Published in 110 manga chapters and adapted for TV in an anime of 114 episodes, the original story of Knights of the Zodiac is relatively long. Now that the saga of Seiya and his companions has been transposed to the cinema, the question remains: will the live-action film have a sequel? Or will it just be a closed story? Next, we’ll explain what we know so far and what the possibilities are for the franchise.
How far does the story go in the film?
Anyone who has read the manga or seen any of the animations – whether it’s the classic version or the newer one – knows what the story is about. The original plot is: Seiya, a young orphan looking for his sister, ends up discovering that he has cosmic powers. An unknown man named Mitsumasa Kido approaches the boy and explains the origin of his newfound strength. Seiya is predestined to be a knight of Athena, goddess of war and wisdom, presumably incarnated in the present day in a young woman named Saori.
This basic storyline has slight variations depending on the media and era. The original anime, which aired in Japan between 1986 and 1989, has some differences from the manga. For example: the knights of steel, presented in the cartoon, did not originally exist in the comics.
Likewise, the newest version of the animation, in CGI, released in 2020, brings some changes and updates. The most obvious example is the creation of the villain Guraad, a man who wants to defeat the gods and dominate the planet.
The film with the actors follows the same path, bringing some novelties, even if it brings more elements of recent computer graphics animation. However, the core of the story is the same.
Knights of the Zodiac – Saint Seiya: The Beginning, as the title suggests, is a film about origins. Unlike the cartoons, which already feature the main quintet of bronze saints in the first few episodes – Seiya, Shun, Shiryu, Hyoga and Ikki – here the focus is on the Pegasus Saint.
We see Seiya’s childhood, gaining the Pegasus armor, first contact with Saori, and an initial confrontation with Ikki. There isn’t exactly an adaptation of the first knight story arc, the Sanctuary Saga. Therefore, the story advances little compared to what was seen at the beginning of the manga and the anime.
Live-action movie trilogy?
In this first film, the desire to found a film franchise is clear. Not just because of how little of the plot is going on, but also because of the lack of presentation of the other main characters. There’s also just a brushstroke on the mythology and key story concepts.
So it feels like an attempt to emulate a formula similar to that of early Marvel Studios, which over the course of several films gradually established a cinematic universe.
There is no official information on the sequels so far, which will depend on box office performance. In a recent interview, actor Diego Tinoco, who plays Ikki, said he has signed a three-film deal. The film’s choreographer, Andy Cheng, told al Variety that the directors’ plan is to make between six and seven Knights of the Zodiac films.
What could upcoming films face?
Since the film version seems to ignore the initial plot phase of Knights of the Zodiac, Galactic War, which is part of the Sanctuary Saga, perhaps some arcs will be suppressed in theaters. Still, it seems safe to believe that the Battle of the 12 Houses would be the culmination of an eventual film trilogy.
The concepts related to the silver and golden knights are practically a footnote in this first film. Hence, it is to be expected that they will be more developed in the sequels, with the introduction of Shun, Hyoga and Shiryu. However, before that, the second film should explore Ikki’s motivations and determine his eventual redemption, as the character is a major antagonist in Saint Seiya: The Beginning.
If it succeeds, it is to be imagined that the franchise will also seek in theaters a similar format to Marvel, with films released in stages. Given the number of characters and sagas, it would make perfect sense to launch film series dedicated to different arcs.
For example, a trilogy focused on the Sanctuary Saga, a film for the Asgard Saga, two feature films for the Poseidon Saga and, who knows, a two-part finale for the final phase, the Hades Saga. In short: stories abound. It will depend on the feedback from the audience.
The post Knights of the Zodiac movie: will it have a sequel? first appeared on Look Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
