Have you ever taken a moment to consider the sheer effort required by an actor to transform into a beloved character, when the stakes are astronomically high? Canadian actor Justin Chatwin, 41, embarked on such an odyssey, enduring intense physical training and delving deeply into the character of Goku that millions hold dear.
Despite Dragonball Evolution meeting with less than stellar reception, the actor’s earlier interview reveals the grueling workouts that he endured. Since its 2009 release, James Wong’s Dragonball: Evolution has consistently caused dissatisfaction among fans of the franchise.
But even though the anime is a huge fan favorite that practically everyone enjoys, its first and only live-action adaptation of Dragon Ball to date, which starred Chatwin in the lead role (Goku), fell short of expectations.
For the fans, the film was an obvious snub to the Dragon Ball series. However, little was known about the challenges Chatwin faced during the adaptation.
Behind the Scenes: Justin Chatwin’s Painful Transformation into Goku
As Dragon Ball fans, we all have a soft spot for the beloved character Goku. Thus, there was a flurry of excitement when it was announced that Hollywood was producing a live-action Dragonball Evolution adaptation. However, when the movie hit theaters in 2009 and starred Justin Chatwin as Goku, the reception didn’t seem to be very positive.
Chatwin’s portrayal of Goku was heavily criticized by fans and critics alike, with many labeling him as the most hated Goku in the history of the franchise. The Gazette, for instance, believed that the actor was miscast for the role of Goku and that James Wong, the director, did a poor job of capturing the “frenetic sense of the anime” adaptation in the action scenes, making them difficult to follow.
However, what many people overlook is that creating Goku for the big screen required Chatwin to endure a grueling and agonizing process. He previously shared in an interview with Cinema that he had to go through the following, in order, to truly play Goku:
“I’ve got war wounds from Dragonball because it was a very physical role. I would go home with bruises every night, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I have seven scars on my hand from different films. Some people get tattoos, but I get scars.”
The spirit of adventure is at the heart of every great anime, film, comic, etc. Goku is a brave hero who enjoys taking on new, challenging tasks and growing stronger and wiser with each adventure.
The issue was that the enjoyment and adventure were too complicated and hampered by mistakes and inaccuracies for fans to genuinely appreciate. Dragonball: Evolution could have been a much better film if a little more work had gone into developing the plot and putting more of an emphasis on Goku’s travels and adventures. Because of its “cobbled-together FX fakery” and “aimlessly hyperactive construction and complete lack of substance”, Slant Magazine deemed the movie “uninspired”.
Furthermore, despite a $30 million budget, it only made $9.4 million in North America and $56.5 million globally (see The Numbers).
Justin Chatwin’s Apology for Disastrous Adaptation in Honor of Akira Toriyama
Following the passing of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, actor Justin Chatwin has expressed regret for the terrible 2009 live-action Dragonball Evolution. Not only did the actor, 41, pay tribute to Toriyama, but he also felt obliged to issue a brief apology for making such a poorly done film.
In honor of Toriyama, the actor posted the following on his Instagram Story (via Comicbook):
“Rest in Peace Brother. And sorry we messed up that adaptation so badly.”
Numerous popular franchise reimaginings either succeed or fail based on the response of the original creator. Toriyama did not exactly greet Dragonball Evolution with open arms, as many other writers and artists have done over the years. In a 2013 interview, Toriyama told Asahi Shimbun that he had felt the script was “bland” and uninteresting, failing to “capture the world or the characteristics” of his series. As such, he issued a warning and offered suggestions for improvements.
While Justin Chatwin may go down in history as one of the most despised Gokus, he should also be praised for the difficult process of portraying the iconic character. Dragonball Evolution may have been ill-fated, but the actor’s commitment to the role should not go unnoticed.
Dragonball Evolution can be rented on Amazon Video.
