Netflix, one of the biggest online streaming platforms worldwide, will give fans a special treat this coming February, as it is slated to release a dozen of classics, with a "Fullmetal Alchemist" movie scheduled next month.
"Fullmetal Alchemist," a hit manga and anime series by Japanese writer and illustrator, Hiromu Arakawa, will be given a live adaptation by Netflix. The manga and anime follows the story of two protagonists who are brothers, named Edward and Alphonse Elric. The two brothers have "lost" their bodies after engaging in alchemy in a desperate attempt to resurrect their dead mother. This led to the two to search for the Philosopher's Stone, which the plot centers on.
The Netflix Original will follow the same plot, which gives it a safety net to avoid a disappointed fanbase. The movie is directed by Fumihiko Sori, director of movie titles such as "Ping Pong" and "Vexile."
The movie will star Japanese actors Ryosuke Yamada as Edward, with Atom Mizuishi voicing the armored humanoid vessel of Alphonse' soul. Other main characters include actress Tsubasa Honda, who will play the role of the main supporting character of the series, Winry Rockbell.
Meanwhile, Dean Fujioka and Misako Renbutsu will be portraying the roles of Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye, soldiers of high position in the fictional Amestris Military State, which is the centralized military of the state governing the country of the Elric brothers.
As seen in the movie trailer, the upcoming Netflix Original makes use of contrasting vivid and dark environments. Both the setup and the outfits of the characters match well with the anime series. The trailer also revealed a series of grandiose battles against a set of antagonists named after the "Seven Deadly Sins." The trailer shows the brothers struggling with characters named as "Lust" and "Envy." Fans were even given a glimpse of the two brothers fighting one another in what seems to be a personal conflict.
The live adaptation was received positively after airing in Japan, giving fans from the U.S. an assurance that this live adaptation will not fail as horribly compared to the likes of "Dragon Ball Z Revolution."
"Fullmetal Alchemist" will arrive on Netflix this Feb. 19.
