Saint Seiya Manga's Live-Action Knights of the Zodiac Film's Clip Shows Nero Fighting Seiya (Updated)

 Film opened in Japan on Friday, opens in the U.S. on May 12

On Friday, Toei started broadcasting a scene from Knights of the Zodiac, the live-action adaptation of the Saint Seiya manga by Masami Kurumada. In the footage, 

Diego Tinoci as Nero, the Phoenix Knight, battles Mackenyu as Seiya.

On May 12, the movie will start playing in the United States.

The movie premiered on Friday in Japan. Saint Seiya: The Beginning in Japan is the title of the movie.

The following dates feature international screenings of the movie:

• April 27 – Brazil, Mexico, Latin America
• April 28 – Kenya, Romania
• May 12 – Nigeria, Poland
• May 16 – Germany
• May 24 – France
• May 25 – Middle East, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Portugal
• May 26 – Spain, Bulgaria
• June 26 – Italy
• June 23 – South Africa
• July 28 – U.K.

The film stars Mackenyu(Pacific Rim: Uprising, Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Final, live-action Chihayafuru films) as Seiya, Madison Iseman(Jumanji sequels, I Know What You Did Last Summer television series) as Sienna, Sean Bean(Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings, Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV, Snowpiercerseries) as Alman Kido, Famke Janssen (X-Men, Taken, The Vault) as Guraad, Nick Stahl(Fear the Walking Dead) as Cassios, Diego Tinoco (On My Block) as Nero, and Mark Dacascos (John Wick: Parebellum, Hawaii Five-O, Crying Freeman, Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight, Iron Chef America) as Mylock.

Tomasz Baginski, an Academy Award-nominated creator of special effects and animation from Poland (The Witcher, "Katedra," short animation), is directing for Toei through Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions. The stunt and fight coordinator is Andy Cheng (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings). 10 Cloverfield Lane's Josh Campbell and Matt Stuecken are the most recent screenwriters for the movie. With the exception of China and the Middle East, Toei is in charge of distribution in Japan, and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions is in charge of distribution abroad.

Pop singer P!nk performs film's theme song "Courage."

The Hollywood Reporterdescribes the film's story:

In what is labeled an origin story, Mackenyu is starring as Seiya, a street orphan and the title hero of the franchise. When a mystical energy known as Cosmo awakens in him, Seiya embarks on a journey to conquer the ancient Greek armor of Pegasus and choose his side in a preternatural battle for the fate of Sienna (Iseman), a young girl who struggles to control her godly powers.

Bean plays a mentor named Alman Kido, a man who recruits Seiya into the Knights order, which he founded when he discovered the reincarnated goddess. Tinoco is a man hired to kill the vulnerable goddess.

Toei Animation producer Yoshi Ikezawa told the news website Variety that Toei Animation is "looking at six movies as a package" for the live-action franchise. He added Toei Animation has "already started the conversation" to make sequels.

Kurumada published the original Saint Seiya manga from 1986 to 1990. The manga has inspired a number of television anime, original video anime projects, anime films, and spinoff manga. The original series has 35 million copies in print. The Saint Seiya: Saintia Shō spinoff manga also has an anime.

Viz Media published the original manga in English under the title Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac. ADV Films released Toei Animation's anime adaptation with an English dubunder the title Knights of the Zodiac, and later released it unedited under the title Saint Seiya. New Video Group later also released the series on DVD.

Crunchyroll began streamingSaint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac - Battle for Sanctuary -, the second season of the CG anime remake in July 2022. The first part, consisting of the first six episodes, debutedworldwide in July 2019. The anime's first 12-episode season covers the story from the Galaxian Wars to Silver Saints arcs of the manga. The anime will get a third season.

Update: Updated clip. Thanks, GATSU.

Sources: Toei's YouTubechannel