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[LordOfLore]

An article link.

Right now, the two directors reported to be in the running are Daniel Espinosa and David Sandberg. Espinosa is the director of the freshly released “Life,” the science fiction thriller about a rapidly evolving lifeform wreaking havoc aboard a space station. Sandberg directed 2016’s surprise horror hit “Lights Out,” which pitted one woman against a supernatural entity attached to her mother. That film was Sandberg’s directorial debut.

Warner Bros. has been in some form of development of a live-action “Akira” adaptation ever since the studio secured the rights back in 2002. Since then, names like George Miller, Christopher Nolan and “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” writer Gary Whitta have been associated with the project in some capacity. Most recently, director Jaume Collet-Serra was attached to the project, but bowed out to take a break from directing. The news about Espinosa and Sandberg comes from Meet the Movie Press’ Jeff Snider, who in June of 2016 reported that “Fast & Furious” and “Star Trek Beyond” director Justin Lin was in talks to helm the film. The last known writer attached to the project was “Daredevil” showrunner Marco Ramirez.

“Akira” started as a manga series written by Katsuhiro Otomo, who also directed the 1988 anime adaptation. The story follows a teenage biker gang member and Neo Tokyo denizen, Tetsuo Shima, who becomes embroiled in a mystery involving his leader, Shotaro Kaneda, and a series of government experiments designed to harness the human potential for psychic proficiency. The experiment, of course, goes awry, which leaves Katsuhiro to discover the secrets of the enigmatic Akira.

The “Akira” manga was originally serialized in “Young Magazine” between 1982 and 1990 before it was compiled into six volumes by Kodansha. The series was one of the first manga to be translated in its entirety for release in English-speaking countries. The translation and publication was completed by Epic Comics, a former imprint of Marvel Comics.

Get me Keanu if old.

 

[Cyanity]

I wonder how many white people they'll cast for this one

 

[sphagnum]

TRRAAAAAVVVIIIISSSSS

 

[nhlducks35]

"You know Tetsuo, we really are the Akira"

 

[gnomed]

TRRAAAAAVVVIIIISSSSS

Canaaaada!

 

[ElBoxyBrown]

Sandberg put out one ok movie and he's already rumored to do Akira? Meanwhile a female directior has to make 10 great movies to get something like that.

 

[Kusagari]

They're still trying to make this?

 

[Mahonay]

Hopefully this one isn't completely white washed?

 

[Zelenogorsk]

Zac Efron or bust!

 

[ElBoxyBrown]

They're still trying to make this?

Probably waiting to see how GITS does.

 

[SynthFetish]

They're still trying to make this?

I think this getting made depends heavily on the success of GITS. They won't put the money into it if the appeal is to low.

Even then I don't know if it can be done effectively.

 

[Vestal]

This is a bad Idea... In order to make the source material worth the investment necessary to do this movie they would have to change so much to attract general audiences... The world is not ready for Akira.

A shot by shot adaptation of Akira would not rake in the mula. I love the original, but it is not intended for a wide audience.

 

[Mahonay]

Zac Efron or bust!

 

[Metalmarc]

Yet more Cyberpunk stuff potentially coming our way in the Near Future, awesome.

 

[Sunster]

fingers crossed for Emma Stone to be a lead!!!

 

[bobbychalkers]

TRRAAAAAVVVIIIISSSSS

KEEEEENNNNNEEETHHHH!!!

 

[Mahonay]

fingers crossed for Emma Stone to be a lead!!!

Emma Stone to be cast as Motorcycle Clown Gang leader.

 

[Ran rp]

Starring Michael Cera as Tetsuo...

 

[Prototype Viktor]

I wonder how many white people they'll cast for this one

they will over correct and in the wrong direction! Cast mostly Pakistani people and be like "Hey they are Asian!"

 

[Fury451]

This isn't getting made, why are they still pretending like it is?

And if it does it'll have flat lighting, poor casting, no style, bad acting and none of the intrigue of either the anime or manga and it will bomb so hard it will leave a crater bigger than 1982 Tokyo.

 

[Mortemis]

They'll probably change the title to Alex or something.

 

[collige]

Know what would be fucking sick? Setting it in the States, but using an all-black cast in like, Neo Atlanta or something.

 

[ElBoxyBrown]

I remember a lot of people thought GITS would never get made.

 

[Dr.Acula]

I have no idea how they can replicate that soundtrack unless they just reuse it.

 

[Slaythe]

I am hoping GITS Naruto and this are utter trash so that they don't try to turn Animes into the new Comic book movies :/ .

As if Dragon Ball Evolution wasn't enough.

edit :

How could I forget fucking Death Note.........

And Gunm.

Kill me.

