Thursday, September 3, 2015

Grab Your Salt - Rumor Says a Mega Man Movie is Coming (Updated)


I debated posting about this, really. But since it's gaining traction and spreading like a bad itch, you may as well know. Grab some globs of salt: we're talking about the rumored Mega Man movie.


So here's the deal. The Tracking Board exclusively revealed that 20th Century Fox and Chernin Entertainment are teaming up to develop a Mega Man movie for theaters. Chernin is best known for their sci-fi portfolio – Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Oblivion, to name a couple. Peter Chernin, the namesake of the company, is said to be the producer with David Ready, Michael Finfer, Mike Ireland and Ryan Horrigan acting as overseers/supervisors.

Hollywood Mega Man rumors are nothing new. In all honesty this one isn't any different from the rest. Here's why you should be skeptical:

  • Capcom's theatrical adaptations have historically been announced by the company directly via PR. Even projects that have yet to be realized, Devil May Cry and Lost Planet specifically, came from the horse's mouth. The Tracking Board relentlessly presents this news as a confirmation, not rumor.

  • The legitimacy of a Mega Man movie is immediately thrown into question when it's not announced through an A-tier source. When Capcom does send out PR for these sort of things, they typically give it to viable news outlets. Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Empire, to name a few. The Tracking Board is not exactly a well-known place. What's more, at the time of this writing, none of those guys have picked up this story.

  • An animated Mega Man series (confirmed by Capcom and actually revealed by a legitimate source) will spearhead a new direction for the franchise in 2017. As I learned earlier in June, the show aims to be the core of a multimedia initiative spanning comics and toys. My source entertained the notion of a film, but it was not a priority as of June this year. The goal is to grow the brand from the show and its subsequent tie-ins. If successful, other avenues might be explored.

UPDATE 9/6: Additional fodder for you...

  • The Tracking Board seems to nab these "exclusives" awfully conveniently. Lately they've been tailored to what's trending to specific audiences. For example, the Naruto movie news just so happened to appear right when the manga ended. Today they've got first dibs on a Nicktoons "Avengers" movie, just days after Nickelodeon's president mulled the revival of classic shows. Their Mega Man exclusive comes only a week after Mega Man Legacy Collection's launch. Despite being only a collection of older games, MMLC was unquestionably anticipated all over the net - trending on Twitter and headlining various gaming outlets. Point is, The Tracking Board's exclusives piggy-back trendy subjects of the week.
  • I don't mean to discredit anyone. It's just seems a little too convenient they keep nabbing all these "exclusives" around intellectual proprieties current headlining news elsewhere.


There's always the chance we're wrong. For all we know Capcom could come out in the next few days with a statement. But if I had to put money on it, a film is not happening anytime soon.

I'll gladly eat my hat, though.

34 comments:

  1. no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no nononononononononononoooooo!!

    ANYONE BUT FOX!!

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    1. What, do you want the money-hogging creeps at Viacom or Universal to make you a movie? What about the liars at NBC?

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  2. I'm so glad we have Gunvolt and no longer need to be affected by Capcom's horrible management of the IP.

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    1. Gunvolt sux but damn... It's all I got now, it's better than a........................................................................................live *shivers*...........action movie...........................

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  3. Jesus, I hope this is fake. Hollywood would turn it into trash. An animated show is good enough and I'm super excited to see what direction they would take the series. =)

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  4. I'm inclined to believe it, if only because the timing couldn't be any worse.
    Fans wanted a Mega Man cartoon, it came in 1994 when kids were turning their attention away from Saturday morning cartoons in favor of Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and FOX Kids.
    Fans wanted Mega Man toys, they were made by Bandai, but quickly cancelled because they couldn't measure up to the success of Bandai's Power Rangers line.
    Fans wanted a Mega Man comic book, Archie gave them one, written by the same hack who spewed out awful Sonic The Hedgehog comics and it was swiftly cancelled.
    Fans wanted a Mega Man anime, they finally got one based on the Battle Network series.
    In many cases, the longer Mega Man fans clamor for something, the more likely it is to happen in the form of a "monkey's paw" wish, if it happens at all. So I think the Mega Man movie will happen, if only because fans have wanted one for so long, and when it arrives, it'll be a massive disappointment.

