PREVIEW: Rumors circled around about a live action adaptation of Initial D floated around on the internet in 2003, rumors had it that the great Jackie Chan was behind the movie. Official news about the live action adaptation of Initial D was first made public in July of 2003 by renown Hong Kong director and producer Tsui Hark. Tsui Hark was to direct the movie but after some complications with the film company, Tsui Hark ended up dropping his role as the director and was replaced with Andrew Lau Wai Keung and Alan Mak Siu Fai (of such movies: Infernal Affairs trilogy, the Young & Dangerous series and The Strom Riders).

So we are here in 2005 and there is quite a buzz for this movie.

The movie will be a Cantonese movie and is produced by Hong Kong studio Media Asia Group. The budget for the movie is $100 000 000 HK. The filming begun in October 2003 in China and also Japan. Three Toyota AE86 Sprinter Treuno's were specially made by Toyota for this project. Also noted, Jay Chou will be performing the theme song to the movie.

Hong Kong actor/singer Edison Chen Koon Hei was to play lead role of Fujiwara Takumi but was then later offered the role of rival racer; Takahashi Ryosuke which was rumored to be played by Hong Kong actor/singer Nicholas Tse Ting Fung. Replacing Edison was Taiwan mega pop star Jay Chou Kit Lun, this will be Jay's first full length feature movie (he has already had a movie based on him called 'Hidden Track' which he played a cameo role). The part of Bunta was first given to the legendary Hong Kong actor/singer Andy Lau Tak Wah, but due to unknown reasons Andy dropped the role, it was then given to Hong Kong actor/singer Anthony Wong Chau Sang. Korean singer Hyori Lee was to play the role of Natsuki Mogi but the role was later given to Japanese actress Anne Suzuki. Other roles were given to Shawn Yue Man Lok (Nakazato Takeshi), Chapman To Man Chat (Takeuchi Itsuki), Jordan Chan Siu Chun (Kyouchii Sudou), Kenny Bee (Tachibana Yuichi), Lau Wang (Takahashi Keisuke) and A Boh Lik (Kenji).

The live action Initial D movie is set to be released July 1st 2005. Though Beijing, China will be getting an early premier on the 19th of June 2005