Fast & Furious' Justin Lin To Direct One Punch Man, Live-Action Adaptation Of Manga Classic

Justin Lin is attached to direct the live-action adaptation of the popular manga One Punch Man for Sony Pictures.

Avi Arad and Ari Arad are producing the movie with a script by Venom and Jumanji: The Next Level screenwriters Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner.

Lin will also be a producer and will work with the writers on a new version of the screenplay with the aim of starting production by the end of the year.

One Punch Man is hugely popular in Japan and across the world and follows the story of Saitama, a superhero capable of defeating any opponent with a single punch. But his powers come at a hefty price: his life is devoid of any real excitement, which causes him to become bored and apathetic even as he continually saves the world from incredible danger.

One Punch Man is Lin's first project since quitting Fast X  — the 10th instalment in the 21-year-old franchise —  a few days into production. Lin, a veteran of five Five & Furious movies — starting with 2006's Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift to last year's Fast & Furious 9 — was replaced by Louis Leterrier (Transporter, The Incredible Hulk). 

The Taiwanese-American filmmaker, whose other credits include Star Trek Beyond and a few episodes of HBO's True Detective, would stay on as producer. 

Lin is said to have left Fast X over "a major disagreement" with star and producer Vin Diesel and the studio over production-related matters. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lin ended one meeting with a slammed door. An insider told the outlet, "Justin finally had enough and said, 'This movie is not worth my mental health.'"

Fast X is currently in production and is slated to open in cinemas in May 2023.  — BANG SHOWBIZ

Photos: TPG News/Click Photos