In what continues to be a big year for anime fans, Toei Animation and Sony have announced the first cast members for Knights of the Zodiac. The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Famke Janssen and Sean Bean will star in the upcoming film adaptation of the 1986 manga that eventually found success as an anime series.
Created by Masami Kurumada and originally titled Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac, the series followed five warriors known as the Saints, each of whom wore a set of armor that gave them powers derived from different constellations. The team of heroes dedicated themselves to protecting the resurrected Olympian goddess Athena against other Olympian gods who seek to rule the Earth.
The mononymously-named Mackenyu is headlining the film as Seiya, the team’s leader who wears the armor of Pegasus. Fans might recognize Mackenyu from his supporting role in Pacific Rim: Uprising. He also happens to be the son of legendary Japanese actor Sonny Chiba. Madison Iseman (Jumanji: The Next Level) is co-starring as Sienna, a young girl with “godly powers” of her own. It sounds like Sienna will be the vessel for the re-incarnated Athena in the film.
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Meanwhile, Bean is playing Alman Kiddo, a mentor figure who drafts Seiya into the Knights. Diego Tinoco will also star as an assassin who is hired to kill Iseman’s character. Janssen’s role hasn’t been announced yet. Nick Stahl (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines) and Mark Dacascos (Mortal Kombat: Legacy) will also appear in the film.
Tomasz Baginski, an executive producer on The Witcher, is directing Knights of the Zodiac. Josh Campbell and Matt Stuecken (10 Cloverfield Lane) penned the latest drafts of the script. Additionally, Andy Cheng, who recently worked on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is handling the fight choreography.
What do you make of the first cast members for Knights of the Zodiac? Tell us what you think in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: Saint Seiya: Saintia Sho Vol. 2
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