 

[Ran rp]

They'll probably change the title to Alex or something.

Adam

 

[Mahonay]

Staring Michael Cera as Tetsuo...

 

[Fury451]

I remember a lot of people thought GITS would never get made.

And it looks...okay, but it's giving major Aeon Flux vibes. Something about it just doesn't "pop", which is probably due to the lack of a strong visual director and production.

 

[Sunster]

they will over correct and in the wrong direction! Cast mostly Pakistani people and be like "Hey they are Asian!"

It'd be crazy but I'd love to see more brown people on screen. Kumail Nanjiani is literally the only Pakistani actor I know.

 

[Lulubop]

I am hoping GITS Naruto and this are utter trash so that they don't try to turn Animes into the new Comic book movies :/ .

As if Dragon Ball Evolution wasn't enough.

edit :

How could I forget fucking Death Note.........

And Gunm.

Kill me.

protect mai animes

 

[firelogic]

Sandberg put out one ok movie and he's already rumored to do Akira? Meanwhile a female directior has to make 10 great movies to get something like that.

You make it sound like it's a honor to direct an Akira movie.

 

[bobbychalkers]

Know what would be fucking sick? Setting it in the States, but using an all-black cast in like, Neo Atlanta or something.

It will feature white tweenage, model-esque leads in a diverse dystopian city.

 

[ElBoxyBrown]

I am hoping GITS Naruto and this are utter trash so that they don't try to turn Animes into the new Comic book movies :/ .

As if Dragon Ball Evolution wasn't enough.

edit :

How could I forget fucking Death Note.........

And Gunm.

Kill me.

Just like video game movies you gotta keep trying.

 

[Bronx-Man]

Tetsuo

Kaneda

Kei

 

[Lifeline]

Tetsuo

Kaneda

Kei

I actually want this. I want this really bad.

 

[ElBoxyBrown]

You make it sound like it's a honor to direct an Akira movie.

It's a big property that will probably be given a big budget.

 

[Hesemonni]

Probably waiting to see how GITS does.

I have a feeling GitS will bomb so hard it'll make the orbital cannons feel like pea shooters.

 

[Arkeband]

It's hilarious how this albatross has been passed around Hollywood for well over a decade. I can only imagine how it lands on peoples desks - "oh god, please no, not me!"

 

[HStallion]

When is the Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Hollywood adaptation coming?

 

[Sgt. Kabukiman]

I've heard Lights Out is pretty good but I'd actually pay good money for this movie to never happen. I love American cinema, I love Akira, but the last thing I want is to see an americanized version of Akira. Please Hollywood, give up on anime.

 

[Lulubop]

When is the Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Hollywood adaptation coming?

Could actually have an all white cast at least!

 

[MMarston]

When is the Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Hollywood adaptation coming?

Get me Edgar Wright, and I'll allow it.

 

[kmax]

The fact that a Hollywood adaption of Akira is coming is strange.

Synopsis:

In 1988 the Japanese government drops an atomic bomb on Tokyo after ESP experiments on children go awry. In 2019, 31 years after the nuking of the city, Kaneda, a bike gang leader, tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a secret government project. He battles anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader until Tetsuo's supernatural powers suddenly manifest. A final battle is fought in Tokyo Olympiad exposing the experiment's secrets.

This adaption will undoubtedly be more controversial than GiTS.

 

[MMarston]

The fact that a Hollywood adaption of Akira is coming is strange.

The fact that they've been pushing it for the longest time is even stranger.


Even longer than GitS.

 

[Fury451]

The fact that a Hollywood adaption of Akira is coming is strange.

Synopsis:



This adaption will undoubtedly be more controversial than GiTS.

They've been talking about this adaption for years, possible close to two decades now at least (2002 it became publicly discussed). If it ever sees the light of day, I wouldn't expect it to be anything other than in name only. They'll probably incredibly loosely adapt the anime which in itself was only a fraction (and variation) of the manga story.

Otomo has mentioned the possibility of the full story being adapted in anime, which would be amazing. Even then I imagine the budget wouldn't be quite high enough to capture how great the art is.

 

[LordOfLore]

I'd actually be more interested in a movie about getting a Akira movie made.

 

[Lulubop]

The fact that a Hollywood adaption of Akira is coming is strange.

Synopsis:



This adaption will undoubtedly be more controversial than GiTS.

They can change up some stuff tho. I'm pretty sure in the Manga Tokyo is initially destroyed because Akira himself uses teleportation and it's leveled again when Tetsuo does the same. Can get rid of the whole nuking thing.

 

[Sojgat]

California here we come.

 

[Mahonay]

I wonder how many scripts for live action Akira have been drafted at this point.

 

[MMarston]

California here we come.

I understood this reference.