One of the most influential anime of the 1990s. Neon Genesis Evangelion. This created a revolution among anime studios. But unfortunately, this is one of those anime that was not adapted into live action. Despite the fact that several anime adaptations failed to create a stir.
Neon Genesis Evangelion was on the verge of being made into a film. Negotiations were held to make a feature film based on it. But, unfortunately, nothing was finalized. Peter Jackson was one of the few people scheduled to work on the film. After seeing the live-action adaptation of the ’90s anime, some fans think Peter Jackson saved himself from the embarrassment that would have ensued if Neon Genesis Evangelion failed at the box office.
Was Neon Genesis Evangelion Live Action In production?
Neon Genesis Evangelion first aired on October 4, 1995. However, it was not until the late 1990s that it was released in the US. The anime became an instant hit. Soon the show began to receive worldwide recognition. Neon Genesis Evangelion
was produced by Gainax. Seeing such huge popularity, Gainax wasted no time in reaching out to ADV in hopes of turning it into a live-action adaptation.Read also: Mamoru Oshii believes that Neon Genesis Evangelion will eventually be forgotten, and sees it as a commercial anime that will not survive
Development Neon Genesis Evangelion The live-action film was first announced at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. Weta Workshop, a visual effects company, was tasked with creating the live action. They just finished working on Lord of the Rings trilogy. They posted several concepts for the film online. Neon Genesis Evangelion was in pre-production stage. But unfortunately, Hideaki Anno, director Neon Genesis Evangelionleft Gainax in 2006. This was the first sign of destruction.
Peter Jackson and Neon Genesis Evangelion
Story Neon Genesis Evangelion revolves around a 14-year-old boy named Shinji Ikari. Daniel Radcliffe was originally considered for the role, along with Emma Watson as Asuka. But they were both busy Harry Potter at that time. Since Weta was attached to the film, they tried to sign Peter Jackson to direct the film. Lord of the Rings
trilogy. Unfortunately, he had his eye on another film adaptation, King Kong.Read also: ‘I was very disappointed’: Saoirse Ronan was forced to abandon Peter Jackson’s $1 billion epic in favor of a commercially panned vampire film
Over time, Gainax’s financial position collapsed, and the film adaptation Neon Genesis Evangelion has become a distant memory. Studio Khara Hideaki Anno received all rights to Evangelion. Gainax suffered a major setback due to their president Tomohiko Mari being arrested on charges of sexual assault.
Thus, these events led to the end of the relationship between Gainax and Hideaki Anno. Neon Genesis Evangelion there have been four anime films, the last of which was released in 2021. All of them were well received. But the idea of live action Evangelion never saw daylight. Peter Jackson was lucky enough to deviate from this project. Fans rightly thought that if he had made a film with such problems, it would have been a huge failure.
Read also: ‘I’m grateful it didn’t happen’: Peter Jackson stood his ground after the studio wanted to kill off one ‘Lord of the Rings’ main character for no reason
Source: Collider
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