Actor and comedian Jim Carrey was almost the live-action version of the iconic anime heroLupin the Third,according to a new post byHellboyscreenwriter Peter Briggs. Though theLupinfranchise has been helmed by visionaries like Hayao Miyazaki, a Western live-action adaptation could have launched Monkey Punch’sLupin the Thirdinto the global spotlight.
In a post onBluesky, Peter Briggs talked about writing a script for a live-action version ofLupin the Thirdthat was set to star Jim Carrey, presumably as the titular lead. Unfortunately, the rights were lost before the movie could be made, depriving fans of a live-action adaptation that could have been something special.
I was doing a movie with Tsui Hark (and Oliver Stone’s producer, A. Kitman Ho), back in 1997. A live action adaption of “Lupin III”, that we would have done with Jim Carrey. Alex Ho (lovely, lovely man) ended up losing the rights, so it never happened. Craziest screenplay I ever wrote!
In addition to Carrey as the lead actor, Briggs mentions that the movie was set to be directed by long-time veteran of Hong Kong cinema Tsui Hark, best known for theOnce Upon a Time in Chinaseries of action movies.
Lupin the Third’s Live-Action Adaptation Could Have Changed History (No Seriously)
Given thedisastrous reputation of live-action anime adaptations likeDragonball: Evolution, it will be tempting for many to view theLupinmovie’s cancellation as a blessing. However, there’s every reason to believeLupin the Thirdcould have bucked the trend.
Jim Carrey as a live-actionLupinis literally perfect casting given the man’s reputation as a living cartoon. In addition to that, Tsui Hark is an accomplished director who knows how to fuse comedy and action like few others. Their talents, combined with the allegedly wild script from Briggs, had a big chance of working in a way most live-action anime adaptations don’t.
If the live-actionLupinhad worked out and had been well-received, it could have madeLupin the Thirda bigger name outside of Japan. With an anime directed by Hayao Miyazaki, it’s easy to see the series developing a cult following in America long before Part 2 first aired on Adult Swim in 2003.
Lupin’s Live-Action Movie Could Have Helped Audiences Accept Other Adaptations Far Earlier
The live-actionLupincould have opened the door for more high-quality live-action adaptations of anime or manga. Hits outside theSouth Korean adaptation ofOld Boyshow that anime and manga can work in live-action if given to the right team, soLupincould have made a similarly compelling case to American audiences.
Unfortunately, for better or worse, fans were deprived of the live-actionLupin the Thirdmovie. As amusing as it might be to see Jim Carrey star in something directly related to Hayao Miyazaki, the live-actionLupin the Thirdmovie will just have to live on in the imagination of fans.
