Production
Development
Rumors of a live-action adaptation began on 2017 when Yahoo! News reporting that Rizal Halim was announced as director for the film with the support of Aziz M. Osman as producer by the title of Keluang Man Zero. [1] It was eventually cancelled after Rizal himself left the production in April 2018 due to unknown reasons. [2] Rizal apologized to everyone including Indonesian and Singapore actors due to their excitement for acting in the film. [3]
Official development began in 2019, when Astro Shaw Writers' Room planned to make a live-action film led by Anwari Ashraf, who has written Polis Evo franchise with Joel Soh, current managing director of Blackflag and Kyle Goonting, head of production and development in Astro Shaw and created two Astro Original Series, Projek: High Council and Projek: Anchor SPM, together with Roshfaizal Ariffin, who is known for writing and directing Didi & Friends The Movie. [4] Nas Muammar Zar or also known as Nas-T was confirmed as Keluang Man, through casting conducted by Astro Shaw via social media in July 2023, while it also got high volume of auditions and reactions from Nizam Razak, Naim Daniel [5] [lower-alpha 1] and various media outlets. [6] The auditions were later on extended until August 2023. Anwari was hired as a director and main writer of the film. [7] The film will be an origin story of Keluang Man [8] and will be aiming for a 2025 release together with Kahar: Kapla High Council [9] [10] and BoBoiBoy Movie 3: Gur'latan, [11] [lower-alpha 2] that was scheduled for December of same year.
Before Astro Shaw continued their project, it struck up a partnership with Iconic Animation Studio, the original IP of Keluang Man . The partnership were signed in Astro's HQ in Bukit Jalil in May 2022 with the attendance of Raja Jastina Raja Arshad, executive producer of the film. [12] Raja Jastina told The Vibes;
"We trust that the Keluang Man brand is highly esteemed in the local animation scene and has its loyal following, many of which who grew up with the animation series.
"Even though the series first aired a long time ago, it is still beloved by many Malaysians, and we see high demand and huge anticipation from the fans for the return of Keluang Man, proving that this superhero has a special place in the audiences’ hearts and is indeed evergreen.
"We hope that this good news would excite the fans and show that local animation has the potential to be elevated to greater heights.” [13]
— Raja Jastina Raja Arshad
The film was announced on 28 November 2023 by Astro Shaw. The film will be released in 2025 together with BoBoiBoy Movie 3, produced by Animonsta Studios. Both movies will also be distributed by Animonsta. [14]
Pre-production
Pre-production was started in May 2023, when Anwari revealed the front cover of the script. [7] Later, Astro Shaw began casting the main character by 3 phases of audition, watched by Anwari himself on Astro's HQ, where the first phase received over 300 submissions via the Internet. [15] [16] Anwari told to media that he trusted Nas because he "don't have any other choice" due to his commitment to the character in short time. [17] Besides Nas, Remy Ishak, Rosyam Nor and Anwaar Beg Moghal were chosen by Anwari himself. Anwari told the media that there will be other actors being cast from time to time throughout the filming session. [18] Astro Shaw are planning to turn Keluang Man into a cinematic universe inspired by Marvel Cinematic Universe, that will not be limited to just a single film. [19] [20] Tiong Man, a sidekick for Keluang Man, will not be in the movie, even though there are demands from fans to include that character. [21]
Nas reveals that he learned four new martial arts to prepare for the film. [22] In the same article, Anwari confirmed that he's the one that requested Astro to buy property for Keluang Man to become a film. [22] Nas reveals that almost everyone called him "Keluang Man", even the mosque preacher on Friday prayer. [23]
Filming
Principal photography is currently running for 2 months starting May 2024, after Eid al-Fitr. [24] The stunt training will be led by Saiful Reza Shukor, action director of Projek: High Council.
Shweta Sekhon who was known for Miss World Malaysia 2016 and Miss Universe Malaysia 2019 was cast as Doctor Malini, a doctor that take care of Borhan's mental health condition. [25] Malini appears for the first time in Keluang Man in Episode 9, Season 1 directed by Kamn Ismail. [26] Shweta told media that she had to lose weight and scheduled her eating to make sure she was in great shape for the character of Doctor Malini. [27] Shweta also told media that her character was supposed to be "unknown" and make sure that Borhan didn't know anything. [28]
Astro Shaw teased a few pictures on their social media and revealed other cast such as Dennis Yin who previously acted in Polis Evo 2 , [lower-alpha 3] Amelia Henderson, Halim Othman, Sham Sunder and Shweta herself. [29]
