One Punch Man is one of the most popular shonen anime series and is also among the best-selling manga of all time. The animation in the series is nothing short of spectacular. The impact and speed of the fights in the series are just jaw-dropping. Every punch, kick, and explosion is perfectly animated to capture the sheer intensity of the battles.

A still from One Punch Man
A still from One Punch Man

Now, One Punch Man is making its way to the cinema with a live-action movie adaptation. But guess what? The reaction from fans is a bit mixed. While it would be great to see Saitama in live-action, the question is: will One Punch Man be a hit on the big screen?

One Punch Man Live-Action is Greenlit with Fast & Furious Director Ready to Helm

Justin Lin
Justin Lin in an interview with Sundance Institute

Sony Pictures has brought on Justin Lin, the talented Taiwanese-American director, to helm the live-action of One Punch Man movie. The anime series is known for its unique blend of humor and over-the-top action.

Fans are worried that the director, whose credits lean heavily on action blockbusters like Fast and Furious, might not capture the funny side of One Punch Man. Even though Lin is skilled, he might struggle with the quirky humor of the series. Check out some fan reactions to it:

The disappointment of fans could stem from various reasons, as live-action versions of anime often fail to meet expectations these days. Anime has a unique look with exaggerated features and intense action scenes. Trying to copy these in real life can look fake or cheesy.

Anime humor is also special with slapstick, pop culture jokes, and cultural references. Some jokes land perfectly in Japanese but fall flat in English. Anime fans are super passionate and expect a lot. A live-action version needs to be both a great movie and true to the original. That’s a lot of pressure, and even a decent film can feel like a letdown.

Also Read: Jujutsu Kaisen: 10 Anime Overlords Who Can Easily Defeat Sukuna, The King Of Curses

There is a glimmer of hope for fans, though. The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Dan Harmon and Heather Anne Campbell — the creative minds behind the hit adult animation Rick and Morty — have been brought in to rewrite the script.  From Whose Line Is It Anyway to The Eric Andre Show Campbell is no stranger to comedy.

So, Lin and Campbell’s experience with balancing humor and action could be just what One Punch Man needs. Only time will tell if the One Punch Man movie lives up to the hype.

One Punch Man Season 3 Updates

Saitama in One Punch Man
Saitama in One Punch Man

With its rich universe, lovable characters, and witty humor, fans have been eagerly awaiting Season 3 of One Punch Man since Season 2 ended in 2019. In January, voice actor Kaito Ishikawa, who voices Genos, shared on X (formerly Twitter) a list of projects he’s working on for 2024, and One Punch Man Season 3 was on the list.

Another hint came when the first trailer was dropped on February 29, 2024, on YouTube. It mainly focuses on Garou, a strong villain from the Human Monster Arc, which is the final chapter of the Monster Association Arc. This trailer gave us our first look at the upcoming episodes and hinted that their release was near.

Read More: 16 Epic Crossover Fan-Arts That Are Going to Surprise You Big Time!

Watch One Punch Man on Hulu.

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