'Full Metal Panic' to Get Big Screen Treatment

Following the footsteps of many other Japanese mangas, "Full Metal Panic" will get its own live-action adaptation. In recent reports, it has been claimed that Mandalay Pictures have picked up the rights to develop a feature version of the Japanese manga series which blends action, comedy and high school romance.

While planning to bring the manga to the big screen, Mandalay have yet to set up this proposed adaptation project at a studio. The Hollywood Reporter, in addition, suggested that "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" star Zac Efron has shown his interest in this movie and further claimed that the 21-year-old actor has held a conversation on the project.

The picking up of "Full Metal Panic" big screen rights only adds up to the already growing list of Japanese manga's live-action adaptations. "Cowboy Bebop", "Akira", "Ghost in the Shell", "Ninja Scroll", and "Afro Samurai" are some of the in-development manga adaptations.

"Full Metal Panic" follows the story of a teenage anti-terrorist commando named Sousuke Sagara as he is given the mission to protect a high-school girl with mystical powers. Originally being serialized in the monthly light novel magazine Gekkan Dragon Magazine, this Shoji Gatoh's novel has spanned into manga and eventually anime series.