Fullmetal Alchemist's live-action film adaptation is underway and director Fumihiko Sori was kind enough to share a few details about the movie.

For starters, the adaptation will be not be shown in two parts, unlike other live-action adaptations that have recently graced the big screen like Rurouni Kenshin and Attack on Titan. Additionally, an older Edward Elric will be appearing in the movie. Whereas Ed was originally 15 years old in the manga by Hiromu Arakawa, he will be 20 years old in the film.

Will this affect how the story is adapted?

An older Ed will definitely have an impact but Sori is also serious about keeping the adaptation faithful to the original story, especially with regards to non-Japanese characters. Of course, the movie has an all-Japanese cast. However, as they will be portraying characters not of Japanese origin, they will never be seen doing anything out of character, such as saying lines that will make them appear Japanese, according to the director.

Adapting beloved anime titles don't always turn out right, but, if anything, fans can at least trust that Sori is passionate about the live-action adaptation.

"It is my dearest wish to turn this wonderful story into a film and it is not an exaggeration to say that I am living for this reason," said the director.

Filming is expected to start in June in Italy and will wrap up in August in Japan. Set to premiere in Japan in Winter 2017, the live-action Fullmetal Alchemist will star Ryōsuke Yamada as Ed, Dean Fujioka as Roy Mustang, Tsubasa Honda as Winry Rockbell, Ryuta Sato as Maes Hughes, Natsuna as Maria Ross, Fumiyo Kohinata as General Hakuro, Misako Renbutsu as Riza Hawkeye, Yo Oizumi as Shou Tucker, Natsuki Harada as Gracia Hughes, Jun Kunimura as Doctor Marco, Kenjiro Ishimaru as Father Cornello, Shinji Uchiyama as Gluttony, Kanata Hongou as Envy and Yasuko Matsuyuki as Lust.

It appears the voice actor has not been cast for the younger Elric brother, Alphonse, whose armor will be completely recreated using CG. The technology will be applied as well to all other fantastical elements Fullmetal Alchemist is known for.

Aside from an anime and a live-action movie, Fullmetal Alchemist has been adapted into video games, audio dramas and light novels.

Photo: Kotarou Kagamine | Flickr