I think part of the issue with an American DBZ adaptation is that starting at Z is a bad idea. It's not like LotR where The Hobbit isn't needed for it to make sense AND stay faithful to the source material.
It's kind of like making Avengers movies without at least making Iron Man and Captain America first. It doesn't work and ruins the connection to the source material.
That said, the DBCU would have to be set up with two Dragon Ball movies first.
My personal idea
-Goku is 9 year old boy. He's 11 in the original, however, to capture his youthful look, a 9 year old is probably best.
-He keeps the name Goku, because his adopted grandfather is a Japanese-American immigrant.
-Krillin is Ken Kurrin
-Tien is Tim Shinhan
Tien doesn't have an actual third-eye. However, when he uses his power to fight, a spectral third eye appears.
I decided it's best not to include Chiaotzu, as he's too problematic.
-Yamcha is Jon Yamucha
He is nicknamed Yamcha
-Bulma is Brie Bulma
-Chi Chi is Chelsea Chee
She is nicknamed Chi Chi
-Master Roshi is a Japanese man that lives on an isolated island near Hawaii.
Story would focus on 5 things in movie 1
-Goku & Brie adventuring for Dragon Balls
-General Tao briefly
-Goku training under Master Roshi
-Tim Shinhan briefly
-Martial Arts Tournaments
-Goku vs Red Ribbon Army as the great conclusion
I imagine this last part as more of an Americanized Die Hard, Commando, or Rambo type of style.
A specific scene I imagined was Goku wandering into a secret lab and discovers an inactive Terminator-esque android with Roman numerals VIII and It wakes up to attack him.
When it wakes it, a digital console voice says
"Wake up android eight-er er er er er"
And it destroys it.
And movie 2 would be all about the King Piccolo Arc.
I think that would set up nicely for a really good live-action DBZ.
It's kind of like making Avengers movies without at least making Iron Man and Captain America first. It doesn't work and ruins the connection to the source material.
That said, the DBCU would have to be set up with two Dragon Ball movies first.
My personal idea
-Goku is 9 year old boy. He's 11 in the original, however, to capture his youthful look, a 9 year old is probably best.
-He keeps the name Goku, because his adopted grandfather is a Japanese-American immigrant.
-Krillin is Ken Kurrin
-Tien is Tim Shinhan
Tien doesn't have an actual third-eye. However, when he uses his power to fight, a spectral third eye appears.
I decided it's best not to include Chiaotzu, as he's too problematic.
-Yamcha is Jon Yamucha
He is nicknamed Yamcha
-Bulma is Brie Bulma
-Chi Chi is Chelsea Chee
She is nicknamed Chi Chi
-Master Roshi is a Japanese man that lives on an isolated island near Hawaii.
Story would focus on 5 things in movie 1
-Goku & Brie adventuring for Dragon Balls
-General Tao briefly
-Goku training under Master Roshi
-Tim Shinhan briefly
-Martial Arts Tournaments
-Goku vs Red Ribbon Army as the great conclusion
I imagine this last part as more of an Americanized Die Hard, Commando, or Rambo type of style.
A specific scene I imagined was Goku wandering into a secret lab and discovers an inactive Terminator-esque android with Roman numerals VIII and It wakes up to attack him.
When it wakes it, a digital console voice says
"Wake up android eight-er er er er er"
And it destroys it.
And movie 2 would be all about the King Piccolo Arc.
I think that would set up nicely for a really good live-action DBZ.