Justin Lin to direct One-Punch Man movie for Sony Pictures

It was more than two years ago when it was first announced that Sony Pictures were developing a live-action adaptation of One-Punch Man, the massively popular manga series created by writer/artist One. Deadline has now reported that Justin Lin has signed on to direct the One-Punch Man movie.

One-Punch Man follows “Saitama, a superhero who can defeat any opponent with a single punch but seeks to find a worthy opponent after growing bored by a lack of challenges in his fight against evil.” The manga series originated as a webcomic back in 2009 and later spawned a critically acclaimed anime TV series, a video game for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, as well as a mobile game for Android and iOS. Scott Rosenberg Jeff Pinkner have penned the script for the One-Punch Man movie, with Justin Lin set to work with them on a rewrite because shooting begins at the end of the year. In addition to directing, Lin will also serve as a producer.

Justin Lin was set to direct Fast X but exited the project merely a week after production began. “ With the support of Universal, I have made the difficult decision to step back as director of FAST X, while remaining with the project as a producer, ” Justin Lin said in a statement. “ Over 10 years and five films, we have been able to shoot the best actors, the best stunts, and the best damn car chases. On a personal note, as the child of Asian immigrants, I am proud of helping to build the most diverse franchise in movie history. I will forever be grateful to the amazing cast, crew and studio for their support, and for welcoming me into the FAST family. ” Amid rumours that the real reason behind Lin’s departure was disagreement with Vin Diesel, the studio scrambled to find a replacement and Louis Leterrier (The Transporter) was soon hired to step in.

What are you hoping to see in the One-Punch Man movie?