Live-Action Akira Green-lit
Variety reports that Warner Brothers has given the green-light to the live-action adaptation of Katsuhiro Otmo’s Akira manga.
Warner Brothers first acquired the rights to Akira back in 2008 and the project has had a pretty torrid time getting this far. It was originally set to be directed by Ruairi Robinson who intended to make two films before Albert Hughes (From Hell, The Book of Eli) replaced him earlier this year. Then Hughes left due to creative differences with Warner Brothers. The project is now being handled by Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan, Unknown). The budget is set at a modest ninety million dollars and the project has been reduced to one film. Fans will also be unimpressed by the fact that the script transposes the action from neo-Tokyo to New Manhattan, although a lot of other details like biker gangs and psychic powers remain the same.
Katsuhiro Otomo is getting the Executive Producer credit with Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company, Appian Way producing the film. The lead is expected to go to Tron: Legacy’s Garrett Hedlund.
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