Jim Carrey Almost Starred in a Live-Action Lupin III Adaptation

Why this matters: This unmade film represents a missed opportunity to bridge the gap between anime and Western cinema, potentially influencing the perception and success of future adaptations.

In 1997, Peter Briggs, known for writing Hellboy, was working on a live-action adaptation of Lupin III with director Tsui Hark and producer A. Kitman Ho. Jim Carrey was slated to play the titular master thief. The project aimed to bring Monkey Punch's iconic manga and anime series to a global audience. However, the rights to Lupin III were lost, and the film never materialized.

The failure of many live-action anime adaptations, like Dragonball: Evolution, makes some question if this was a good thing. However, with Jim Carrey's reputation as a 'living cartoon' and Tsui Hark's ability to blend comedy and action, this Lupin the Third adaptation had a high chance of succeeding. This success could have influenced the acceptance of other anime adaptations in the West.

Jim Carrey was cast as Lupin III.

Tsui Hark, known for his Hong Kong action films, was set to direct.

The rights to Lupin III were lost, leading to the project's cancellation.

A successful Lupin III adaptation could have opened doors for more high-quality adaptations and increased the series' global popularity.

Do you think this trend of adapting anime into live-action will ever yield a truly great movie? What actor today would be your dream casting for Lupin III? Let us know!

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