Fans of the Attack on Titan anime will be ‘heated’ over story changes in live-action film

The screenwriter for the live-action adaptation of the popular manga turned anime, Attack on Titan, expect for fans of the anime to be a bit upset with the changes that the film will be making to the story. "I think fans of the anime will get rather heated over [the changes]," said Machiyama.

The live-action film has changed the setting, Eren's character as a whole (as well as his relationship with Mikasa) and will not be featuring one of the fan-favorite characters from the anime.

The setting of the live-action film will be in a more Japanese area with a 'Japanese tone,' due to Japanese actors playing 'essentially-German roles.'

Some of the character deviances were rooted with the manga's original author Hajime Isayama. "Please change Eren's character," Isayama pleaded. "He's not that sympathetic as a shōnen manga hero. …I want him to be an ordinary youngster who gets paralyzed with fear when he sees a titan."

With Isayama's push Eren's character changes from a boy who vows to kill every Titan after the death of his parents, to an ordinary boy who denies the existence of Titans who becomes 'crippled with fear' when he finally sees Titans. In the anime, Mikasa is more of a protective sister-like figure in Eren's life, but that has changed with the film — she is now a love interest.

Levi was dropped from the live-action film and from any following films, despite playing a crucial role in the story. No Japanese name would typically include the katakana “vu,” like Levi's and it would cause his name to stick out too much.

[Anime News Network]