One of the main characters in the Dragon Ball series seems tailor-made for Jackie Chan if another live-action adaptation ever happens. Currently, it’s unclear whether any of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball universe will be adapted for the big screen again, especially after the failure of Dragon Ball: Evolution.
However, that possibility remains open. Recent projects like Netflix’s One Piece series have strengthened the belief that Dragon Ball could succeed as a live-action adaptation if handled correctly. Despite the disaster of the 2009 film, rumors about a new live-action Dragon Ball movie continue to circulate.
Of course, the film would face many challenges, including casting the main characters. Finding the perfect live-action Goku is difficult, and casting Vegeta, Krillin, Piccolo, or Frieza could also be tricky. But for some characters, casting the right actor is surprisingly straightforward.
Jackie Chan Is the Ideal Choice to Play Master Roshi
When it comes to casting Master Roshi, a Dragon Ball live-action film wouldn’t have to look far. Jackie Chan, one of the greatest martial arts stars of all time, is the perfect candidate. He is Goku’s first teacher and the creator of the iconic Kamehameha technique.
While Master Roshi isn’t recognized as the strongest character in the current series, in the early days he was. He was a respected martial artist and the strongest character in the original manga before Goku surpassed him.
Master Roshi’s reputation makes it fitting for the role to be played by a true martial arts icon. Having created some of the greatest martial arts films ever, Jackie Chan certainly deserves this role. Plus, his natural comedic style fits Master Roshi’s personality perfectly, a skilled and wise fighter who’s also a great source of humor. Jackie Chan could balance both sides flawlessly.
Playing Master Roshi Would Be a Career Highlight for Jackie Chan
In a way, playing Goku’s elderly master, as well as Yamcha and Krillin’s teacher, could be a perfect capstone for Jackie Chan’s illustrious career. In Drunken Master, one of the two films that launched Jackie Chan to stardom in 1978, he played Wong Fei-hung, a martial artist who learned Drunken Fist from Beggar So.
Beggar So was an old, seemingly harmless beggar who turned out to be a martial arts master and shaped Jackie Chan’s character into a powerful fighter in the truest sense.
With that in mind, the role of Master Roshi would be an interesting reversal for Jackie Chan, allowing him to move from playing the student of a quirky master to embodying the eccentric master himself.
Master Roshi and Jackie Chan Share a Unique Connection
Casting Jackie Chan as Master Roshi feels even more meaningful given the character’s unique connection to the actor. In the 21st and 22nd World Martial Arts Tournaments in Dragon Ball, Master Roshi fought under the alias “Jackie Chun,” a persona he created so Goku and Krillin wouldn’t realize they were facing their own master.
Roshi’s goal in adopting the “Jackie Chun” identity was to defeat both fighters so they would understand there were stronger martial artists out there. This plan helped keep Goku and Krillin’s egos in check and showed how deeply Roshi invested in their growth as fighters.
Assuming a new Dragon Ball film stays true to the original story, this important chapter in Goku’s journey is likely to appear. With Master Roshi’s “Jackie Chun” persona featured, having Jackie Chan lead this story on the big screen seems like the perfect scenario.