If you haven’t read the iconic Malaysian comic “Under 18” when you were younger, then you’re probably missing out. Published in 2002, “Under 18” follows a band of three friends, Axe, Kaio and Yosi, as they navigate the chaos of adolescence through the lens of Malaysian youth culture. The comic series has a cumulative of 30 volumes to date, with a surprise project on the way!
On Sunday (1st June 2025), Gempak Starz announced an exciting project for a live-action adaptation of the iconic “Under 18” franchise. The news was announced at the Pesta Buku Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (PBAKL) 2025 during the “Under 18 x Klepet” launch event. Gempak Starz also revealed the movie will premiere in 2026.
The announcement event was also attended by “Under 18″‘s creator, Zint Lu, who was also hosting a meet-and-greet at the time. Unfortunately, the new project has no exact release date or cast in sight yet. The project correlates with the launch of the “Under 18 x Klepet” exclusive box, which contains a special prequel to the “Klepet” movie, in the style of the comic of “Under 18”.
Netizens have mixed reactions to the announcement, with some commenting that an animation would be a better option than a live-action adaptation. Twitter user, @/djoyboyb commented, “Don’t do this Zint, please. I’d prefer animation. Look at it this way, live action can’t be popular internationally, but animations yes”. Netizens also pressed on how castings should be done with more thought, with Twitter user @/YnwaPaan commenting, “REALLY! I hope they choose the right actors for the casting”
However, some expressed interest at seeing their childhood comic on the big screen. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the “Under 18” adaptation should be an animation or a live-action?
Source: Twitter
Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article
