AKIRA it's baaaaaaack (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ (20XX)

**6souls** · 2011-10-24 12:51

Warner Bros. has officially been given the live action adaptation of the classic manga series Akira the greenlight. Back in July the studio hired Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan, Unknown) to develop the film. The movie is set to go into production in late February or early March.

The studio has been trying to get this movie into production since 2008, and now everything is officially finally moving forward. I really wish I could be excited about this, but I'm not sure if this is going to be pulled off effectively for live-action. I find it funny and wrong that this movie has been given a $90 million dollar budget, when a western like The Lone Ranger has been given a $216 million dollar budget. I think the budgets should be switched.

There's no word on who will officially star in the film yet, but it was previously reported that James Franco was in talks to join the film as Kaneda. Keanu Reeves was talked about being cast in the film at one point as well. They've now turned their attention towards Tron: Legacy star Garrett Hedlund, who's now considered a front-runner. Though no offer's been made yet. I think Hedlund would make for an interesting choice for this movie. I wouldn't complain if he ended up being cast.

The story is set in New Manhattan and the story basically follows the leader of a biker gang in New Manhattan, who’s friend gets jacked up from a government medical experiment, in which he receives destructive psychokinetic abilities. There are more details about the movie being made below from a draft of the script. The most recent draft was written by Steve Kloves. There’s a big chance that they wont be able to fully capture the epic awesomeness of Katsuhiro Otomo's story, but it will be interesting to see what they come up with.

Leonardo DiCaprio is producing the film with Andrew Lazar. Otomo, who wrote and directed the 1988 Japanese anime movie classic will be an executive producer on the project.

Here are some previously released details from a script for the live-action version, not sure if this is still the route that they are going to take, but here it is...

The story has been “Americanized,” with the center of the action taking place in New Manhattan after the decimation of the city ( an incident resembling a nuclear bomb explosion), has been blamed on the work of unknown terrorists, with the iconic shot of Akira as the sole survivor clutching his teddy bear standing solemn in the crater at ground zero.

Flash-forward to sometime in the future where protagonists Kaneda and Travis (gone is the name Tetsuo – why not just keep it? ) belong to one of several biker gangs that control the burned out old Manhattan, while the shiny new Chinese-owned-and-invested “New Manhattan” glitters back at them like a star that cannot be touched.

The story somewhat follows the animated film but introduces a new character, Ray Arcman, who is the mad scientist that created Akira by using psychic and kinetic experiments on children including the three Espers (the elderly looking 10-year-olds from the animated film).

Asian gangsters run the underworld along with several motorcycle gangs (sadly, the “Clowns” are not in the film). Illegal drugs are still in demand and the gangs in turn have to pay tribute to their bosses, the ”Packies” (Pakistanis).

Liberties are taken with some of the characters: Princess Miyako is now an elderly trash-collecting lady in Old Manhattan and the Colonel’s part doesn’t come off as strong as he did in the animated version.

There are also continuity problems with the script. In one scene, the Colonel sets off a claymore mine in order to block the approaching Black Ops army and is wounded. Yet, in another scene after this, when he is captured,The Colonel is able to take out two military policeman and operate a .50 caliber mini-gun in a helicopter gunship in order to save Kaneda – then he promptly disappears for the remainder of the film.

Yes, Travis (Tetsuo) does expand and morph into a ballooning human amoeba, but only for one short scene. I think we can all agree that this is one of the landmark, crucial scenes that needs to be in the film, yet it’s only a mere fragment.

Kaneda gets a Tech 9 machine pistol instead of the high-tech-looking plasma-type weapon that was used in the original anime, and on the iconic Akira poster.

http://geektyrant.com/news/2011/10/1...reenlight.html
http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...|News|FilmNews

**Phoenyx** · 2011-10-24 14:45

What a Travis-ty.

Had to do it.

**AvidLoki** · 2011-10-24 21:46

Originally Posted by Cantih

http://www.hsx.com/security/view/DNOTE

I actually wouldn't mind seeing this one to be honest. Apparently Effron loves anime and is a huge Death Note fan...so looking past his HSM days, his acting is decent enough. I think he can do Light's role justice.