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    1. Except the Ruby Spears cartoon did well in ratings. Considering it was still the mid 90s, it made sense why focus groups wanted it "Americanized".

      Not sure what you have against Ian Flynn, but I wouldn't call a 4 year run getting "swiftly canceled".

      And let's admit, if any MM series was going to be a kiddy anime show, BN was it, so I don't see how that would be surprising

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    2. Yeah, some one hasn't actually read the comic, because it's good as $#:7. It goes way above the expectation of anyone familiar with the classic franchise, and was a constant sell-out every month. The only reason why I can understand them cancelling (they say indefinite hiatus, but let's call it what it is) it is so that when they relaunch the franchise overall with the cartoon, they'll probably pick up a comic tie-in to that series and reset back to Issue #1.

      I just wish they hadn't halted RIGHT BEFORE MEGA MAN 4! God damnit, the pieces in play were setup so F#$*1N6 good that that particular story-arc would have been a grand slam of a story.

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    3. ^Nah that MM Archie comic sucked.

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    4. I've never read the Archie comics, but I've heard they are pretty decent. The Ruby-Spears cartoon had the highest cartoon ratings of the year; it just didn't meet where the money was at and the studio closed. Then there WAS that old MM Star Force anime; you know, the one that ran for 13 episodes in the U.S. with only one, 2 hour TV air, while the Japanese dub had roughly 80 or so episodes across two seasons. The first season of MegaMan: NT Warrior was decent enough, but when it reached the 2nd season, that's were the s*** hit the fan. Since WB was worried that the Star Force show was not going to fare well like MM: NT Warrior Axess, they restricted the show to Toonami Jetstream and one, two-hour long TV movie that's still a a available to watch on Dailymotion. I honestly think it's a legitimately good show, and I totally recommend watching it (can you believe how they integrate morals into something sad and depressing like a show based off of the first game?).

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    5. Don't pay attention to the haters, G Lux. I'm with you, the Archie comics were good stuff.

      Sometimes people don't realize a good thing when they have it. Then it goes away and they complain nobody cares about Mega Man.

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    6. @VD: Your making stuff up, WB wasn't affraid of anything and Toonami is a completely separate entity that had the rights to air dubs of the show. The Axess series was probably highly rated but WB in general was shutting down its broadcast television channel/network.

      Just a word of advice don't pay attention to the lover/sheep anon above me I am consistent with my opinions, I will not be saying five years down the line that the Archie comics were some great wonderful thing. The only way for that to happen would be in relation to something else that came along like an even worse comic.

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  5. finally, we're getting a horrible movie adaptation for megaman. let's hope it's gonna be like street fighter movie in the 90s.

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    1. Or Mortal Kombat 2 movie, at least it was so bad it was good. Not like Dragon Ball Evolution which was plainly bad.

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    2. i'm hoping mega man movie gets a animated cgi film instead of that live action one

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  6. I hope it is an animated movie, 'cause:
    http://minimega.tumblr.com/image/123589573198

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  7. If this turns out to be true, I can only ask, why now? I understand if they really are trying to sort of "re-boot" the series with this and the cartoon.

    But I'm more asking why they didn't do this all those years ago, to build up and better establish the brand? Series should be bigger now than it is in my opinion.

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  8. I have no problem with a Mega Man live-action movie... I just want to know what series it's going to be based on. I think a Mega Man X or Mega Man Legends movie would work really well, and the Archie Classic comics are really good, but I can't see a live-action Classic movie (Especially after that Eddie Lebron fan film that looked like it was made by Early 2000's Robert Rodriguez).

    Battle Network and Star Force don't quite seem to be enough for a movie (coming from a guy who thinks NT Warrior is a guilty pleasure). Zero or ZX might work, especially with the post-apocalyptic craze going on now.

    Of course, it is going to boil down to whatever series they will be continuing/making in the next major game. I am optimistic for the new TV series and the new movie, but I'm thinking they might wait until they see how Sonic performs (Boom cartoon now and the movie coming later). I hope Mega Man's 30th anniversary will be one of his biggest.

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    1. If a series has to suffer the fate of a live action movie than yes to Legends please, no to X thank you.

