Netflix Announced A Solo Leveling Live-Action Series, And Make It Stop

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I strongly dislike a recent trend that some streaming services are following, particularly Netflix, which involves turning popular anime into live-action productions. This trend is pushing me to my limit.

In today’s world, live-action adaptations are quite common and often garner significant attention. It’s no surprise that numerous live-action Disney movies were planned for release. In fact, the top-earning movie of 2025 thus far is a live-action version – none other than Lilo & Stitch.

In terms of anime adaptations, particularly those produced by American companies, I’ve observed that they often fall short in accurately portraying the original content. Now, Netflix has declared they’re transforming the beloved anime “Solo Leveling” into a live-action, and honestly, I just can’t take it anymore. It’s time someone intervened because I’m exhausted with these adaptations.

I Know Netflix Has Had SOME Success With Live-Action Remakes

To begin, let me first express my awareness of Netflix’s thriving live-action adaptations. It’s precisely the reason why my Netflix subscription remains active.

Are these all fantastic adaptations? Not necessarily, but they’ve managed to achieve some level of success. The adaptation of “One Piece,” however, is exceptional, and given my fondness for the franchise, I believe they did a commendable job, especially considering that the original series is still in production with over 1000 episodes. I would still suggest it as one of the top anime to begin with.

In other areas, their adaptations weren’t quite as impressive, yet they retained certain appealing aspects. The adaptation of Cowboy Bebop was passable – it didn’t come close to matching the original’s quality, and the narrative occasionally lacked depth, but it provided enjoyable weekend viewing nonetheless.

Nine Times Out Of Ten, They Fall Super Flat On Their Face

Most of Netflix’s anime adaptations have struggled to make an impact, but One Piece and Cowboy Bebop stand out as the exceptions that proved successful, especially the latter. Unfortunately, every other live-action adaptation has been disappointing, even to the point of being abysmal.

Death Note was instrumental in sparking my interest in anime. Unfortunately, I found the live-action remake to be a disappointing representation of the original series. It had immense potential that wasn’t fully realized, and overall it didn’t provide an enjoyable viewing experience.

But aside from that, there’s so many other aspects that make it horrible.

They Either Miss The Plot Entirely, Cast Horrible Actors, Or Just Overly-American-fy It

One concern I have with live-action anime adaptations is that the original story sometimes seems distorted or watered down. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why, but it appears that producers and companies are altering elements to appeal to a wider range of viewers.

In essence, deviating too much from the original source can diminish the charm of anime series, particularly those with more serious undertones, which may lead some fans to feel disconnected. The success of One Piece, for instance, can be attributed to its faithful adaptation – not an exact replica, but close enough to satisfy the fans.

In addition, there’s the issue of casting. Some casting choices in Netflix anime films leave me questioning their methods, as the actors seem to have little resemblance to the characters they portray. However, let’s move on. Even if the casting was perfect, sometimes the actors just don’t gel with the character. They don’t quite fit.

The primary issue is that they tend to be overly Americanized. Despite having numerous strengths, such as deep themes, compelling stories, and intricate characters, these anime often lose their depth when adapted into live-action. Instead of maintaining their unique qualities, they transform into run-of-the-mill, unremarkable productions, lacking the essence that made them stand out in the first place.

Solo Leveling May Not Be Intensely Deep, But It’s Not Generic And Would Be Very Hard To Bring To Live Action

In my opinion, “Solo Leveling” isn’t one of the most profound anime series I’ve encountered. To me, there are other anime that delve deeper and offer a more impactful experience than a man striving to become stronger solely for financial gain, even if it involves supernatural powers and monsters. This, in essence, is not too different from everyday life.

It’s quite challenging to adapt the intricate, animated action scenes and fantastical monsters from “Solo Leveling” into a real-world setting. After all, the extraordinary elements of the anime make it so captivating!

For years, there have been whispers about a live-action adaptation of “Attack on Titan,” and I’ve heard it’s happening in Japan. However, the concept of an American adaptation seems far-fetched to me. “Attack on Titan” is a dark, complex anime that surpasses “Solo Leveling” in depth, but the monsters in it are so terrifying that I can’t imagine how they could be accurately portrayed in live-action.

It seems to me that Solo Leveling might not be the best fit for this adaptation. While I’m a fan of the series and find Jin-woo an excellent main character, I’m uncertain if the live-action realm would do justice to its unique aspects.

I Think They Should Really Stick To One Piece

To put it simply, I must admit that I’m quite fond of “One Piece”. In my opinion, Netflix has been doing an excellent job with this series thus far. It’s worth noting that Season 2 is yet to come, but fans will have to wait until 2026 for its release.

I’d also like to mention that I’m perfectly okay with Netflix adapting stories straight from a manga – it’s all good in my book. In fact, some of their finest works are based on manga, not anime. It’s when an anime is adapted that things can get complicated.

Regarding Solo Leveling, it seems to me that there might not be much demand for it at the moment. With only two seasons released so far, it’s a great series, but I find it hard to believe people are clamoring for a live-action adaptation of it. Given the numerous popular Netflix shows currently available, perhaps it would be more beneficial to focus on those instead of creating new ones. However, this is merely my opinion.

Perhaps I should step away from watching live-action anime for a while, as it becomes too overwhelming for my mind. It seems like it’s high time for me to unwind and escape the intensity of that particular universe.

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2025-07-22 00:09