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Live-Action Fullmetal Alchemist's Winry, Anime Voice Actresses Comment on New Film

Actress Tsubasa Honda (seen center in image below) and voice actresses Romi Park (seen right in image below) and Rie Kugimiya (seen left in image below) recently gave their thoughts on the upcoming live-action Fullmetal Alchemist film, which will open in Japan on December 1. Honda plays Winry Rockbell in the live-action film, while Romi Park and Rie Kugimiya voiced Edward and Alphonse Elric, respectively, in the anime adaptations of the series.

Honda, who apparently re-read the Fullmetal Alchemist manga before filming, said of the series, "It made me think once again that Fullmetal Alchemist is something that can definitely be enjoyed as a child, but then can be enjoyed again after becoming an adult. The brotherly love is wonderful, and all of the characters, even the enemies, have fascinating sides to them and things that I love about them."

Park said, "When I heard they were making a live-action film, I was incredibly happy. I thought, 'When they make it into a live-action film, what director will it be and how will they make it?' When I heard Fumihiko Sori would be director, I was surprised." Park also said, "I've had the pleasure of working with Sori in the past. I thought that it would be really difficult to make [Fullmetal Alchemist] into a live-action film. But when I was shown the first trailer, I thought, 'This is super, super good! Keep going just like this with this depiction of the world!'"

Park and Sori previously worked together on the original video anime adaptation of Yukinobu Hoshino's To manga, which debuted in 2009. Park voiced the character Maria, and Sori directed.

Kugimiya said of the upcoming film, "I also wondered how it would turn out when I heard that they were making a live-action film." However, she gave a stamp of approval, saying:

When you see the footage, it looks incredibly real. I thought it was probably very difficult to film, but I think that it's become something that makes you keenly feel the love and effort that went into it, so I'm thankful. It made me feel nostalgic as well, starting with the scene with the train, because the scene where all of the greenery is suddenly extending outwards is just like [in the anime].

In addition to Honda, the film stars Ryōsuke Yamada (Hey! Say! JUMP member and live-action Assassination Classroom's Nagisa) as Edward Elric and Dean Fujioka (live-action Happy Marriage!?) as Roy Mustang. The story will be told in one film, and Ed is being aged up to 20 years old. He was originally 15 in the manga. Alphonse will be rendered in full CG.

The original manga creator, Hiromu Arakawa, is drawing a "special-edition comic" that people who attend theatrical screenings in Japan will receive.

Source: Anime! Anime! (Yuma)