Rumors have circulated on the possibility of a film adaptation of the popular Nintendo title ‘Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney/Gyakuten Saiban’ earlier this month. It detailed up on the could be director, Miike Takashi and cast which includes the likes of Narimiya Hiroki and Nakao Akayoshi.
During the Cannes Festival this month, the media caught up with Miike Takahashi and he made mention of working on a new film which wouldn’t be bloody as his entry for the filmfest, light hearted and was a courtroom drama. He also stated that it was based on a NDS video game. Sounds a lot like how Phoenix Wright to me. But considering that there are quite a number of other courtroom based sim games on the NDs, Phoenix Wright by far is the most popular of them all.
Takahashi’s statement definitely coincides with the rumors circulating, all too well now doesn’t it?
For the curious, Miike Takashi was attending the Cannes Festival 2011 as a nominee under the ‘In competition’ category for his remake of Hara-kiri: Death of a Samurai 3d. The original was entitled Seppuku as well and was first shown in theaters in 1962. While Takashi himself is no slouch in the movie industry in Japan, he is also joined by Ryuuichi Sakamoto, another big name in the music industry, is charged with the music score for the film. Screenplay is by Kikumi Yamagishi. This isn’t Yamagishi’s first time to work with Takashi. They had already worked prior to ‘The Happiness of the Katakuris’ in 2002.
And that I can personally assure you that the man is a very capable director. Sure I may have only seen his horror titles * but they have beautiful scenes and the direction is very good. I can tell you he has vision. So I am somewhat relieved to know that this talented guy is going to be the man behind the adaptation. He has done everything from comedy to horror, sometimes silly, sometimes deep and even disturbing.
Rest assured now, fans. Capcom has released an official statement on the matter! They have confirmed the possibility of the film adaptation. We have confirmed the actors (It’s a politically correct term for both sexes, mind you!) for Phoenix Wright/Ryuuichi Naruhodo, Maya Fey/Ayasato Mayoi and Miles Edgeworth/Mitsurugi Reiji. Also, that the film will go for a stylistics approach that will make it visually reminiscent of the actual in-game scenarios, with the aid of 3d Effects. A studio has already been built in Kyoto to resemble the in-game courtoom.
- Narimiya Hiroki – Phoenix Wright/Ryuuichi Naruhodo
- Kiritani Mirei – Maya Fey/Ayasato Mayoi
- Saito Takumi – Miles Edgeworth/Mitsurugi Reiji
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is one of the available profession-based sim games where the players must struggle through the hurdles of the profession. Despite the quirkiness of it all, many would be surprised to know that truth is stranger than fiction here. The game actually closely parallels with the status quo of the Japanese court system where speed really DOES matter and that quantity matters moreso than quality.
I am expecting a lot from this adaptation, especially with who’s going to direct it.
This will be glorious. I also hope to see some real world parallels while keeping it close to the game. Their other film adapation for the Resident Evil franchise was…to quote Anna Williams from Tekken ‘An utter disappointment’. Hopefully this Capcom game adaptation will not follow down that path as well.