is not exactly a genius move commercially”
Well, Dragon Ball is arguably the most successful anime series in North America, and along with Sailor Moon is the reason why anime in North America IS so popular today. So yeah, that’s a lot of fans. They could easily make a faithful adaptation that’d still make a lot of money.
And no, I am not bitching. Either way, I am still highly looking forward to this film; it’s one of most anticipated films to be released within the next two years. I plan to be there opening night, and I’m going to try and have as much fun as I possibly can watching it.
I’d just prefer a good faithful adaptation over a good unfaithful adaptation.
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:31 pm
@TrevorRashid
Oh Sailor Moon…wow, brings back memories
Make a movie out of that, using the real story lines and not the water down American version, and I will be there in a heart beat (with my cousin, would feel weird going alone lol).
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Dude. Goku’s hurrr is fucked
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:45 pm
ok im not racist or anything but white boy cant be goku
just aint fit right
it has already lost all my faith
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:49 pm
@ Floppy
Thanks
@ Mecline
Talk about bitching. I believe I conceded that it might get better the closer it gets to release, as in when they start putting out trailers and official posters, etc. I merely stated that based on what I’ve been seeing (not just on /film) it doesn’t inspire much hope. I’ll be the first to stand corrected if the new material on the finished product, that will eventually come, out proves me wrong. The whole complaint about it being in the real world…come on. There is no way to know how that will actually translate b/c I’ve also seen all the episodes too and we both know that never happen.
@Trevor
Sailor Moon is naturally next in this progression, lol.
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
You know, you’d think with all the cosplayers out there, they could find someone who could design good Dragonball costumes. But no, instead… They went to JC Penney.
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Ha Ha. That girl from the Real World San Diego is in this movie. Fail much?
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Oh crap. If they wanna make a real decent anime-based movie, they should have started with the most realistic animes first then head to a more fictional anime. For example, the live-action film of Death Note was awesome. But jumping into this is kinda… awkward. I can’t even imagine this Goku in Saiyn mode…
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Oh, and one more thing- isn’t Justin Chatwin the kid who played Tom Cruise’s bitching son in War of the Worlds??
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:24 pm
OMG, this looks like the worst movie ever. What direction is this film seriously taking? Don’t they realize there is no way to make a legitimate live-action adaptation of this property? If you wanted to do it right it would be an expensive, green screen, special effect, post-production nightmare lacking any cinematic substance.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:00 pm
@ Lance Y
Yes that was him. He was also the not dead/dead kid in the Invisible, which I laughed all the way through. I honestly think this kid lacks personality on the screen but that could just be me.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:25 pm
@Chimera
My 2nd comment are a response to Trevor while my first was just my general feeling all the negative hate thats going towards this movie. Like you I’m waiting for the trailer to cast my final judgment and admit that their is a chance of it going horribly wrong, I just don’t think A few details and photos are enough to go on yet. No disrespect was meant your way Chimera :P
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:26 pm
and I just realized I spelled your name wrong twice…
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
oh and..
@ Trevor
I’ll admit I ranted a little too much but like I said above, everyone is so down on this movie when all we have seen are a few photos and have some vague plot outline. My problem with the whole faithful adaptation is that I just don’t think it could be done, even with the FX quality of today. The idea that the anime was so epic and goofy at the same time would be incredibly difficult to get across in a 2 hour time slot while not having the action and surrounding area look like plastic. I wasn’t exactly impressed with the idea of Goku in high school because I love his origin, but like you I’ll still be their opening night, first showing hoping for the best.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Are they going to make each battle last 15 episodes like in the series? That would rock! They could make like 20 movies!