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  9. Ugh! The Only good news about this is that Capcom Japan isn't involved...thank god! They suck when it comes to Mega Man..their Own series,ironically.

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  10. What??!?!?! No... No! No! No no no no!! Not that live action Megaman movie! Please! Have mercy! No... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

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  11. But, but, but... a BBA Mega Man movie could work! With Jack Black as BBA and having a persona similar to Nacho Libre but more BBA-ish. No too? Let the fanrage continue...

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    1. Than just make a new movie series for that, people aren't fans of Mega Man because of comical BBA MM, heck he only came to be within the last couple of years (before he was just a bad representation on a box). Why appeal to Mega Man if you're just gonna make an entirely different take on him based on a retarded thing that no real Mega Man fan became a fan of the series for? Just to misrepresent the general franchise for the heck of it?

      Just make Nacho Libre 2 or something the hell? Hope that covered the rage part of your comment.

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    2. The "fanrage" part is not for me but refers to Mega Man fans in general actually... Easily offended at anything Mega Man... Oh my fellow twin Anonymous.

      By the way BBA Mega Man in not Mega Man, that's why I said BBA Mega Man could work... for a live action movie (instead of Mega Man).

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    3. "...is not for me but refers to Mega Man fans in general actually..."

      Well at least your honest enough to admit you're making generalizations. So many idiotic blanket statements lately.

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  12. we already have that fan made "mega man" film already out there on the web I'm pretty sure we don't need another unless its an anime/animated movie

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    1. We already have an anime/animated movie Rockman.EXE: Program of Light and Dark, we have yet to have an official live action movie for the MM franchise.

      Next time just say I don't want a dang live action movie for Mega Man no matter what series. Which is how most people feel anyway.

      Now a fluidly traditionally animated or high quality CGI movie.........WET DREAMS!

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  13. It's too bad Imagi went under in 2012, they could've made an awesome Megaman movie. Their Astro Boy movie was great for a CGI film and they partnered with Madhouse to make an awesome anime-style Highlander movie.

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  14. So... um yeah who here is a fan of Mega Man X Corrupted? It's probably the closest people are gonna get to quality fresh Mega Man content or a game that actually feels and revolves around Mega Man mainly.

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  15. I fel like they should do a megaman zero live action movie legends and battle network might be a bit...odd.. Then again that's just me.

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    1. How dare you. You just want to condemn a character you don't like to an awful fate, cause there is no way a fan of Zero or the series subtitled after him would say it should be live action with the implication that it would work in anyway. Just the look of a live action Zero gives me nightmares. With MMBN you could have Mega Man look exactly as is it's not even that far fetched of a concept to have a world depending on the internet and having digital programs to navigate the internet.

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    2. Zero's story is good enough, probably enough to have its own live action it don't see what's wrong with that, plus it's not like I'm saying a legend or battle network live action would be the worst or bad, I'm not condemning anything all I said was it would look a bit off that's just my opinion.

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    3. What I'm saying is, you are condemning Zero.... Zero! That's it (ie not Legends or BN) to the fate of a live action movie because you couldn't care less about him or his series, cause no true fan of Zero thinks he would make a better live action movie character or otherwise than Battle Network or Legends.

      Let me tell you what's wrong with that anyway though, It is live action with actors and crap, ain't nobody gonna want to see some dude (or even god help my soul, a woman) dressed as a completely reimagined Zero that most likely won't look jack like the original design. Oh and story? It doesn't matter how good the story is (which btw Legends story fits movies just as well as Zero's), when have you ever seen a live action movie based on a game, follow anything close to the story? At best you can hope for slight references to the original story. Do you know who will play Ceil?.... Megan Fox in a short pink skirt.

      At least with Battle Network they will most likely use CG for the Navis/Viruses, it probably will turn out like a Tron knockoff, which is not that bad (depending on the production quality).

      And at least Legends isn't as over the top in style as the Zero series, it is definitely not as bad seeing an actor in a reimagined Legends MM costume (especially since he is like one of the few android characters) than Zero and his very stylized self.

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    4. Hey, thanks anons. You've just sold me on the Zero live action movie. Let it happen, the butthurt from everyone would be incredible, especially from Inafune. We could use another Street Fighter movie, and I can't think of a better fall guy for it than Zero.

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