Mandalay to Film Live Action Full Metal Panic!

Mandalay Pictures (Donnie Brasco, Sleepy Hollow) has acquired the rights to develop an American live action feature film based on writer Shoji Gatoh and illustrator Shikidouji’s Full Metal Panic novel series. The popular franchise has spawned manga and TV anime adaptations and become a popular franchise among American fans.

The Hollywood Reporter states that actor Zac Efron (High School Musical, Hairspray) is in negotiations to play the protagonist role.

It’s not difficult to imagine an American “re-imagining” of FMP that drops the robots and keeps only the concept of a teen mercenary trying to blend in to civilian school life in order to protect a female classmate.