'Attack on Titan' characters get live counterparts for upcoming 2015 movie adaptation

Haruma Miura as Eren Yeager in Attack on Titan movie.Kotaku

Since there was scarcely any news about the "Attack on Titan" film, fans were extra-thrilled when posters were unveiled this week featuring six characters to appear in the upcoming anime-turned-live action movie.  The actors who will be playing these characters were also revealed. 

The new "Attack on Titan" cast includes: Japanese actor Haruma Miura, who will portray the lead role of Eren Yeager; Japanese-American singer/model Kiko Mizuhara as Eren's adopted sister Mikasa Ackerman; Japanese actress-singer and model Nanami Sakuraba as Sasha Blouse; fan-favorite Japanese actor Satomi Ishihara as Hange Zoe; Japanese actor Takahiro Miura as Jean Kirstein; as well as Japanese actor and model Kanata Hongo as Eren's friend Armin Arlert. 

Film producer Yoshihiro Sato discussed how the creative team came up with the decision to choose the actors who will portray the roles of Eren and the rest of the characters in the "Attack on Titan" live action movie. According to him, Isayama and the rest of the team "didn't concern ourselves at all with whether or not the actors looked like their manga counterparts" and that they made sure that they have "carried out casting on the basis of whether or not the actors could embody the spirit of Isayama's originals." 

"Attack on Titan" is one of the most successful manga and anime series in Japan today. It also penetrated the U.S. market after it was released in America.  It follows the life of Eren, Mikasa and Armin after they decided to join the military in its quest to defeat the giant humanoids called Titans.  The trio's hometown was ravaged by the giants, and Eren personally seeks revenge after his mother was eaten by one of the gargantuan beasts. 

The story is adapted from the manga series titled "Shingeki no Kyojin" written by Isayama. 

On a related note — just recently, Marvel reportedly worked with Isayama to come up with an eight-page crossover story between "Attack on Titan" and "Avengers" that was released in Japan, while the Universal Studios in the Asian country is currently constructing a 49-foot statue that will become a part of their new attraction called Universal Cool Japan. 

The highly anticipated "Attack on Titan" movie is expected to release sometime in 2015.