Now whether the script will be good or how much they end up changing the look of the Shinigami, that's another story.

**6souls** · 2011-11-05 05:40

http://geektyrant.com/storage/2011-p...irahedlund.jpg

A couple weeks ago Warner Bros. officially gave the live-action film adaptation of Akira the green light. It was also revealed at the same time that Tron: Legacy star Garrett Hedlund was at the top of the studios list to take on the role of Kaneda. Today Twitch is reporting that the studio has officially offered Hedlund the part, and now they are waiting to see if he takes the offer or not. So official negotiations have begun.

I liked Hedlund in Tron: Legacy, I think the guy is a decently solid actor who I'm sure will give a great performance. As for the look of the character, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what they have planned. Of course it's a much better choice than Brad Pitt or Keanu Reeves, who were rumored to be up for the role at one point during the film long road to production.

The story is set in New Manhattan and the story basically follows the leader of a biker gang in New Manhattan, who’s friend gets jacked up from a government medical experiment, in which he receives destructive psychokinetic abilities. There are more details about the movie being made below from a draft of the script. The most recent draft was written by Steve Kloves. There’s a big chance that they wont be able to fully capture the epic awesomeness of Katsuhiro Otomo's story, but it will be interesting to see what they come up with.

Leonardo DiCaprio is producing the film with Andrew Lazar. Otomo, who wrote and directed the 1988 Japanese anime movie classic will be an executive producer on the project.

http://geektyrant.com/news/2011/11/3...-in-akira.html
http://twitchfilm.com/news/2011/11/g...d-in-akira.php

http://geektyrant.com/storage/2011-p...garyoldman.jpg

Gary Oldman has been getting a lot of buzz for his role in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and now he's being sought for two high-profile parts. Deadline reports that Warner Bros wants him to play the role of The Colonel in Akira. He would star opposite Garrett Hedlund in of the two leads for director Jaume Collet-Serra. They also want him to play Merlin in Arthur & Lancelot, which was written and will be directed by David Dobkin. Joel Kinnaman has been offered the role of Lancelot in the film and actors are being tested soon for the role of Arthur. Oldman is currently starring in the Chris Nolan-directed The Dark Knight Rises.

http://geektyrant.com/news/2011/11/3...lot-by-wb.html
http://www.deadline.com/2011/11/gary...thur-lancelot/

Before it was speculation, now they are official offers.

**Siatdiat** · 2011-11-05 15:22

I don't personally care about changes like a name change or whatever... the problem I have is the fact that japanese films, animated or live, are for more subtle and don't rely on telling every single small detail and explaining everything to where there is absolutely no mystery. Even changing the location doesn't matter to me, its the fact that they feel the need to make this well fleshed out story that has all these unnecessary details that are really nothing more than a distraction from what the story is actually about.

If all the really shitty plot changes I'm seeing are real, I don't have much hope this can be any good. That said, I just won't watch it! If I hear later from enough trustworthy sources, or if I see that the script has been radically altered to make sense, then I might check it out.

**AidenCarby** · 2011-11-05 23:55

This piece of shit better not fucking be pg-13. I want to see Tetsuo's gfs tits and her getting knocked the fuck out by some punks.

**mallister** · 2011-11-06 00:31

or the original orgy where they introduced her in the manga.

**6souls** · 2011-11-06 01:37

http://geektyrant.com/storage/2011-p...riacasttet.jpg

We recently learned that Garrett Hedlund was offered the lead role of Kaneda in the upcoming big screen live action adaptation of Akira. The other lead role in the film is a character named Tetsuo, who gets really screwed up due to a government medical experiment, in which he receives destructive psychokinetic abilities. It's being reported that actors Ezra Miller (Californication) and Alden Eherenreich (Tetro) are both up for the role. Both actors are low profile actors, so it will be interesting to see if either one of them ends up getting it. They both look like they could take it on, but I think Eherenreich has a bit more intensity.

http://geektyrant.com/news/2011/11/5...of-tetsuo.html
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...rectors-257847

**mallister** · 2011-11-06 02:08

dude on the right has the big broody forehead look at least?

