Since the release of the well-intentioned but disastrous
Dragonball Evolution
in 2009, fans of
Dragon Ball
have been starved for a live-action reboot that both pays homage and does right by the manga-turned decade-spanning franchise. Of course, there are many factors that will go into crafting an entertaining and authentic live-action revival, most importantly the characters, and though many scrutinizing eyes will fall upon
the actor slated to play Goku
, I’d argue his friend and ally, Bulma, is just as key to getting the film right—and I know just the actress for the role.
Launched into stardom for her role as Nymeria Sand in
Game of Thrones
,
Jessica Henwick holds the perfect combination of intensity and brazenness
to nail a live-action performance of Bulma, whose appearance in
Dragon Ball Evolution
(which just scored a quiet win on IMDb)
was both rushed and uncharacteristically bland in contrast to her dynamic animated counterpart. Recently, Henwick has seen success in acclaimed productions such as
Glass Onion
and Apple TV’s
Silo
, and
her prior experience portraying on-page heroines
such as Coleen Wing
in Marvel’s
Iron Fist
shows she has far more than what it takes to deliver a faithful, jaw-dropping, and iconic performance as Bulma.
Jessica Henwick Would Be Perfect As Bulma In A Live-Action Dragon Ball Movie
Henwick Is Both An Excellent Physical And Emotional Actress
As an actress, Jessica Henwick bears striking similarities to Bulma through her defining traits as a fierce and vibrant performer, particularly in her role as ”
Bugs
” in 2021’s
The Matrix Resurrections
. Furthermore, Henwick possesses both
the boldness and confidence to pull off many of Bulma’s more audacious looks and outfits
throughout both the anime and manga (not to mention Jessica Henwick has rocked blue hair before as the aforementioned Bugs without it looking uncharacteristic or out-of-the-ordinary).
More important than this, however, is Henwick’s strength as both a physical and emotional presence as well. In
Iron Fist
and
The Defenders
, Henwick got to show off her action prowess in several well-choreographed fight scenes while delving into more dramatic territory in the scenes surrounding her relationship with Danny Rand, aka ”
Iron Fist
” (Finn Jones).
These acting chops are essential for a faithful live-action performance of Bulma
, whose strong loyalty and protective nature make her far more than simple comic relief throughout Goku’s action-packed and high-stakes adventures.
Why Dragonball Evolution Got Bulma Wrong In Live-Action
The Film Watered-Down Bulma’s Character
Perhaps the greatest sin of 2009’s
Dragonball Evolution
is
its blatant disregard of established looks and character traits
in favor of topical and poorly-aging 2000s archetypes, nowhere more apparent than in Emmy Rossum’s role as a dull and diluted version of Bulma. This isn’t to cast shade on Rossum as an actress, of course, as her performances in
The Phantom of the Opera
and the Emmy-award-winning series
Shameless
have proven her talent beyond a doubt. Rather, it’s an indictment of the screenwriter’s watered-down portrayal of one of
Dragon Ball
‘s most iconic characters, which criminally relegates Bulma’s colorful nature to a few blue highlights.
Dragonball Evolution
co-stars Justin Chatwin and Emmy Rossum both went on to star in
Shameless
.
Luckily, the Bulma seen in
Dragonball Evolution
hasn’t come to define the franchise,
as the 2009 film was in some ways a creative blessing for
Dragon Ball
in the years following its release. Nevertheless, Rossum’s performance left many fans wanting more from the character, and while “What-if?” sentiments dominated online forums discussing Bulma and the rest of the
Dragonball Evolution
cast over the past 16 years, enough time has now passed that we, as
Dragon Ball
fans, can once again confidently hold hope for a live-action reboot that does both the character and the series justice—and we know just where to start in casting.