Attack on Titan is one of the best and most beloved manga series out there, and there are many reasons why Attack on Titan It’s the best anime of all time. Within the story of Hajime Isayama, Mikasa Ackerman is one of the best characters in Attack on Titan and one of the most powerful members of the Scouts. In a live-action iteration, the actors have to be top notch because they must communicate much of the internal dialogue and motivations that are written in the manga or told in voiceover in the anime. This is especially true for quiet characters like Mikasa.
Casting Mikasa would be one of the most important parts of making a live-action film. Attack on Titan film today, like she is almost as vital to the narrative as Eren, the protagonist. Although countries and locations in Attack on Titan are fictional, Mikasa is a descendant of Hizuru, which is characterized as similar to Japan in the real world. Most of the actresses considered for the role would be Japanese, although some performers of other ethnicities match Mikasa’s strength. Although they vary in age, Mikasa must be played by someone who can pass as a young adult.
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Lyrica Okano
Known for Marvel’s Runaways (2017–2019)
Lyrica Okano’s most prominent role was as Nico in Hulu’s supernatural teen drama Fugitives, but that’s far from his only great performance. She had some minor roles in criminal procedurals, such as Magnum PI and Blue Bloodbut Nico is his greatest achievement to date. As Nico, Okano quickly proves she can handle the pains of adolescence as well as intense high fantasy subject matter, which makes her a perfect fit for Mikasa.
Okano also captures the underlying tragedy of Mikasa, who had a difficult life before the events of the story.
This is because Mikasa balances her tragic, unrequited love for Eren with her critical position in the Scouts. and his determination to destroy every Titan that comes his way. Okano also captures the underlying tragedy of Mikasa, who had a difficult life before the events of the story. In FugitivesNico is a more anguished character, which puts Okano in the perfect position to capture Mikasa’s quiet sadness as well as her incredible strength.
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Ashley Liao
Known for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Birds and Snakes (2023)
Audiences have seen Ashley Liao play a calculating antagonist and a sympathetic romantic lead in her recent works, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Love in Taipei. However, she has been acting for much longer than viewers might imagine. Starting out as a child actress in Disney and Netflix roles, Liao has a lot of experience under his command and is ready to transition into more challenging lead roles, like that of Mikasa.
Liao’s character, Clemensia, is a The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes character who was better in the book, but she wouldn’t have that problem playing Mikasa. Furthermore, approaching a dystopian speculative fiction story as The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes proves that she could be believable in a high fantasy narrative like Attack on Titan. All your work argues that she could easily portray all phases of Mikasa’s life, from her innocence to her later disillusionment.
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Noémie Nakai
Known for Never Let Me Go (2016)
Recently, Noémie Nakai was seen in Tokyo Vice for a brief look at the thriller series, but the lesser-known actress has also lent her talents to niche independent work. The 2016 miniseries adaptation of Never let Me GoKazuo Ishiguro’s novel also featured Nakai in a minor role. The actress also has a few directing credits, which demonstrates her interest in cinema as an art form, which is key for live-action anime adaptations, which can so easily go wrong.
Fidelity to the manga would be essential in a live-action film AOTand Nakai could help bring that to Mikasa.
However, Nakai has already joined an iteration of a beloved anime in the 2016 series Death Note: New Generation, which is a spinoff of the original manga. There have been many attempts to bring Death Note to life in live-action, and while most Western versions failed, some captured the spirit of the story. Fidelity to the manga would be essential in a live-action film AOTand Nakai could help bring that to Mikasa.
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Lana Condor
Known for To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
Although she became known for the romance genre, Lana Condor has much more to offer and her career is just beginning. After playing Lara Jean in To all the boys I’ve ever loved films, It’s about time Condor moved into a new genre, and action could be the perfect choice. Although she has tackled many other projects since her breakout role in the first film, most audiences still associate her with the teen romantic comedy.
To all the boys I’ve ever loved is a film that perfectly defines Gen Z, and Condor would undoubtedly be a huge draw for viewers to watch live action Attack on Titan. Although it is unlikely that a new version of AOT would have difficulty attracting an audience, It never hurts to have a recognizable face like Condor’s. His foray into more action-packed work with the TV series Deadly Class prepared Condor for a role like Mikasa.
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Madison Hu
Known for Bizaardvark (2016–2019)
Olivia Rodrigo fans may recognize Madison Hu, who starred alongside the singer on the Disney TV show Bizaardvark. One of Disney’s classic series from the 2010s, Bizaardvark was a great first step for Hu, who was able to flex his comedic muscles and start acting from a young age. The experience of being a professional with responsibilities at such a young age is something that Mikasa and many of the characters in Attack on Titan can relate and adds depth to all of Hu’s performances.
The horror movie of 2023 Night Shift I also saw Hu take part in a more violent and intense project, which is good preparation for the visceral blood of Attack on Titan.
