Renowned Fast & Furious Actor to Helm Exciting New Initial D Movie Adaptation

Sung Kang, the star of Tokyo Drift, is currently working on a new film adaptation of Initial D, the manga that he loves and admires. The Korean-American actor, known for his role as Han in the Fast & Furious franchise, has revealed that the upcoming movie will stay true to the original manga. In an interview with South China Morning Post, Kang confirmed that the Initial D movie is already in progress and hinted at an exciting hero's journey for the main character.

Kang shared during the interview that he is currently working on two projects, with the Initial D movie being one of them. He described the movie as being about cars, drifting, and other exciting elements. Similar to movies like Rocky or Karate Kid, he envisions the film as a fun and high-budget production that reflects his passion for cars. The actor referenced two films where the main characters start off as underdogs but ultimately succeed through discipline and determination, which closely aligns with the character arc of Takumi Fujiwara, the main protagonist of Initial D. Kang assured fans that the movie will have a significant budget, indicating it will be of high production value. With Kang's personal interests and past film credits, it is clear that he is the ideal choice for an Initial D movie. The worldwide popularity of drifting as a sport, particularly evident in Tokyo Drift, which draws elements from the Initial D manga, anime series, and movies, further demonstrates the relevance of Kang's role. Kang's involvement in Tokyo Drift reignited his passion for cars, leading him to restore a 1973 Datsun 240Z, named the Fugu Z, which later became a playable vehicle in the Gran Turismo video game.

Initial D gained popularity as a serialized manga from 1995 to 2013. It tells the story of Takumi Fujiwara, a high school student who works at a gas station during the day and delivers tofu for his father's shop at night. With his exceptional driving skills and his father's customized Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno, Takumi becomes the top amateur racer on Mt. Akina highway. This catches the attention of Gunma prefecture's finest racers, who are eager to see if Takumi lives up to his reputation. The manga inspired a live-action adaptation in 2005, directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, starring Jay Chou and Anne Suzuki. Kadonsha USA will release an omnibus edition of the Initial D manga in Spring 2024, featuring new translation and lettering.

Source: South China Morning Post