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:49 pm
its called an adaptation. let the producers and directors work. bitch about it after you see it.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
That looks ridiculous. Trying to copy Goku’s hair into a real person is the most idiotic thing I’ve ever seen.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I guess the main problem I’m having with it is that unless you actually told me those pictures were from Dragonball I wouldn’t know. A good adaptation should capture the spirit and feeling of the original work. So far I don’t see how this does either. *shrugs* I just can’t see it working. An anime is a anime for a reason after all.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Oh wow this looks so dumb.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
i think the only way the movie would have been done justice is if frank miller or someone who was familiar with comic to movie changeovers would have did it.sin city was sweet,300 was sweet,and now he’s doing another one called the spirit that looks great.it may have worked also if they had done it all in C.G. kind of like appleseed or final fantasy.ima give it a chance tho and see it.i hope they dont crap it up like they did street fighter…oh and someones redoing that one too! and if you wana see what a dragon ball movie looks like in live action,check out the japanese one they made.i saw it at my local video store and i might get it.lol yeah,that guys hair does look like he used a ’special’ gel like cameron dias did on ‘theres something about mary’
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:09 pm
If their was any director out their who shouldn’t be allowed near dragon ball its Frank Miller. IMO 300 was overrated, the CG wasn’t bad but the movie didn’t even hold a candle to the masterpiece that is Sin City, which I still hold as the best adaptation of a comic ever. However the CG idea sparked something, It would be different but if it had a budget like that of the FF movie it would look insane.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:52 pm
sometimes I see people with goku hair on public transportation.
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
MY EYES!!!!THEY BURN!!!,YOU BURNED OUT MY EYES AND KILLED MY CHILDHOOD YOU BASTUERDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:29 pm
GATHER MY DBZ BROTHERS AND SISTERS VIVA LA REVOLUTION!!!
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:49 pm
DB and DBZ took up a good portion of my young adulthood. I loved it, my little brother loved it, and so did my mom.
I don’t expect it to do the original justice, but you know what? I’m gonna see it anyway, ’cause I love DB/DBZ that much.
If it sucks, oh well, I don’t care. Nothing hollywood could ever make would compare with the original–but goddamn if I’m not gonna be first in line to see it.
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Do you know how many times over this movie is gonna suck.??
OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I used to be a huge Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z fan and my GOD this just looks awful. I hate the kid playing Goku. He was terrible in “The Invisible” and he’s just going to destroy this franchise. It makes me so sad :(
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:23 pm
i got a movie for you, “last ni**er on earth” starring tom hanks
yeah this is a comment on casting
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:28 pm
@Mike
I seriously doubt that a bad live adaptation movie would destroy a franchise thats 24 years old and hasn’t aired a new episode or manga volume in about 8 years. I think it’s already made its mark.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Looks b-grade, like i said before.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:10 pm
@ Mecline
No worries.
@ Joe
Good point about Goku’s hair. How is not having Bulma with blue hair a good thing when they are obviously trying to so hard to keep his hair in a different zip code…sigh.
@ Jullian
To quote Napoleon Dynamite, “How could you possibly even know that?”
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Doesn’t look so bad.
In any event, their look doesn’t matter to me, really. I just want the fighting to be great. If the fighting looks great, then the plot can be as lame as it wants. Like the series had any real type of plot before anyway.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:29 am
Jamie from the real world? Holy shit this movie is sky rocketing downwards.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:51 am
o man….this is totally screw up entrie holy DBZ man…
this is just so bad….
I dont’ think i will spend money for this man, not even for BT,
…..完全ä¸è¡Œ…..
…..絕å°å¤±æ•—…..
for sure, this will be a stupid and sux movie.
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:13 am
This will indeed be a sux movie.
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:54 am
Jesus… fuckin’… christ… this is the biggest crap I’ve EVER SEEN!
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:49 am
From the looks of it I think they’re taking themselves way too seriously. DBZ was always kinda camp and stupid, but in a good way. This… I dunno, its too “clean” to be camp and too early to tell if its stupid, so we’ll see. Here’s to hoping for the best but expecting the worst. My only consolation is that at least the casting is international…
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:17 am
Since they tried so hard to make Chatwin’s hair look halfway decent, you would think they could just make Bulma’s hair blue. It wouldn’t even be out of place and for me it would just seal the deal on Bulma’s look, which I think is quite accurate so far. I also gotta say I’m sorta digging Chatwin’s hair. Its not like I’m going to rush out for that sort of perm, but for what Goku’s hair looks like in the cartoon, this managed to keep it up without a bunch of punk spikes, which was what I was worried about at first.
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 am
Man, people are actually hiring Real World has beens as serious actors now?
