Dragonball Evolution
A live-action adaptation of the Dragon Ball manga.
Dragonball Evolution is a 2009 superhero film adapted from Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga series, which originally ran from 1984 to 1995. James Wong directed the film from a script by Ben Ramsey, with Stephen Chow serving as producer. The cast includes Justin Chatwin, Emmy Rossum, James Marsters, Jamie Chung, Chow Yun-fat, Joon Park, and Eriko Tamura. The story follows teenager Goku, who learns about his past and must stop the evil alien warlord Demon King Piccolo from collecting the powerful Dragon Balls and conquering Earth. Released in Japan and several Asian countries on March 13, 2009, and in the United States on April 10, the film earned $56.5 million worldwide against a $30 million production budget, making it a commercial failure. Critics gave it generally negative reviews. Fox had planned a series of films, but the poor reception led to the cancellation of all sequels. The film has been criticized for whitewashing and is noted for negatively influencing later anime-to-cinema adaptations.
- Release date (Japan/Asia)
- March 13, 2009
- Release date (United States)
- April 10, 2009
- Production budget
- $30 million (disputed; other reports $50–100 million)
- Worldwide gross
- $56.5 million
- Director
- James Wong
- Screenwriter
- Ben Ramsey
- Producer
- Stephen Chow
Lore & Background
Two thousand years before the film, the Namekian Demon King Piccolo came to Earth and was sealed away by seven mystics using the Mafuba enchantment. In present-day, Piccolo breaks free and, with his henchwoman Mai, searches for the seven Dragonballs. On his eighteenth birthday, martial artist Goku is given the four-star Dragonball by his Grandpa Gohan. After Piccolo kills Gohan, Goku seeks out Master Roshi, who has another Dragonball. Goku meets Bulma, who has a device that locates the Dragonballs, and together they find Roshi. They are joined by desert bandit Yamcha and later by Chi-Chi. Roshi prepares a new Mafuba to reseal Piccolo, but Mai steals the team's Dragonballs. Piccolo summons Shenron at the Dragon Temple, but Goku's team arrives. During the battle, Piccolo reveals Goku is his minion Ōzaru the Great Ape. Goku transforms into Ōzaru during a solar eclipse, kills Roshi, but then regains control and seemingly defeats Piccolo with the Kamehameha Wave. Goku uses the Dragonballs to revive Roshi. Piccolo survives and is treated by Mai.
Reader's Guide
Dragonball Evolution was a commercial failure, grossing $56.5 million worldwide against a production budget of $30 million, and received generally negative reviews from critics. Its reception led Fox to cancel all planned sequels. The film has been accused of whitewashing and has had a negative effect on future anime-to-cinema adaptations. Development began in 2002 when 20th Century Fox acquired the rights. Stephen Chow was approached to direct but declined, serving as producer instead. Several directors passed before James Wong accepted. Casting included Justin Chatwin as Goku and James Marsters as Piccolo, who was a fan of the original anime. Filming took place in Mexico City, Sierra de Órganos National Park, and Nevado de Toluca. The film dropped anthropomorphic creatures and talking animals from the source material. The film's legacy is largely as a cautionary example of poorly received live-action anime adaptations.
Did You Know?
- Ron Perlman was originally offered the role of Lord Piccolo but turned it down to work on Hellboy II: The Golden Army.
- The first application of James Marsters' Piccolo makeup took seventeen hours and left him with difficulty breathing.
- Stephen Chow originally wanted to cast Zhang Yuqi for the part of Chi Chi, but the role went to Jamie Chung.
- The film dropped anthropomorphic creatures and talking animals from the original Dragon Ball manga.
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