Casting Goku In A Live-Action Dragon Ball Movie: 10 Actors Who’d Be Perfect

If there is ever going to be another live-action Dragon Ball
movie, they need to be extremely careful about who they cast to play Goku. Dragon Ball is one of the most popular global franchises, with the source manga having inspired numerous anime shows, video games, and several movies. However, it’s only had one live-action movie adaptation, and it was a complete disaster.

But, if they can learn from the failure of Dragonball Evolution, and create something that actually feels like the source material, there’s a lot of potential. And the biggest thing to get right is the hero of the story, Son Goku. Goku is the lovable, emotional, young-spirited, and energetic Saiyan at the core of the Dragon Ball shows. Unlike others of his race, he displays signs of kindness, compassion, and care, in addition to his immense strength and skill in combat. But he also has a darker side, which tends to come out when he goes Super Saiyan.

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Andrew Koji

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With all of the above details in mind, there are several actors who could do the role justice, and capture all the elements of this character. If a live-action movie were to go down a route of exploring Goku’s life as an adult, who has been training since childhood, and is now an incredibly refined and powerful champion, a great choice to cast in the role could be Andrew Koji. With notable roles in films like Bullet Train, Snake Eyes, Boy Kills World, and Warrior, they all highlighted his physicality and experience in action and martial arts-based roles.

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He also tackled a more dramatic and romance-based role in Black Doves, where he plays the romantic partner of Keira Knightley. While comedy may not be a proven strong point in his career thus far, Koji would deliver an excellent and intense version of Goku. Ready for battle, and showing intense loyalty and love for the people around him.

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Ross Butler

Ross Butler is a much younger actor who has gone from strength to strength in his career to date. Playing the role of Reggie in the first season of Riverdale, Butler played a jock, physically strong, and not particularly clever. Then, he went on to play Trevor in the Netlix series of movies, To All The Boys, where he was a laid back, fun-loving character. And more recently, he played the superhero version of Eugene in Shazam and the sequel.

These three roles show how Butler could tackle the character of Goku, with physicality, whimsy, enthusiasm, and power. And with Butler being a younger actor, he could tackle the early days of Goku as he finds his place in the world, rushes into new battles, and learns more from each defeat, before powering up and overcoming any rival. Butler would be an excellent choice for the role of Goku if given the opportunity.

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Yoshi Sudarso

However, if the film wants to focus more on the physicality, and revolve around more combat, then an actor with a strong background in stunt work could be a solid choice. Enter Yoshi Sudarso, another young actor and stuntman who has done extensive work both playing characters, and doing stunt work. Sudarso has worked on major productions like Avatar: The Way of Water, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and Logan as part of the stunt team, which means he has a wealth of experience doing physically intense action work.

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In addition, Sudarso has also been cast in many films to play pivotal roles, such as Power Rangers Dino Charge, and Bullet Train. With his acting and stunt experience combined, Sudarso would be a fitting actor to tackle the role of Goku, where he could get a chance to really dig in to playing a leading character. It would likely be challenging, but there would definitely be benefits to Sudarso being cast.

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Gong Yoo

Gong Yoo is a Korean actor who has had years of experience working on local film and TV shows. However, his stint on Squid Game has significantly increased his notoriety due to his compelling performance as a recruiter for the games. Gong Yoo has a mysterious and dark quality which underlines the outwardly jovial and happy character Gong Yoo plays in Squid Game. However, his charm and smile absolutely stand out in a way that is similar to Goku’s.

Yoo could do extremely well playing Goku, creating a well-rounded character that has a dark side. While Goku is typically happy and outgoing, there are times when the character gets more intense and serious, and this is likely where Yoo would excel. It would also certainly push Yoo’s career to the next level, putting him on a global stage, which could be a great move for the actor.

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Ryan Potter

One of the youngest names on this list, Ryan Potter still stands out for his extraordinary filmography thus far in his career. Potter is no stranger to playing a hero, as he was cast to play Terry McGinnis, aka Batman, in the short film, Batman Beyond: Year One. Potter also played Gar Logan, aka Beast Boy in the live-action series Titans, and he voiced the protagonist, Hiro Himada in Big Hero 6. As such, Potter is one of the strongest performers on this list, with extensive experience playing a hero.

