Attack on Titan’s Writer Created Most Famous Character by Accident, Found Inspiration in $185 Million Movie That Almost Cast Tom Cruise
Fans of Attack on Titan are eagerly anticipating the release of Season 4 Part 3 Episode 2 on November 4, 2023, as they look forward to seeing their beloved characters in action once again. Among the characters who have gained immense popularity in the anime world, Levi Ackerman stands out.
Interestingly, Captain Levi Ackerman’s status as the most popular character in Attack on Titan was not initially planned by Hajime Isayama, the manga creator. The concept of Levi’s character came to him unexpectedly.
What’s even more surprising is that Isayama drew inspiration from a $185 Million Western movie when creating Levi, adding a unique twist to the character’s background and personality.
A Serendipitous Creation in Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama
Hajime Isayama, the creator of Attack on Titan, has mentioned that he didn’t plan Levi’s character in advance. In a 2014 interview with men’s pop-culture magazine Brutus, posted by Mangabrog, Isayama revealed this fact. He explained:
“Levi is a character I accidentally created while idly doodling, and I, of course, knew I had something. Then I saw Watchmen, and the character Rorschach really stuck with me, and I decided I wanted to try doing a similar character, so I combined him with that doodle.”
Isayama explained that he created Levi’s appearance on a whim, and later, after watching the Watchmen movie and seeing Rorschach, he decided to merge Rorschach’s personality with Levi’s design.
What’s more interesting is that the Watchmen film almost had Tom Cruise as an antagonist, and if it had been done, it would have marked Cruise’s first time in a superhero film.
Tom Cruise Could Have Made Watchmen Even More Popular as Ozymandias
While Watchmen, the film adaptation of Alan Moore’s famous graphic novel, has received many positive reviews, there was a casting possibility that could have made it even more popular: Tom Cruise as the main antagonist Ozymandias.
During the casting process, there were rumors that Tom Cruise was in discussions to star in the 2009 film. In an interview with Zack Snyder, the director confirmed having talked to Cruise about a significant role in Watchmen, and Cruise indeed showed interest.
When asked if Cruise was considering the role of Ozymandias, Snyder also confirmed this. However, Cruise eventually decided not to pursue the project, leading to the casting of Matthew Goode instead.
Also Read: Attack on Titan: 7 Cruelest Plot Twists That Made Fans Shudder Before Upcoming Series Finale
