When it comes to live-action adaptations of beloved anime series, few have garnered as much infamy as 2009’s Dragon Ball: Evolution. Based on Akira Toriyama’s iconic Dragon Ball manga and anime, the film was a critical and commercial failure, widely panned by fans and critics alike. In the wake of Toriyama’s recent passing, the movie’s lead actor, Justin Chatwin, took the opportunity to apologize for the adaptation’s shortcomings.
“Rest in peace, brother. And sorry we messed up that adaptation so badly,” Chatwin wrote in an Instagram story, expressing remorse for the film’s inability to capture the essence of the Dragon Ball universe.
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The film’s missteps were numerous, from the majority of its cast (including Chatwin) being white for an Asian-centric story, its low-budget production (shot in an abandoned jeans factory), to its dramatic deviations from the source material. One of the most controversial changes involved sending Goku, the series’ protagonist, to high school – a departure from the original’s martial arts-centric storyline and added possibly to aid the young-at-the-time Chatwin.
The backlash from Dragon Ball fans was swift and unforgiving. Akira Toriyama himself famously stated that the film “couldn’t really be called a Dragon Ball” adaptation. “I cautioned them, and suggested changes; but in spite of that, they seemed to have a strange confidence, and didn’t really listen to me. What came out in the end was a movie I couldn’t really call a Dragon Ball that lived up to my expectations,”
Years after, in 2016, screenwriter Ben Ramsey issued a public apology, admitting that his pursuit of a “big payday” rather than a genuine passion for the franchise led to “sub-optimal results, and sometimes flat-out garbage.”
The apology reads:
“I knew that it would eventually come down to this one day. Dragonball Evolution marked a very painful creative point in my life. To have something with my name on it as the writer be so globally reviled is gut-wrenching. To receive hate mail from all over the world is heartbreaking. I spent so many years trying to deflect the blame, but at the end of the day it all comes down to the written word on page and I take full responsibility for what was such a disappointment to so many fans. I did the best I could, but at the end of the day, I ‘dropped the dragon ball.’
I went into the project chasing after a big payday, not as a fan of the franchise but as a businessman taking on an assignment. I have learned that when you go into a creative endeavor without passion you come out with sub-optimal results, and sometimes flat-out garbage. So, I’m not blaming anyone for Dragonball but myself. As a fanboy of other series, I know what it’s like to have something you love and anticipate be so disappointing. To all the Dragon Ball fans out there, I sincerely apologize. I hope I can make it up to you by creating something really cool and entertaining that you will like, and that is also something I am passionate about. That’s the only work I do now. Best, Ben”
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Despite the failure of Dragon Ball: Evolution, Akira Toriyama’s legacy extends far beyond this ill-fated adaptation. His contributions to the shonen manga and anime genres were pioneering, with Dragon Ball Z playing a pivotal role in popularizing the medium worldwide. Justin Chatwin seems to jokingly embrace the disappointment slightly and understands the weight of the character Goku has for many fans.
In the wake of his passing, fans and industry peers alike have come together to celebrate Toriyama’s enduring impact. Toonami has announced plans for a Dragon Ball marathon in his honor, while lists of the best shonen anime of all time invariably feature Dragon Ball prominently. Chatwin’s apology resonated amidst the outpouring of tributes from creators across the anime and gaming industries, including those behind Dragon Quest and One Piece.
While Chatwin’s Dragon Ball: Evolution may have tarnished the franchise’s live-action aspirations, it serves as a reminder of the challenges inherent in adapting beloved source material. Ultimately, Akira Toriyama’s legacy transcends this misstep, and Justin Chatwin’s apology may have soothed a sore spot for fans, allowing him to be part of the great legacy that Dragon Ball endures.
What did you think of Dragon Ball Evolution? Did Justin Chatwin really have to give an apology for the film? Let us know in the comments!
Justin Chatwin shouldn’t have apologized. He was an actor, doing a job, he was making an action movie for a genre he didn’t understand, and had absolutely zero creative control… the shame was that it wrecked HIS career. That’s like Blaming Harrison Ford for the last two Indianana Jones movies, or Dan Aykroyd for GB2016.
His agent should apologize, though.