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It also helps that many of these roles have Potter playing a fun-loving, easy-going hero, like Gar. Goku is laid back, and he enjoys life, food, and fighting. Everything he does, he does with a huge grin, and Potter could really capture that for the character. He also knows how to assert himself, regardless of a rival’s size, and whether they may tower over him, which is another key aspect to Goku, as he is fearless in approaching any challenge.

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Lewis Tan

Lewis Tan is a fascinating choice who has progressed from smaller supporting parts to leading roles over the last few years. In addition, he also spent a lot of years early in his career working in stunt departments, refining his physicality and developing a strong talent for action-based roles. Then, in 2021, Tan played the leading role of Cole Young in Mortal Kombat, a film adapted from the extremely popular video game franchise.

Beyond that, Tan also played Shatterstar in Deadpool & Wolverine, and he recently appeared in the second part of the three-part finale of Cobra Kai. Tan has charisma, charm, physical presence, and the ability to play a leading character who fans gravitate towards and root for. As such, he could be an ideal choice to tackle the role of Goku in a live-action Dragon Ball movie.

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Alex Landi

Alex Landi may be a little bit more of a wild card casting. As far as credited roles, Landi’s acting career only began to make moves in 2016. Since then, he has appeared in a little over a dozen other projects, with his role on Grey’s Anatomy being the most notable role to date. However, his performance as Dr. Nico Kim is one that is emotional, intelligent, and strong.

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In addition, he landed a recurring role in Walker during the first two seasons, which also saw him appearing in a romantic role. While Landi is a less well-known actor, he certainly has the right look and potential to tackle a role like Goku, and bring something unique and engaging to the character.

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Ludi Lin

Ludi Lin is another actor who has seen a lot of growth in the last decade for his career. Starting out appearing in shorts and some smaller productions, Lin has steadily progressed to tackle larger roles in Hollywood blockbusters. In 2017, he plays Zack, aka the Black Power Ranger in the Power Rangers movie. He also appeared in both Aquaman movies, where he played Captain Murk, and in Mortal Kombat, where he played Liu Kang.

In particular, his role in Mortal Kombat could be the perfect experience to prepare him to play a character like Goku, due to the similarities between the characters. Both are skilled warriors, who have mastered various types of combat, are able to wield energy, and both possess incredible insight into tournaments, battles, and championships. Lin would be perfect in terms of the physical side of the role, and his appearance in Power Rangers shows that he can play a more laid-back and goofy character as well, which is essential for Goku’s personality.

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Jonathan Patrick Foo

Jonathan Patrick Foo, who also uses the stage name Jon Foo, is a talented actor who has yet to get his big break in Hollywood. While he has landed essential roles in projects like Tekken and Warrior King, Foo’s career is due to take a major step up. And one of the clearest examples of why that is comes in the lesser known Rush Hour TV show that came out in 2016, where Foo starred as Jonathan Lee, a cop from China who is assigned to aid in an investigation in America.

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Unfortunately, tackling the role that was essentially a replacement for Jackie Chan made the success of this series incredibly unlikely, but that doesn’t mean that Foo’s performance was not spectacular. Foo did a great job blending comedy, action, and fun in a clever reboot format. And if given the opportunity, he would be able to tackle the role of Goku in a similar way, with a strong physical presence, light-hearted humor, and a steady, sure composure that pushes him forward through every challenge.

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Manny Jacinto

Last, but certainly not least, Manny Jacinto is an outstanding actor who has continued to get more and more recognition for his versatility as an actor. In The Good Place, Jacinto played Jason Mendoza, and his performance was one of the highlights of the show, as he played a hilarious, and often unaware young man who seemed to float through life as things happened around him. And, in a way, this is also a characteristic of Goku, who lives life completely focused on his own goals and ambitions. He moves steadfastly towards challenges, or his next meal, and can miss the finer details.

However, Jacinto’s performance in The Acolyte as The Stranger also set him up as a powerful, strong, and commanding presence who can easily best others in a fight. Jacinto’s skills to embody characters, transform, and embrace the aspects that are required for a role is absolutely spectacular, and he could easily tackle a role like Goku and deliver an exceptional performance. Like the rest of the actors above, Jacinto has what it takes to play Goku, and given the chance, he could be an epic star in a live-action Dragon Ball movie.

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Category: Entertainment