Movies
Warners Determined to Ruin ‘Akira’, Casting Keanu Reeves?
Akira, the English-language, live-action take on the landmark anime and manga property, is zeroing in on its star, and it just might be Keanu Reeves, says Heat Vision.
Warner Bros. has been having a tough time finding the two leads of the movie, to be directed by Albert Hughes. In the script, “the action moves from Neo-Tokyo to New Manhattan, where a biker gang leader tries to save his best friend from a medical experiment that threatens to unleash destructive powers.”
Actors ranging from James Franco and Joseph Gordon-Levitt to Robert Pattinson and Michael Fassbender have circled the project in some form or fashion as the studio sought to find an A-list lead.
Now comes word that Reeves has held talks with the studio, with whom he already made the massively successful Matrix movies, for the part of Kaneda, the gang leader. Reeves doesn’t yet have an offer for the role, but they add the talks with his reps have been going well.
Keith C. Blackmore’s book series Mountain Man is headed to the screen, with Deadline reporting today that Joe Manganiello (“True Blood”) is on board to star in the film adaptation.
The actor will also produce the upcoming zombie movie.
“Mountain Man tells the story of Gus, a lonely post-apocalyptic survivor facing isolation and the ever-present specter of a zombie attack, who struggles with alcohol abuse and suicidal thoughts until he discovers another survivor, a captivating woman who poses another threat altogether.”
John Lee (False Positive) will direct Mountain Man from a script by Matt Deller.
“John is a brilliant creative mind. We’ve been looking for the right thing to do together since we filmed Pee Wee’s Big Holiday and it’s finally here,” 3:59’s Joe and Nick Manganiello told Deadline. “Very excited to get to work on such weird, wild project with him.”
Film Bridge International is launching sales on the project in Cannes.
Blackmore’s Mountain Man series features 7 books, the first one published in 2011.
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