Dragonball Evolution
Short description
Dragonball Evolution is a 2009 action and fantasy film directed by James Wong, based on the manga by Akira Toriyama, who is also credited on the screenplay alongside Ben Ramsey. On his eighteenth birthday, Goku, played by Justin Chatwin, receives a Dragonball from his grandfather. Six others exist, and gathering all seven is said to grant a single wish. When a tragedy strikes close to home, Goku sets out with his companions to find the remaining spheres before the villain Lord Piccolo, played by James Marsters, can use them for his own ends. Chow Yun-fat appears as Roshi, with Emmy Rossum as Bulma, Jamie Chung as Chi Chi, and Joon Park as Yamcha.
The film followed Wong's earlier work as a director, including two entries in the Final Destination series and The One, and was produced by Stephen Chow. Made for a budget of 30 million USD, it went on to gross 58 million USD worldwide.
Reception was weak across the board. On IMDb it holds a rating of 2.5/10 from around 84,000 votes, and on TMDB it stands at 2.9/10 from roughly 2,300 votes. A film critics' rating of 3.4/10 from 63 reviews is in line with that audience response, placing the film among the more poorly received adaptations of its era.
What's left behind the scenes
- Stephen Chow wanted to give the role of Chi-Chi to Zhang Yuqi, who starred in his film 'Seven', but the studio chose Jamie Chung.
- Most of the film was shot on a green screen at a studio in Mexico.
- To somewhat compensate for the practical absence of Japanese people on the set and behind the scenes of 'Dragonball', James Wong arranged for the main song for the soundtrack to be recorded by Japanese superstar Ayumi Hamasaki, known in her homeland as the 'Empress of Pop'.
- Jamie Chung auditioned for the role of Bulma. When she didn't get the part and learned that Emmy Rossum would be playing her, she said that Emmy was perfectly suited for it.
- Initially, it was planned for all the characters to wear wigs of various colors and shapes (similar to those of the characters in the anime of the same name). This idea was rejected, but the hairstyles of Justin Chatwin and Emmy Rossum somewhat correspond to the original source.
- Film producer Stephen Chow is a big fan of 'Dragonball'. Initially, Chow wanted to direct the film himself, but decided to limit himself to the role of producer.
- It took four hours to apply makeup to James Masters to create the image of Piccolo.
- James Cayson Lee auditioned for the role of Yamcha.
- The role of the main villain, Piccolo, was offered to Ron Perlman, but he chose to participate in the sequel to 'Hellboy' instead.
- Tom Welling was considered for the role of Goku.
- The film is based on the manga "Dragon Ball" (1984-1985) by Akira Toriyama.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
