While it is true thatDragonball Evolutionnever deserved a sequel, the movie’s follow-up should still have happened just so viewers could see one character in live-action. Over a decade after its release,Dragonball Evolutionis still touted as one of theworst live-action takes on anime, and rightfully so. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 14%, the live-action film stands as a prime example of how disastrous an anime adaptation can be if its source material’s legacy is not taken too seriously by a filmmaker.
Although translating anime to the live-action medium has always been challenging,Dragonball Evolutionproved that it takes a lot more than flashy visuals and bloated budgets to successfully bring an iconic anime to life. GivenhowDragonball Evolutionfailedboth critically and commercially, expanding its lore with a sequel naturally did not make sense. However, it is hard not to believe that its sequel would have potentially made the series far more exciting if it had featured one character from the original anime.
Every Day I Wonder What Vegeta Would’ve Looked Like In Dragonball Evolution’s Universe
Vegeta’s Casting Might Have Even Saved The Movie Series
Even when it comes to casting,Dragonball Evolutionarguably made some questionable choices by whitewashing most characters from the original anime. However, I cannot help but believe thatthe movie series could have redeemed itself by making the right casting call for Vegeta. After Goku, Vegeta has always been the most likable character from the original anime franchise. Many, like me, would also argue that Vegeta’s catharsis from being the most ruthless villain to becoming one of the most rootable heroes in the series makes his arc even more compelling than Goku’s.
Casting Vegeta For Live-Action Dragon Ball Z: 9 Actors Who’d Be Perfect
Although it is unknown whether a Dragon Ball Z live-action will ever happen, it is fun to determine all the potential actors who could play Vegeta.
Owing to this, I would have loved to see how Vegeta’s story would have played out in live-action and who would have portrayed him. Many talented actors like Andrew Koji, Henry Golding, and Lewis Tan would have been perfect for the live-action role, and their involvement with the series as Vegeta would likely have made it more watchable. Unfortunately, sinceDragonball Evolution 2will never see the light of the day, viewers will never get to see a live-action version of Vegeta.
Goku’s Backstory Was So Confusing, I Don’t Even Know If Saiyans Are A Thing In Dragonball Evolution
The Sequel Would Have Struggled With Vegeta’s Story
Dragonball Evolutioncared little about sticking to the complex lore established by the original anime and manga. Instead, it went its own way by touting the Saiyan race’s Great Ape transformation as “Oozaru” and significantly changing many other aspects of Goku’s origin story.The movie did not even mention “Saiyans” even once, leaving viewers questioning whether the alien race was even a thing in the live-action storyline. Without the existence of Saiyans,Dragonball Evolution 2would have had to find other creative ways to introduce Vegeta as a primary character.
By changing Vegeta’s backstory and overarching purpose for arriving on Earth, the movie series would have further dug its own grave and established itself as an irredeemable anime live-action adaptation.
This would have ended in disaster and forced the live-action series to drift further away from its source.Dragonball Evolutionwas heavily criticized for reimagining the original anime and manga as a silly coming-of-age high school story. Many were even let down by the fact that the movie could even get the spelling of “Dragon Ball” right. By changing Vegeta’s backstory and overarching purpose for arriving on Earth, the movie series would have further dug its own grave and established itself as an irredeemable anime live-action adaptation.
If Another Dragon Ball Movie Ever Happens, It Should Start From The Saiyan Saga
Many Western Viewers Were Introduced To The Franchise Through The Saiyan Saga
Even though theSaiyan Sagais the seventh saga in the original franchise’s overarching story, it played a crucial role in introducingDragon Ballto Western viewers. Owing to this, alive-actionDragon Balladaptationwould likely have a wider appeal if it begins whereDragon Ball Zstarts its narrative. Also, from a storytelling standpoint,the idea of a group of Earth-bound martial artists having a showdown with overpowered aliens like Vegeta would be fun to watch, even if the live-action adaptation does not have a lot to offer in terms of narrative depth and character development.
Against a budget of $30 million,Dragonball Evolutionmade $56.5 million at the global box office.
Although the live-action would risk leaving important story beats behind if it directly began with the Saiyan Saga, it could provide some exposition to quickly establish key elements of theDragon Balluniverse without dragging the plot down. If all works out well,starting with the Saiyan Saga would also allow the live-action to progress to the Frieza Saga, which perfectly raises the stakes for the franchise’s heroes and makes room for some epic action sequences. However, afterDragonball Evolution’s failure, it seems unlikely that another live-action adaptation of the franchise will happen soon.
Dragonball Evolution
Dragonball Evolution is a live-action adaptation of the popular Japanese manga and anime series Dragon Ball. Directed by James Wong, the film stars Justin Chatwin as Goku, who embarks on a quest to collect the seven Dragon Balls and prevent the evil Lord Piccolo from destroying the world. The movie diverges from its source material, offering a modernized take on the beloved franchise.