**Cantih** · 2011-11-15 19:10

6Souls, that noose/moose my not be enough for you
http://twitchfilm.com/news/2011/11/b...i-in-akira.php

**Takiwaki** · 2011-11-15 21:32

Originally Posted by Cantih

6Souls, that noose/moose my not be enough for you
http://twitchfilm.com/news/2011/11/b...i-in-akira.php

There is a hell.

**Silenka** · 2011-11-16 01:12

90 mil would be put to much better use feeding starving children than making this shitpile of a movie.

**Vandole** · 2011-11-16 02:20

i dont want to see his tits :/

**Guyverarmor** · 2011-11-16 07:43

Originally Posted by Takiwaki

There is a hell.

They are already fucking up the movie so bad, so adding some shitty actors to the list won't hurt !

**Olo401** · 2011-11-17 12:55

Gonna try to keep an open mind about this one.. Kristen Stewart was in a biopic about Joan Jett and did a really amazing job. Hopefully we'll get JJ instead of Bella.

**6souls** · 2011-11-21 02:31

http://geektyrant.com/storage/2011-p...ges/akira1.png
http://geektyrant.com/storage/2011-p...ges/akira2.png

Warner Bros. and director Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan) are currently in the process of casting their $90 million dollars budget live-action film adaptation of the classic Japanese anime, Akira. I've got mixed feeling on this movie, it's something I've always wanted to see done, but I want it to be done right. At this point I'm just not sure if it's got all the right elements to make it happen. I have my doubts with the director of the film, and the budget seems way to low to do it properly. I think it's safe to say that it's going to include a hell of a lot of green screen action like 300/Immortals style filmmaking. That could turn out to be either amazing or cheap.

It was previously reported that Tron Legacy star Gerrett Hudlund would be taking on the role of Kaneda, and Kristen Stewart has been 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. The next big role to be filled is for the character Tetsuo, who ends up getting these crazy insane violent psychokinetic powers.

Here's a list of actor's that will be reading for the role this next week...

D.J. Cotrona (the Detroit 1-8-7, Flint in G.I.Joe 2: Retaliation), Logan Marshal Green (Devil, Prometheus), Toby Kebbell (RocknRolla, War Horse), Richard Madden (Robb Stark in Game of Thrones), Rami Malek (The Pacific, 24, Twilight: Breaking Dawn—Part 2), and Michael Pitt (Boardwalk Empire). Then there's Paul Dano (Cowboys & Aliens, There Will Be Blood) and Alden Ehrenreich (Tetro) who are retesting.

http://geektyrant.com/news/2011/11/1...medium=twitter
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hea...heatvisionblog

**Zetanio** · 2011-11-21 03:29

Why isn't this movie being animated?

**Silenka** · 2011-11-21 12:43

Japanese film. Japanese story. Japanese sensibilities.

Cast of all white guys.

Go go Hollywood, never learn from your mistakes! Everything you make is awesome, it's the dullard public who refuses to see your genius!

**Tyrath** · 2011-11-21 12:51

Hollywood is clearly fighting against the oppression of white people.

**6souls** · 2011-11-23 08:20

http://geektyrant.com/storage/2011-p...nabe-akira.jpg

It looks like Warner Bros has fiinally cast a Japanese actor in Jaume Collet-Serra’s adaptation of Akira. Twitch is reporting that Ken Watanabe has been offered the role of The Colonel, that was initially offered to Gary Oldman. Apparently, Oldman and WB could not come to terms on a deal. Watanabe's other U.S. films have both been from Warner Bros., so this is a good fit.

I think that Watanabe was great in Inception and will be a great addition to this cast.

http://geektyrant.com/news/2011/11/2...-in-akira.html
http://twitchfilm.com/news/2011/11/b...n-watanabe.php

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