KUALA LUMPUR: Growing up watching the 1990s and 2000s cartoon series Keluang Man, which some Malaysians have dubbed their "homegrown Batman", award-winning singer-songwriter and actor Naim Daniel is trying his luck playing one of the main characters in the new live action Keluang Man film, set to premiere next year.
"Auditions will be opening soon and I'm going to audition for the main role as well as a major supporting role," said the 25-year-old star of films as 29 Februari and Bisik Pada Langit at the launch of Konsert Patah Hati 2.0 at Z Botanica Restaurant in One Utama Shopping Centre, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya today.
Naim said that Keluang Man was a 100 per cent Malaysian superhero and he strongly identified with the crime-fighting vigilante created by the late Kamarudin Ismail and ran for 140 weekly episodes beginning 1998.
"It is always good to watch a superhero movie, especially when he is a Malaysian one. Keluang Man is such an icon, he was the very first caped crusader of Malaysian television and I would be honoured to play him if I'm given the chance," he added.
The live action Keluang Man will be produced by Astro Shaw and directed by drama series Projek High Council's director and Polis Evo's screenwriter Anwari Ashraf Hashim.
Keluang Man is the alter-ego of Borhan who lives in the fictitious town of Tumpoi and fights crime around the country with the help of his best friend Samad or Tiong Man.
Keluang Man and Tiong Man work closely with Tumpoi's police chief, Inspektor Sahab and crime reporter Khadijah Ismail of the Metropolitan Tumpoi newspaper.
Naim will soon appear in Astro's original drama series The Golden Goose as part of a star-studded cast which also includes Amelia Henderson, Aedy Ashraf, Sharifah Amani and Amerul Affendi.
Konsert Patah Hati 2.0 is organised by ANS Diversified Sdn Bhd and will take place at Zepp Kuala Lumpur at 8.30pm on Nov 23.
Besides Naim, it will also feature singers Aisha Retno, Nadeera Zaini, Neeta Manis, Ismail Izzani and Bunkface.