Anime News Network report

Nearly choked on my cereal when I read the headline. I'd pretty much dismissed the rumours about this that came out some months ago but it looks like they did have substance after all.

I've mentioned it before, haven't I? I'm a huge fan of Rurouni Kenshin. Some of my fellow fans are excited, others are apprehensive. A new anime, and a live-action film -- pretty cool for a series than ended more than a decade ago. But of course, they are worries about how well the source material will translate to the big screen, casting quibbles, and the occasional cries of "NO THEY GONNA RUIN MAH CHILDHOOD FOREVER". My opinion is that this has the potential to be epic, but I don't want to get my hopes up -- I'll reserve that for the upcoming anime adaptation instead.

I have to wonder, though, how they plan to adapt the story, which arcs they plan to cover, which characters will appear, so on and so on. It seems to be a given that it's not going to be based on what the Tsuiokuhen OVA already covered, which I think is a reasonable assumption. The plot will have to be compressed, naturally, for a movie, but...

"...The Sankei Sports newspaper adds that the staff aims to release the film internationally and eventually make a series."

The part about an international release is cool, but not surprising; from what I've heard, the RK manga has sold pretty well overseas, particularly in the US. As for the other bit...If they're planning for this to be the first of a series (a series of movies? Or are they going for a TV drama?)...It gives me more hope that they wouldn't completely butcher the story.

On the topic of casting, we only know who's playing Kenshin right now -- one Satoh Takeru:

Satoh Takeru and an apparently handless Kenshin *shrug* I just grabbed the first decently-sized image I could find.

Meh. Could work, I guess? I don't know much about the guy. There's a list of his acting credits in ANN's report but I've never watched Kamen Rider or Beck fan. He's 22, but Kenshin is supposed to look too young for a 28/29-year old. How tall is he? I couldn't accept a tall Kenshin. And I hope he gets a decent red wig.

I should probably be more concerned about his acting chops.

Anyway I'm looking forward to see who else they'll cast. Especially for the role of Kaoru.