By
Hannah Diffey
Published 24 minutes ago
Hannah is a senior writer and self-publisher for the anime section at ScreenRant. There, she focuses on writing news, features, and list-style articles about all things anime and manga. She works as a freelance writer in the entertainment industry, focusing on video games, anime, and literature.
Her published works can be found on ScreenRant, FinanceBuzz, She Reads, and She Writes.
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Hollywood has spent years trying to crack the code on live-action anime, but few projects have inspired more anxiety, or excitement, than a potential Attack on Titan movie. The series’ towering monsters, acrobatic combat, and morally complex characters demand a performer who can anchor spectacle with genuine emotional weight. And right now, no actor fits that challenge better than Star Wars breakout Manny Jacinto.
Fresh off his career-shifting turn in The Acolyte, Jacinto has openly expressed that his dream role is Levi Ackerman. His enthusiasm is not just fan wish-fulfillment, it’s a rare alignment of talent, timing, and star power. If Hollywood ever hopes to deliver an Attack on Titan adaptation that doesn’t collapse under its own ambition, it needs an actor who can embody humanity’s strongest soldier with precision and heart.
Why Manny Jacinto Is the Only Actor Who Can Make Levi Work
Qimir (Manny Jacinto) looking over his shoulder while repairing his helmet in The Acolyte season 1 episode 6
Jacinto has already proven he can handle physically demanding action roles, from Top Gun: Maverick to his agile, unpredictable performance in The Acolyte. Levi requires exactly that kind of disciplined athleticism. The captain’s every movement carries intention, and Jacinto has demonstrated the ability to convey character through motion, stance, and stillness.
More importantly, Jacinto understands the emotional core of Levi’s persona. Beneath the deadpan brutality lies a deep reservoir of grief and loyalty, something that propels many of the series’ most memorable scenes. Jacinto’s quieter dramatic beats show he can balance stoicism with vulnerability, which is an essential combination for portraying the fan-favorite soldier.
And unlike other casting rumors that circle anime adaptations, Jacinto is fully invested. His declaration that playing Levi is his “dream job” signals a level of passion that can elevate a challenging role into a defining one. That commitment alone could ignite broader fan confidence in a project that desperately needs it.
Why Attack on Titan Needs a Star With His Momentum
A Hollywood version of Attack on Titan has been stuck in limbo since 2018, surviving director shakeups, studio reshuffling, and silence from Warner Bros. For a franchise this massive, momentum is everything. Bringing in an actor currently rising within one of Disney’s biggest sci-fi properties could finally give the adaptation the jolt it has been waiting for.
Jacinto’s presence also bridges the gap between general audiences and anime fans. He has mainstream recognition thanks to Star Wars, yet he is vocal about his love for the source material. That dual appeal is rare, and crucial, for a story as morally dense and visually bizarre as Attack on Titan. It needs an actor who can sell both the grounded tragedy and the high-flying, monster-slaying spectacle.
With the right creative team, the series has enormous franchise potential. Titans, political intrigue, and apocalyptic mystery form the kind of world Hollywood loves to expand. But none of that works without a magnetic center. Levi Ackerman is the character fans trust; Manny Jacinto is the actor who could finally make audiences believe in a live-action Attack on Titan, and make the long-delayed adaptation worth the wait.
Attack on Titan (2013) anime poster
Attack on Titan
Created by
Hajime Isayama
First Film
Attack on Titan: The Crimson Bow and Arrow
Latest Film
Attack on Titan: The Final Chapters (2023)
Upcoming Films
Attack on Titan The Movie: The Last Attack (2024)
First TV Show
Attack On Titan
Latest TV Show
Attack On Titan
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Anime
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Attack On Titan
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Star Wars
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