Live Action Casting: Lupin the Third

Here we are with another installment of Live Action Casting where this time we will reveal our best candidates to play the major character roles of the classic anime Lupin the Third. For those who don't know, Lupin the Third comprises several animated films and television programs based on a series of novels by Maurice Leblanc about a gang of master thieves led by Arsene Lupin III.

So for the title role, we need someone who fits the look and can play the personality of the world's greatest thief, the cocky, conniving, thrill-seeking and often goofy Arsene Lupin III.

Lupin is supposed to be attractive, charismatic, suave (when he wants to be) and also needs to be played by someone with a knack for comedy. The actor needs to be someone who can also pull off action scenes. My first choice is Ryan Reynolds.

Unlike him playing Green Lantern Hal Jordan, I actually think that Ryan Reynolds is perfect for the role! Plus, he is a big enough name to anchor the movie in terms of star power.

If I have to go with a second choice, that would be Jason Lee.

The "My Name is Earl" star can obviously do comedy as well as action as seen on the show Memphis Beat. He looks the part too. I'm just not sure of his star power for the film.

Next we have to cast the members of Lupin's gang starting with his gun-toting partner in crime Jigen Daisuke.

 There are two ways I can cast this one. The first is by ignoring his obvious Japanese name (hey it worked for Dragonball Evolution, right? Uhhhh... moving on) and casting my first choice Hugh Jackman.

Wolverine here is perfect as the tough crack-shot with the scruffy beard. He looks the part and we know he rocks at action roles. Plus, his name also carries some great star-power.

But if I wanted to stick to accuracy in terms of the character's races, I would cast Jang Dong Gun.

Yes, I know he's Korean. However, he did play a ronin in the highly under-rated martial arts meets western flick The Warrior's Way. He's a good actor, knows English and can rock the action needed for the part of Jigen.

Next we have Lupin's favorite soft-spoken swordsman Ishikawa Goemon XII.

For this part I only have one actor in mind and he is one of Jonny Prophet and my Asian action film stars... Donnie Yen.

You may know Donnie Yen from Hero, Blade II or Shanghai Knights. He doesn't do very many movies in Hollywood but he is a massive star in the Asian market. He both looks the part and kicks ass.

Next we look at a woman who is both Lupin's love interest and biggest foil, truly his match in more ways than one, Mine Fujiko.

For Fujiko, I do want an Asian woman. She needs to be able to act, must be attractive, able to do action and fluent in English. I have two candidates. The first is Jamie Chung.

You might know her from Dragonball Evolution (congratulations on not hanging yourself) and Sucker Punch where she was one of the sexy mental patients. She totally fits the bill and both of those films prove she can do action.

My other pick is Ellen Wong who was amazing as Knives Chau in Scott Pilgrim vs the World.

Again, she can do action, comedy and she is extremely attractive. I would be happy with either actress to be honest.

The final pick is Lupin's arch-nemesis, the bumbling obsessed Interpol agent Inspector Zenigata.

Again, because of his name I would want a Japanese (or at least Asian) man for the part. Jonny and my pick is Tadanobu Asano.

American audiences would know him from Battleship if any of them actually saw that movie. The geeky among you will remember him as Hogun of the movie Thor. The demented among us might know him better as Kakihara from the bloody cult classic Ichi the Killer. Asano is an awesome actor, he looks the part, knows English, can do action and I am sure with the amount of range he has could pull off playing Zenigata.I would say he doesn't exactly look the part based on Zenigata's face, but seriously who's face actually looks like that? Well...

...I have to say his is closer. I have heard Bruce Campbell as a possible choice from other fan castings. I would love him for the part except that Zenigata is clearly not a 'white guy' name. However, if Hugh Jackman played Jigen, I would have a difficult time arguing that Campbell wasn't right based on his race. I love Bruce Campbell. We know he can do action and comedy, plus he and Zenigata certainly share similar chins. And the thought of Ryan Reynolds bantering with Bruce Campbell puts a smile on my face... so who knows?

That does it for this installment of Live Action Casting. Tune in next time when we cast a show featuring space travelling gun-slinging bounty hunters who love jazz. Stay strange everyone.