Crazy.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:09 am
@ dan
it is sky rocketing downward? so if it was cool, would your respect for the movie be plummeting upwards?
the reminds of me of the streetfighter movie.. it makes me sad. when i watched DBZ, i remember goku and chi chi didnt look too different, you know, like how different a white kid and an asian girl would look, but thats just me. another thing that has always bugged me is anime hair.. in the anime, the large spikes are representing messy hair thats kinda sticking out, but when cosplay or this movie try to replicate it, it just doesnt look right. i have seen it done correctly only a few times by some cosplayers, and that skill should be applied to this kind of movie. and i cant imagine what turning super saiyan is going to look like, or the fireballs.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:10 am
this* i meant, not the, sorry i messed up, god im such a fucking stupid idiot.
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:03 am
@ big daddy
I’m interested in seeing the super saiyan transformations on screen too. Super saiyan & super saiyan 2 might be pretty straight forward, but super saiyan 3 & 4 would be crazy on screen but I doubt any if not all of them will be included in the movie. Any word on who the villain is supposed to be?
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 am
@Floppy
From what I’ve read it appears that Piccolo Sr. (aka the first Piccolo who was sealed away by Master Roshi) will be the villian (and he’s played by Spike from Buffy). As for Super Saiyan… well, in theory it shouldn’t be in this movie since it’s WAY before he’s supposed to have attained it. Hopefully they’ll stick to the story that much.
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:35 am
Looks like the boycotts are not only filling up Asia, they’re even apreading fast in Europe and the Americas
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:53 am
Talk about career suicide. The only actor on here that could walk away unscathed is Chow Yun-Fat. The others are going to be doomed to Sci-fi channel made for t.v. movies. God awful!
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Real World, lol. Now they really should follow up with a Sailor Moon movie starring the drama queens from The Hills. Cosmic Power, Bwah, ha, ha.
No really, don’t. I was just kidding. Put the script down and walk away.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
@ duca
Thanks!
@ Chimaera
Glad to see you got your evil laugh down pat now haha.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Photoshop.. fake..
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
hmmm can that chatwin kid even fight?i guess if they pulled off the forbidden kingdom with that kid from that superhero high school movie *forgot what it was call..with kurt russel*guess anythings possible huh?
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Goku doesn’t wear jeans.
The movie has already rolled a double 1, and the game hasn’t even started yet.
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Is the first movie going to be Goku finds the Super Saiyan Bowflex?
Seriously, have these guys SEEN the anime? Where is the rest if Him? If they do a sequel are they going to use that dude that played ‘mini me’ for Vegeta?!
The last time Goku was that small he was a child in Dragonball.
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I could star in such film. My apperance is very similar to Gohan’s … Im not joking xD The face build
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:48 pm
@kode
Thanks for the detailed analysis of photo’s that have been shown to be displayed in Shonen Jump. *cough*
May 24th, 2008 at 3:10 am
I wish they would just do it in CG…right guys? And, Goku was a kid when he met Bulma(and Goku has a tail back then)…Roshin/Buten is bald..where’s the turtle(forgot the name)? I’ll go with CG.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Don’t tell me it’s true Don’t tell me it’s true Don’t tell me it’s true Don’t tell me it’s true Don’t tell me it’s true…..
May 31st, 2008 at 7:06 am
That Justin guy looks like a Gohan than a Goku to me,
I wonder if all characters will be in the movie and how the
transformations will acure.
I give them my best of luck,
they will need it.
May 31st, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I wish no luck to this movie. i was stoked for the day ahead of me before I saw this. now I’m just going to cry. all day. if there’s no tail involved i may shoot everyone involved in the making of this movie. (figuratively speaking)
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:43 am
Nooooooooooo! This can’t be true!
June 10th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I think the Goku in Highschool aspect of this movie might play off cool, It will show awesome contrast between him and normal Teens. You guys mean to tell me you wouldnt wanna see someone getting picked on and then having Goku just put the bully in his place! I think that would be sweet! Plus you know this movie is going to have awesome fight scenes at least. Think of the movie “The One” James Wong directed that movie and it has awesome fight scenes and think how much better the CGI would be now a days. You guys need to focus on the positives and not the little details like highschool/ Goku’s cloths/ Bulmas hair (Which has one blue streak in it!) Get pumped and support Dragonball guys, come one!
June 12th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
And how much is Fox paying you, Kevin?
