As Hollywood has begun to focus more and more on live-action adaptations of anime, Tite Kubo’s Bleach has been largely ignored so far. The race with the adaptations began with Netflix’s One Piece live-action, and studios quickly realized the untapped otaku market.
A recent leak revealed that Bleach might be close to receiving a live-action as well, and fans have already begun speculating who would be the best pick to play the protagonist, Ichigo. The answer is unanimous: it’s an actor who has already proved his mettle in Netflix’s One Piece.
Mackenyu Would be the Perfect Fit to Play Ichigo in Bleach Live-Action
Mackenyu Arata played Zoro quite marvelously in the One Piece live-action. Despite Zoro not being the main character, Mackenyu still managed to steal the show with his brooding frame and expert sword handling. He perfectly channeled the different sides of the character and delivered his take on the moss-head.
It is Mackenyu’s experience with swords that might come in handy if he is chosen to play Ichigo in Bleach. Ichigo carries a huge sword with him in Bleach, which is quite different from Zoro’s Three Sword Style in One Piece. However, Mackenyu has already shown that he is ready to tackle anything new that is thrown at him.
In fact, One Piece isn’t the only live-action that Mackenyu has acted in. He is also the protagonist of Knights of the Zodiac (inspired by Saint Seiya.) He played Scar in the Japanese live-action of Fullmetal Alchemist. He has also played parts in movies like Rurouni Kenshin and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable Chapter I, but none of them have become as famous as season 1 of Netflix’s One Piece.
Will Bleach Receive a Live-Action Adaptation?
According to journalist and insider Daniel Richtman, Warner Bros. Pictures is actually vying to adapt Bleach into a live-action series. Apparently, they are already looking for a writer and director for the project. Once again, this proves the enormous amount of attention that the One Piece live-action has brought to the anime world.
The Bleach anime began airing on October 4, 2004, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of the series. To commemorate the milestone, an event will be held on September 16. Fans expect several announcements to come out of the event, and after the leak, people might look forward to an official announcement for Bleach‘s live-action adaptation.
It is high time that Tite Kubo’s masterpiece received more attention. While it is a part of the Shonen Big Three trio, it is often neglected by otakus. This would serve as the perfect opportunity to not only revamp the franchise but also refresh it for the public eye.
The Bleach anime is currently streaming on Crunchyroll, while Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War is available to watch on Disnay+.
