After releasing the official trailer back in December, the live-action Knights of the Zodiac movie finally announced its cinema release date in Japan.
Entitled Saint Seiya The Beginning in Japan, the upcoming film will be released in the country in late April 2023.
Given that it’s also being heavily promoted outside Japan and features an international cast, it is expected that the film will be released in the US soon after its Japanese release.
Mackenyu and the Saint Seiya Live-Action Film
Mackenyu is one of the most popular actors in Japan and among anime fans. He's also the son of Sonny Chiba (of The Street Fighter fame).
Mackenyu has played various roles in live-action anime adaptations, including Yukishiro Enishi in Rurouni Kenshin: The Final and Scar in the Fullmetal Alchemist movies.
His two most anticipated roles are Zoro in Netflix’s live-action One Piece series, as well as Pegasus in the upcoming Saint Seiya movie.
While we have yet to see his version of Zoro in full, Mackenyu’s Pegasus was already previewed in the movie’s full-length English trailer, which you can watch here:
Many anime live-action adaptations are produced in Japan and feature a completely Japanese main cast. Knights of the Zodiac is different as it is a Hollywood production.
Anime live-action adaptations have gotten a bad reputation among fans for their hit-or-miss nature.
While movies like Rurouni Kenshin are praised, other projects like Cowboy Bebop and Death Note have been panned.
Because of this, many fans are hoping that the upcoming movie will do the source material justice, especially as Saint Seiya is one of the most iconic shonen manga.
RELATED: Mackenyu's Zoro Will Blow Fans Away in One Piece Live-Action, Says Insider
Knights of the Zodiac Live-Action Info, Release Date
The upcoming movie was announced way back in Comic Con Brazil 2016, though fans had to wait five years for an update about the movie.
An announcement finally came in 2021, as the film was confirmed to be directed by Tomasz Bagiński, with Mackenyu announced to take the starring role.
Now, fans won’t have to wait too long as the Knights of the Zodiac live-action will be released in Japanese cinemas on April 28, 2023.
Along with the release date announcement, a new Japanese trailer was released:
Joining Mackenyu in the cast is Madison Iseman, Sean Bean, Famke Janssen, Nick Stahl, Diego Tinoco, and Mark Dacascos.
Right now though, there’s no word yet on a US release date for the Saint Seiya movie. However, a release date announcement is likely coming soon.
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