Warner Bros. Prepares To 'Attack' Titan With Live-Action Hollywood Movie

There is some "giant" news coming out of Warner Bros. studios, as the picture powerhouse is reportedly preparing to bring #manga series #AttackOnTitan to our screens for a live-action outing. Hajime Isayama's imaginative story about a world of walled cities and fighting against carnivorous giants is one of the medium's best-loved incarnations, and alongside Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell is one of Japan's best-known exports. As well as the continuing manga series, an anime version, and several video games, there have previously been two Japanese feature-films of the story, but this would be the first time that a studio this side of the pond has tackled the source material — cue whitewashing controversy!

It Sounds Magical

So, who are they eyeing to bring Attack on Titan to Hollywood? None other than Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them producer and aficionado David Heyman. Heyman could be swapping nifflers for Nagasaki as he is tipped to be the one to helm Attack on Titan. He is also no stranger to big-screen action scenes after also being the producer on all seven Harry Potter films, I Am Legend, and Gravity; Heyman is also attached to the upcoming Warriors remake.

#WarnerBros. is currently seeking the rights to the franchise, and is cautiously optimistic that Heyman is their No. 1 option. I actually quite enjoyed the previous live-action Attack on Titan, but given Heyman's imaginative work on Beasts, he certainly seems like the right man for the job. Another live-action Titans, especially by Warner Bros., could be something spectacular, and we can only hope that they push for an R-rating.

A Titan-ic Endeavor

While the original source material remains the subject of controversy for its violent tones, Attack on Titan's manga currently has over 60 million copies in print, so Hollywood would be mad to not to take it further — I am just amazed it has taken this long. In addition to the comic series, Attack on Titan is best known for its #anime version, which ironically was secured for the UK by Heyman himself.

The first series aired in Japan in 2013 to rave reviews, and while there have been several continuations, the long-awaited second season has become something of a running joke. Thankfully, a full second season will finally arrive in April 2017 for those who are still hungry for more giant-tearing flesh. The series revolves around a young boy named Eren Yeager, who finds his home breached by the towering terrors. He teams up with his friends Armin and Mikasa to join the specialized forces who take on the Titans, but they realize that government conspiracies and legendary stories hide the real truth behind the monsters. Whether or not a westernized version would take a similar story, or forge its own path, remains to be seen.

It is also proposed that if Heyman did take on the goliaths, it would be for a two-part deal, similar to the Japanese live-action version. The previous cinematic Attack on Titan was first released in 2015, directed by Shinji Higuchi. Part 1 became the seventh highest grossing Japanese made film at the Japanese box office in 2015, while Part 2 (subtitled End of the World) underperformed at the box office. With a combined gross of just $46 million, I'm sure Warner Bros. will be looking for a bigger slice of the Titan world. Fee-fi-fo-fum, can you hear that? That's the sound of dollar signs!