Fullmetal Alchemist: Live-Action Edward Elric Reminisces About Filming

The Fullmetal Alchemist series may haven been resting for a bit, but the franchise is slated to make a comeback later in 2017. After the release of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Edward and Alphonse Elric were thrust into hiding while its live-action feature was in development. Ryosuke Yamada was cast as the elder alchemist, and the Japanese actor is more than happy to reminisce about shooting the film.

Thanks to fan-translator Aizawanikka, fans can read up on the actor's words from Think Note Vol. 44.

"After about two and a half month shooting, the filming of Fullmetal Alchemist finally cranked up," the artist recounted. "The amount of CG in this work is on a different level compare to Assassination Classroom. Well, first of all, the 2m 20cm little brother who is always beside the character I play, Edward, is fully CG. Of course, the fighting scenes are also in CG, and every day I'm in front of the green screen alone speaking to an empty space. It has become a daily routine."

"Those scenes were repeatedly shot from morning until night in the same location. If I think about it now, what kind of scene that has been taken back then had become a blur in my mind. That time, I was blown away by the animeof the original work! Looking at the video in the same location where we took that scene during the shooting, "Right now, I'm in the live action version of this amazing scene!" was what I thought."

Yamada continued, writing, "I keep doing my best. The memory that filled my head on the last day of filming were the times when I acted in front of the green screen alone, as expected....However, after I shook hands with director Fumihiko Sori, it left a great impression in me. The director is really passionate, the type of person that has a clear vision. So, while I felt at ease doing the filming, at the same time I also have to struggle to meet the high standards that was required. The moment we shook our hands, along with the time we spent working together, a lot of feelings were revived. Right now, how will the finished work turns out when the CG production is done, I'm really looking forward to it!"

If you are not familiar with Fullmetal Alchemist, then you have plenty of time to watch the anime before its live-action film arrives. The series follows brothers Edward and Alphonse after their mother tragically passes. They attempt to use alchemy to resurrect her, but the attempt takes Edward's arm and leg - and it takes Alphonse's entire body. Determined to get their bodies restored, Edward and Alphonse try to become State Alchemists so they can find the location of a powerful item known as the Philosopher's Stone. But their journey ultimately leads them into a seedy world of government corruption and mass genocide.

Fullmetal Alchemist will debut in Japan in December.