In the early 1990s, Kodansha Ltd. was in negotiation with Sony Pictures to produce a live-action remake of the film. Talk circulated again a decade later,[ but the project has yet to materialize. Rumors circulated that the project was canceled in both instances when the projected budget for the film was upwards of $300 million.
Talks began again as Warner Brothers signed on to produce the movie with Stephen Norrington (writer) and Jon Peters (producer). Akira was to be developed into two live action films; the first was to be scheduled for a summer 2009 release. Warner Brothers and Appian Way planned to adapt the two movies from the manga, with each one covering three volumes. Ruairi Robinson signed on as director, Gary Whitta wrote the script and Andrew Lazar, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jennifer Davisson were to produce the film.
Andrew Lazar has stated that the film is not dead and is in fact a priority project for Warner Bros. Pictures and when it does go into production, it will be very high budgeted. Screenwriters Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby are currently working on the script. Gary Whitta has revealed that he has no idea whether they are re-working his script or starting from scratch.
NY Magazine has recently stated that Warner Brothers is in negotiations with the Hughes Brothers to direct the film.
On June 17, 2010, Lazar said that a new writer had been hired and that the movie was being fast tracked. He also stated that only Albert Hughes would direct the film, and that the first movie would be based on volumes 1–3 and the second on volumes 4–6. Then on November 7, 2010, it was reported that Morgan Freeman is taking the role of Colonel Shikishima. On February 11, 2011, it was reported that James Franco is in talks for the role of Shotaro Kaneda. Mila Kunis was offered the role of Kei, but turned it down in favor of featuring in Oz, the Great and Powerful with director Sam Raimi. On March 21, it was reported that Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Justin Timberlake, Joaquin Phoenix, and Chris Pine are now also in the running to play Kaneda. Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield and James McAvoy are also being spoken to for the role of Tetsuo Shima.
The guys at Cracked are actually surprisingly intelligent, and in this case make several good points. Not to mention, they apparantly got their hands on a copy of the script (WTF?), so yeah.
Read both articles. This movie will tank like a Dwarven Defender (DnD ftwlmaoroflcoptor!) on ridilin.
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Last edited by Nephthys on Apr 16th, 2011 at 09:32 PM
Live action humm. More importantly, the original Akira getting a blu ray release next month here in Britain! can't wait. Steelbook edition too. *drools*.
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Apr 13th, 2011 11:02 PM
