Creed and Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan, a huge anime fan, would be the ideal candidate to portray Vegeta in a live-action adaptation of Dragon Ball Z. Given the immense popularity of the Dragon Ball franchise, another attempt at a live-action movie shouldn't be ruled out, despite the poor performance of the first effort. When that time comes, new actors will have to be sought out to play its most iconic characters, and that could very well include Vegeta - especially if the original Dragon Ball is skipped over.

Vegeta, the Saiyan who first appeared in 1989, has gone on to become a pop culture icon and one of the most beloved characters from Dragon Ball Z. With a myriad of superpowers, a compelling backstory, and an engaging character journey, Vegeta has rightfully earned his place in the Dragon Ball Z hall of fame. Casting him in live-action sounds like a tall order, but Michael B. Jordan contains all the components necessary to make it work.

He's A Popular Choice, But Michael B. Jordan Really Is The Best Actor For Vegeta In A Live-Action Dragon Ball Z Movie

The Actor's Role In Black Panther Showcases Why He's The Perfect Live-Action Vegeta

As surprising as it may seem, Michael B. Jordan's acclaimed turn as Killmonger in Black Panther is nearly a decade old. That said, the character has often been regarded as one of the best villains in the entire history of the MCU since his debut, due largely to Jordan's charismatic yet maniacal performance. Killmonger successfully functions in Black Panther because of his fleshed-out backstory, which provides compelling motivation for his heinous crimes. The actor could effectively translate these sensibilities to a brooding character such as Vegeta.

There's no doubt that Michael B. Jordan physically fits the bill to portray Vegeta. Look no further than his conditioning in Black Panther or the Creed trilogy.

There's no doubt that Jordan physically fits the bill to portray Vegeta. Look no further than his conditioning in Black Panther or the Creed trilogy. However, he possesses something no other performers do regarding the role: a genuine ion for the source material. Michael B. Jordan is a fan of anime, and Dragon Ball Z. Anime heavily influenced his directorial style in Creed 3, his filmmaking debut, especially during the boxing sequences. The combination of the actor's experience playing similar character types, physical attributes, and love for anime yields him as the prime live-action Vegeta candidate.

Vegeta Is A Lot Easier To Cast In Live-Action Than Goku

Goku's Inherit Cartoony Nature Makes His Casting Much More Difficult To Figure Out

One of the most significant questions surrounding another live-action adaptation of Dragon Ball Z will be the casting of the main characters. While Jordan seems like a no-brainer choice to play Vegeta, his rival Goku is much harder to cast. This precedent was set by 2009's Dragonball Evolution, which featured a heavily misguided take on the character from actor Justin Chatwin. However, mastering Goku in live-action is more difficult than one may think.

Dragon Ball Z rivals to life.