“Akira” originated in 1988 as a manga and then as an animated film co-written and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. Set in New Manhattan, the cyberpunk sci-fi epic follows the leader of a biker gang who must save his friend, discovered with potentially destructive psychokinetic abilities, from government medical experiments.
Warner Bros. Pictures’ Akira, which has been through several incarnations, is being shut down in the face of casting and budgetary issues, says THR. The production offices in Vancouver are being closed, with below-the-line talent and crew told to stop working. “Everybody is being sent home,” according to an insider.
Producers, who include Appian Way’s Jennifer Kiloran Davisson and Mad Chance’s Andrew Lazar, will hunker down with director Jaume Collet-Serra for the next two weeks to iron out the script. It is unclear if Harry Potter scribe Steve Kloves, who did a pricey rewrite on the project a year ago, will be brought in to help out.
If the issues cannot be resolved, the project could end up being shelved entirely. More inside. READ MORE
Akira originated in 1988 as a manga and then as an animated film co-written and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. It was set in New Manhattan and followed the leader of a biker gang who must save his friend, discovered with potentially destructive psychokinetic abilities, from government medical experiments.
The project is so epic that it was originally planned as a trilogy, which leads me to the big question: What will Warner Bros. and director Jaume Collet-Serra get on the big screen with their live-action adaptation set to shoot in 2012?
During casting calls, the following plot crunch has leaked online. READ MORE
Twitch continues to ping-pong actors for Warner Bros. Pictures’ Akira reporting that Ken Watanabe (Inception, Batman Begins) has been offered the role of The Colonel in Jaume Collet-Serra’s adaptation. They state that Gary Oldman and Warners were unable to close a deal.
We won’t even bother attempting to explain who is in talks for the role of Tetsuo, you’ll have to click here for that info.
Right now the only confirmed role is Kenada, who will come to life courtesy of Tron Legacy star Garrett Hedlund.
“Akira” originated in 1988 as a manga and then as an animated film co-written and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. Set in New Manhattan, the cyberpunk sci-fi epic follows the leader of a biker gang who must save his friend, discovered with potentially destructive psychokinetic abilities, from government medical experiments. READ MORE
I truly hate these kind of stories, but it is kind of interesting to get deep inside the brain of a studio. Tonight THR has some potential casting for Warner Bros. Pictures’ upcoming Akira, all of which is merely speculation.
The $90 million movie, being directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax, Orphan), is set in a place called New Manhattan and follows two brothers, one the leader of a motorcycle gang, the other a younger man (Tetsuo) with telekinetic abilities who becomes a dangerous weapon.
With Tron: Legacy‘s Garret Hedlund in final talks to star as Kaneda, the gang leader, and Kristen Stewart offered the role of Ky Reed, a woman who is part of an underground movement to expose the government for turning orphans into living weapons (she also may possess some abilities herself), the big question now is who will play Tetsuo, the young man whose latent powers will release the powerful being known as Akira?
D.J. Cotrona (G.I.Joe 2: Retaliation), Logan Marshall-Green (Devil, Prometheus), Toby Kebbell (RocknRolla, War Horse), Richard Madden (“Game of Thrones”), Rami Malek (Twilight: Breaking Dawn: Part 2), and Michael Pitt (“Boardwalk Empire”) are all potentials, with Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood, Cowboys & Aliens) and Alden Ehrenreich (Tetro) retesting for the role. Thumbs up for the studio thinking outside of the box. Keanu Reeves, sigh…
A decision is expected before Thanksgiving. Dano immediately caught my eye, and I think Kebbell, Pitt and Madden are also compelling choices. READ MORE
It’s hard to get the stank taste of Twilight out of my mouth when speaking of Kristen Stewart, but it’s even more difficult to argue that she isn’t quite the little actress. I was charmed by her in Adventureland, she rocked as Joan Jett in the indie The Runaways, and hit the road in Sean Penn’s widely successful Into the Wild. Of the Twilight acting trio, she’s the only one I take seriously.
With that said, I welcome Stewart as a potential candidate for Warner Bros. Pictures’ Akira, which is finally to be directed by House of Wax and Orphan‘s Jaume Collet-Sera.
Twitch reports that Stewart has been offered the part of Kei, a young medium who becomes the love interest for Kaneda – the role already publicly offered to Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy).
Originally planned as a trilogy (and since abandoned), “Akira” originated in 1988 as a manga and then as an animated film co-written and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. Set in New Manhattan, the cyberpunk sci-fi epic follows the leader of a biker gang who must save his friend, discovered with potentially destructive psychokinetic abilities, from government medical experiments. READ MORE
Warners is moving like lightning on their live-action Akira.
Now that Tron: Legacy star Garrett Hedlund is nearly a lock for the Kenanda role, Twitch is reporting that Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight) has been offered the role of Colonel while Helena Bonham Carter (Dark Shadows) has been offered Lady Miyako.
To be clear, an offer can be refused by the stars and their representatives. We’ll report back with anything officially signed.
“Set in New Manhattan, the cyberpunk sci-fi epic follows the leader of a biker gang who must save his friend, discovered with potentially destructive psychokinetic abilities, from government medical experiments.”
After a series of false starts Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax, Orphan, Unknown) will direct. READ MORE
Deadline is reporting that the script for the Warner Bros/Legendary Pictures live action adaptation of anime artist Katsuhiro Otomo’s 6-volume graphic novel Akira has been sent to an impressive short list of actors.
The picture is finally taking shape for an August start, following the delivery of a rewrite by Steve Kloves that has director Albert Hughes and the studio brass excited.
The story takes place in the rebuilt New Manhattan where a leader of a biker gang saves his friend from a medical experiment.
There are two major roles, with the site reporting that for “Tetsuo,” Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield and James McAvoy have been given the new script. For the role of “Kaneda,” the script has been given to Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake and Joaquin Phoenix.
The intention has been to make 2 films, each covering 3 books in the series. Akira was first adapted for the screen in 1988.
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