Recently, Hu lent his talents to the TV show The Sun Brotherswhich features other prominent actors like Michelle Yeoh. This more adult, suspenseful drama proves that Hu is ready to transition from her roots as a child actress. and fully embrace more complex roles like Mikasa. The horror movie of 2023 Night Shift I also saw Hu take part in a more violent and intense project, which is good preparation for the visceral blood of Attack on Titan.
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Minnie Mills
Known for The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022–present)
Although Lola Tung is the star of The summer I became beautifulit seems more likely that the role of Mikasa would fit lesser-known actress Minnie Mills. She played the character of Shayla in The summer I became beautiful season 1, but audiences haven’t seen much more of Mills since her friendship with Belly and her romance with Steven came to an abrupt end. However, that doesn’t mean she’s been forgotten or that Mills should fade into obscurity.
There’s a lot to be said for casting a relatively unknown actress like Mills in a prominent role like Mikasa. Viewers would not have previous works and characters associated with Mills and would be able to think of her purely as Mikasa. Also, since she is on the younger side, Mills would have the chance to grow and change along with Mikasa, which would make the evolution of the characters throughout the story even more true.
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Midori Francisco
Known for Dash and Lily (2020)
However Midori Francis initially caused a sensation with her breakout role in Dash and Lily as the titular Lily, she has recently become a staple of the most recent seasons of Grey’s Anatomy. Outside of that, audiences could have seen Francisco in her role as Alicia in The sex life of university studentsa love interest for Leighton (Reneé Rapp). Although it doesn’t seem likely that she will return The sex life of university students Season 3, since Rapp’s departure, there are still many more opportunities for Francis in film and television.
It would be interesting if a live-action version gave Mikasa more agency and encouraged her to speak up for herself, which Francis could easily accomplish.
Of all the characters Francis has played, they all have one thing in common: they are strong-willed. and determined. A complaint that some readers and observers of Attack on Titan My thing about Mikasa is that it takes her a long time to realize that she needs to distance herself from Eren and not always do what he says. It would be interesting if a live-action version gave Mikasa more agency and encouraged her to speak up for herself, which Francis could easily accomplish.
3
Anna Sawai
Known for Shōgun (2024–present)
Anna Sawai is a little older than Mikasa at the beginning of the series, but her acting ability is a strong argument for including her in the running for the role. Shogunwhich starred Sawai as Lady Mariko, It was a huge success for the star and made Sawai a household name. However, his previous work on Pachinko is equally dynamic, even if her character isn’t as scary as Mariko. Sawai is a rising star who has great traction and lots of great work ahead of her, and appears in AOT it would only make his star grow.
Acting in two different period plays Shogun and Pachinko prepare Sawai for the scenario and complexities of a Attack on Titan live action series. Even though Sawai wasn’t chosen to play Mikasa, there are plenty of other roles she could take on the series, with some of the older Scouts, like Hange, being well-suited for her abilities as well. Additionally, many of his leading roles were in works based on books, and while the manga is a little different, it still speaks to its ability to thrive in an adaptation.
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Mei Nagano
Known for The Gift of Your Heart (2024)
Mei Nagano has mainly worked in Japanese TV dramas since the beginning of her career, with her recent performance in The gift of your heart cementing her as a strong romantic lead. One of his first projects was the 2015 rom-com My love story!!which was based on a manga series. This wasn’t the last time Nagano brought a manga series to life, as she also starred in the live-action iteration of My Broken Marikowhich was a much more demanding project than your typical love stories.
Although she is still young, Nagano has enough experience to bring depth to Mikasa while also conveying her innocence.
However Nagano hasn’t broken into the international market as much as other potential actresses who could play Mikasa, her popularity in Japan makes her a great candidate to attract audiences to a live-action film AOT. Nagano has won numerous accolades for her work in Japan and is poised to make the leap into more action-oriented work such as Attack on Titan. Although she is still young, Nagano has enough experience to bring depth to Mikasa while also conveying her innocence.
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Tao Tsuchiya
Known for Alice in Borderland (2020–present)
Tao Tsuchiya has been involved in many Japanese dramas, but his most prominent international success was Alice on the Border, Netflix’s wildly popular thriller. The fight sequences and intense subject matter in Alice on the Border parallel to the weight of history in Attack on Titan while also providing humor and pathos to balance out some of the darker moments. Additionally, her character, Yuzuha Usagi, has a strong romantic arc with her co-star, Ryōhei Arisu (Kento Yamazaki), who is also a significant part of Mikasa’s character.
Tsuchiya will return to Alice on the Border Season 3 as Yuzuha Usagi and will continue to be a strong female action hero in the series. Attack on Titan is filled with complex, powerful female characters who drive the story forward and take their destinies into their own hands. Although Mikasa sometimes struggles with her loyalties and desires, Tsuchiya would be able to show that this does not weaken the character, but makes her more truthful and relatable.