June 20th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
you know the only thing that gets me is that Bulma is suposed to be older than Goku in DB and she looks similar in age to him, and yamcha looks way too old. i am still looking forward to seeing it, although i may be disapointed, if anyone is interested there is an original Dragon Ball live action movie it was made in 2007, (sorta a made for tv movie it looks like) i found it on netflix, from what i heard it was the most horrible thing to come to Dragon Ball sence umm… i dunno the red ribbon army (speaking as an enemy not that the show was bad) but some were saying that it was more funny like a spoof movie than anything so if you like spoof movies of some of your favorite movies and shows (like the scary movie series) you should look it up and watch it. if not it is a serious disapointment to what dragon ball , dragon ball z, and dragon ball gt fans have come to know and love. so be forewarned if this new movie is anything like the one made in 07 it will be a large disapointment for me
June 24th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Although DB doesn’t look right, I’ll probably end up going to watch the film because the cartoons were so cool.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
footy, if you think the cartoons were so cool then you boycott instead of watch this movie, or otherwise it’ll just ruin everything for you
July 4th, 2008 at 8:22 am
I can’t believe wat I am looking at! Why r day trying 2 make a live action movie of DB/DBZ? It can’t be done! DB & DBZ is 2 unrealist! The fighters n da show r 2 powerful! If day make a live action movie, day would have 2 take away alot of power 4 dis movie 2 b realist! The guy who is playing Goku looks nothing like him & DA HAIR & CLOTHES R ALL WRONG 2!! The girl who is playing Bulma is sexy, but she doesn’t have blue hair (WASSUP WIT DAT)! YAMCHA LOOKS LIKE SHIT DAT CAME OUT OF MY ASS! Y is Master Roshi is not bald & not wearing shades?!! Chi Chi is sexy, but she can’t play dis role because Chi Chi is not Asian! I AM SO MAD ON HOW THESE CHARACTERS LOOK! I will always b a DB & DBZ fan, but if dis movie sucks I will go crazy!!!!! GOD dis movie rest n ur hands (PLEASE SAVE US ALL FROM DISAPPOINTMENT)!!!!!!!!
July 8th, 2008 at 11:19 am
crap… it’s gonna be crap.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
They all look way too serious.
And wtf with Yamcha? He looks no where NEAR the character in the show.
:(
August 8th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
co wy tam wita oni nic nie wiedz? bo sie nie znaj?
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
if this is a movie well this will fuck up the whole seris
August 23rd, 2008 at 5:14 pm
It looks crab, seriously those people don’t even know what DBZ is, man!! gee z, if say so dare to make it shitty they deserve to be shut, and where is piccolo, if this to be followed by DBZ, which i doubt it, they better choose a worthy actor to play Vegita( prince of all Saiyans) or seriously they should hang themselves.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:18 am
there were lots of people that complained about bulma’s hair (which is actually kind of funny) when it seemed to me that they should be more worried about that guy that’s playing goku… in the series goku was playful and funny and basically an all around goof– that chatwin guy doesn’t look like he has an ounce of humor in his body… how in the world are they hoping to pull this thing off?.. this feels like its going to be a movie that is entitled dragonball without it actually being dragonball…
September 7th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Jamie Chung is one hot and sexy lady.
She is the best!!!
September 8th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Ach. I distrust this “real life” approach. In fact, I hate it. The corny/coolness of the anime was what made it so likeable, and I would expect that whoever was attempting to create this film would make it as out of this world as possible. You can find bums on the street wearing their hair in messed-up spikes like Justin Chatwin’s. To get Goku’s look would take time at effort that cosplayers have, but directors apparently don’t. I’ve watched a few trailers, and it’s not looking good for Dragon Ball Z live action.
September 16th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
This movie is going to suck! And Goku looks like a retard!
September 27th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Hey, aint that harry potter?!?!?!?
October 4th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Ok OK yes its Not DBZ cause ITS NOT DBZ its based on a saga in DRAGONBALL NOT and i repeat NOT Dragaonball Z , Goku is still a child somewhere between 13-16 ” cartoon wise” he dosnt know how old he is he was young when his grandpa died and lived alone till bulma found him.
But yeah all you people hating because its not DBZ remember its NOT DBZ its dragonball and it is a very differnt show go rent a few DVDs on it and you will see this movi is more of a cross breed to be honest.