Summary

• Given the success of shows like Netflix's One Piece, a live-action Dragon Ball Z movie might finally happen — and Joe Taslim is the perfect choice to play Vegeta.
• Taslim's background in martial arts and previous performances in Mortal Kombat and Warrior make him an ideal candidate for the role.
• Following the disastrous Dragonball Evolution, it's crucial to get the casting right for a potential DBZ movie's success.

Although a proper live-action Dragon Ball Z movie has yet to happen, the success of Netflix's live-action One Piece may be the spark that's needed — and, if it happens, one actor from HBO's Warrior is the only choice to play Vegeta. The prince of the fallen Saiyan race, Vegeta arrives on Earth early on in Dragon Ball Z as an antagonist. A ruthless and arrogant warrior, he's shocked when Earth's go-to protector, a fellow Saiyan named Goku, has a power that exceeds his expectations. From then on, Vegeta is determined to become more powerful than Goku.

Over the course of the anime, casting a live-action Goku in a DBZ movie. A lot rests on the actor's ability to capture the fan-favorite Saiyan Prince's demeanor as well as his top-notch fighting abilities, making Vegeta's casting incredibly crucial.

Joe Taslim Would Be Perfect As Live-Action Vegeta

The Warrior Actor Has What It Takes To Play The Ruthless Saiyan Prince In A Dragon Ball Z Movie

Renowned martial artist-turned-actor Joe Taslim is the perfect choice for a live-action Vegeta. A member of Indonesia’s national judo team for over a decade, Taslim won the role of Sergeant Jaka in The Raid, an award-winning action-thriller flick set in Jakarta. The actor's first big-name Hollywood role came in the form of 2013's Fast & Furious 6. Able to show his range, Taslim played the villain and mercenary Jah, who memorably fights Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson) and Han Seoul-Oh (Sung Kang) in hand-to-hand combat.

...playing an iconic character like Vegeta isn't a stretch [for Taslim].

From the Indonesian action film The Night Comes for Us to Taslim was also Sub-Zero in 2021's Mortal Kombat, so playing an iconic character like Vegeta isn't a stretch.

Joe Taslim’s Previous Roles Prove He Would Nail Vegeta

From Mortal Kombat To Fast & Furious, Taslim Has The Chops For The DBZ Villain-Turned-Hero

There's no doubt that Taslim's previous roles have prepared him to play Vegeta, Dragon Ball's best father. In HBO's action-packed Warrior, Taslim played Li Yong, a skilled martial artist who serves as chief enforcer for the Long Zii tong. Incredibly determined and loyal, Li Yong is a rather reserved figure. While he doesn't have Vegeta's arrogance, he certainly has the same purpose-fueled grit and ambition. Meanwhile, Taslim's Mortal Kombat character, Sub-Zero, is a warrior ninja who's often defined by his rivalry with Scorpion. It's hard not to see shades of Vegeta and Goku in that dynamic.

A New Dragon Ball Live-Action Movie Would Have To Get The Cast Right After Evolution

Dragon Ball Evolution Killed Any Hopes Of Another Live-Action Adaptation (Until Now)

In 2009, the whitewashed Dragonball Evolution tried to adapt the iconic manga and anime series into a live-action format and, ultimately, upset fans and newcomers. Although Vegeta didn't appear, the project was rife with awful casting for a live-action Dragon Ball movie as well as a terrible story and baffling approach to the world. Making a mere $56.5 million at the box office, Dragonball Evolution is widely considered one of the worst movies of all time. Needless to say, getting a strong, accurate cast would be essential for a potential live-action Dragon Ball Z movie's success.