The recent passing of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama has prompted an unexpected apology from the lead actor of Dragonball Evolution, a 2009 live-action film widely regarded as one of the worst movies ever made. In a tribute to Toriyama, Justin Chatwin expressed remorse for his involvement in the poorly received adaptation.
Dragonball Evolution, which attempted to bring the beloved world of Dragon Ball to the big screen, deviated significantly from the source material. The film's portrayal of Goku as a high school teenager strayed far from fans' expectations, resulting in a dismal 14% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 2.5 rating on IMDb.
Chatwin's heartfelt tribute to Toriyama, shared on his Instagram account, included an apology for the film's shortcomings. The original creator's disdain for the live-action adaptation led him to create Dragon Ball Super as a direct response to the disappointing movie.
This is not the first apology made in connection with Dragonball Evolution. In 2016, writer Ben Ramsey expressed deep regret for his involvement in the film, acknowledging the global disappointment it caused among fans. Ramsey admitted to approaching the project solely for financial gain, lacking the passion necessary to do justice to the beloved franchise.
Despite the irredeemable nature of Dragonball Evolution in fans' eyes, rumors surfaced in 2023 suggesting that Michael B. Jordan was interested in directing a new live-action adaptation of Dragon Ball Z. While no further developments have been reported on this potential project, it offers hope for a fresh take that could potentially erase the memory of the ill-fated 2009 film.
Dragonball Evolution remains available for rental or purchase through various platforms and can be streamed on Disney+ in select international regions.
