A live-action adaptation of Yu-Gi-Oh would be even more possible if the upcoming adaptation of another anime proves to be successful. Created in 1996 as a manga by Kazuki Takahashi, Yu-Gi-Oh follows a young student, Yugi Mutou, who, after solving an ancient Millennium Puzzle, unleashes the spirit of an Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh who has been locked inside the puzzle for thousands of years. The manga has since been adapted into two anime series, several spin-offs, and the Duel Monsters trading card game, which includes iconic Yu-Gi-Oh cards such as the Dark Magician and the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
The popularity of the franchise has also seen the release of three Yu-Gi-Oh anime movies; Pyramid of Light (2004), Bonds Beyond Time (2011), and Dark Side of Dimensions (2016), all of which were commercially successful. Konami has announced a new Yu-Gi-Oh anime series for 2025, but there has not yet been any confirmation about whether there will be a live-action movie. A live-action adaptation has long been speculated for the popular series, and if the upcoming adaptation of Bakugan does well with critics and viewers, a live-action Yu-Gi-Oh movie could be an even bigger possibility in the future.
If Bakugan Is Successful, A Yu-Gi-Oh Live-Action Movie Should Happen Next
A Bakugan Live-Action Movie Has Been Announced By Spin Master Entertainment
In February 2025, it was announced by Spin Master Entertainment that a live-action adaptation of Bakugan was in the works, with Brad Peyton set to write, direct, and produce the movie, alongside Lindsay Harbert. The President of Spin Master, Jennifer Dodge, explained that the upcoming Bakugan live-action re-imagining would allow the opportunity to “expand the franchise for fans while introducing it to new audiences around the world” (via The Hollywood Reporter). Peyton stated that he and Harbert “will create a must-see film event that does justice to the unique and epic world” of the Bakugan franchise.
If the upcoming Bakugan movie also proves to be critically successful, it should encourage a Yu-Gi-Oh live-action adaption to happen next.
Initially starting off as a toy and card game in 2007, Bakugan has since also become a popular children’s franchise, having released more than 300 anime episodes and its game grossing more than $1 billion worldwide. The announcement of the Bakugan live-action movie shows that Hollywood is turning its attention towards anime movies, as seen with the release of the One Piece series on Netflix and the success of Rurouni Kenshin – The Final with critics and viewers. Moreover, if the upcoming Bakugan movie also proves to be critically successful, it should encourage a Yu-Gi-Oh live-action adaption to happen next.
Bakugan Pulling Off The Battles In Live-Action Will Prove Yu-Gi-Oh Can Work
Both Bakugan & Yu-Gi-Oh Are Famous For Their Battles That Take Place Within Their Franchises
The Bakugan and Yu-Gi-Oh franchises are similar to each other, in that they both explore different mythologies and are famous for the battles that take place throughout their stories. In the Bakugan franchise, Dan Kuso and his friends initially create the game for fun after mysterious cards fall out of the sky, but soon, they find themselves in a battle for the fate of Vestoria and the Earth. Dan Kuso’s battles with Masquerade and Spectra are ranked as some of the best of the series and would serve well in the upcoming live-action movie.
Throughout its franchise, Yu-Gi-Oh also depicts unique battles through the Duel Monsters game; battles such as Yugi vs. Marik Ishtar, and Joey Wheeler vs. Seto Kaiba have been ranked as some of the best Yu-Gi-Oh duels. Similar to Bakugan, Yu-Gi-Oh has the right story to be enjoyable for viewers, and its Duel Monsters game intersects with the real world like the Bakugan game does in its series. If the Bakugan movie is successful at pulling off its battles through the right CGI and visual effects, it will serve as further proof that a live-action Yu-Gi-Oh movie could work.
Bakugan Can Also Show Whether A True Pokémon Adaptation Would Work
Detective Pikachu Technically Wasn’t A Live-Action Pokémon Adaptation
The upcoming Bakugan movie could also inspire live-action adaptations of other popular anime series, including Pokémon. The Pokémon franchise released its first live-action movie in 2019, Detective Pikachu, inspired by the successful video game released in 2016. Detective Pikachu was a critical and commercial success, receiving praise for its visual effects and screenplay. It has been ranked as one of the best video game movies ever made, but it was missing several critical aspects from the original anime series that prevented it from being a true live-action Pokémon movie.
Detective Pikachu is set in Ryme City, where humans and Pokémon co-exist and Pokémon battles are forbidden. The movie doesn’t include any Pokémon gyms, Poké Balls, battles, or tournaments that were made famous by the original Pokémon franchise. While it proved popular with viewers, it lacked the theme of adventure and the intense battles that would have made Detective Pikachu a true live-action Pokémon movie. The release date of the upcoming Bakugan movie has yet to be announced, but if it’s a hit, it could streamline live-action adaptations of Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh to happen sooner than anticipated.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
