AKIRA live action adaptation not dead....

[d_jedi1]

Somehow, I suspect that brief cartoon is better than the live action remake will/would be.

 

[The Mike]

​Let me assure you this is only a rumor -- and I'm only indulging it because it's a slow news day and because of my fondness for the material -- but James Franco has reportedly been offered the role of Kaneda in the American Akira remake. Now, I can't imagine that the U.S. Akira will be anything other than a disaster, but if it has to happen, I'm pro-Franco, and here's why:

• He looks young. Not like a teen punk young, but young.
• He's a genuinely excellent actor.
• He's done very odd, specific roles before and done them well.
• He has a genuine interest in Japanese culture.

Obviously, that's not the world's greatest argument, but I still feel better Franco than 90% of the rest of Hollywood actors. I'd just as soon the movie not happen -- honestly, I think Akira is too intrinsically tied to '80s Japan to ever be remade anywhere -- but if it has to happen, I'm down with Franco

 

[Kamandi]

Make it stop!!!

Nothing against Franco so far, but if he does this I might need to add him to my sh-t list.




.

 

[papa-alpha-charlie]

https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118032552

Steve Kloves, best known for adapting seven of the eight "Harry Potter" films for Warner Bros., has been recruited to polish the studio's live-action remake of Japanese manga epic "Akira."
Albert Hughes is directing "Akira," based on Katsuhiro Otomo's graphic novel set in a post-apocalyptic Japan. Warner acquired the "Akira" rights three years ago from publisher Kodansha and set it up with Andrew Lazar's Mad Chance with Appian Way's Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran.

The studio is looking to go into production this summer.

Hughes and his brother, Allen Hughes. will also produce.

Warners hasn't cast or set a release date for "Akira," which is set in a metropolis that was rebuilt after being destroyed decades earlier by Akira, a child with immense psychic powers. Otomo wrote and directed the popular 1988 Japanese anime film of the same name, and he'll exec produce WB's "Akira."
The latest version of the script was penned by Albert Torres, with earlier drafts by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby and Gary Whitta.

Kloves penned all the adaptations for the "Potter" pics except for the fifth, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," which was written by Michael Goldenberg. He took a break from the series to work on "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." His other credits include "Wonder Boys" and "The Fabulous Baker Boys."

the fact that Otomo is involved is a good omen.

 

[Kamandi]

the fact that Otomo is involved is a good omen.

Sorry, doesn't mean anything. Studios hand out Exec Producer paychecks all the time to pacify people who might make a stink.

Glenn Larsen got an Exec Producer credit on RDM's Battlestar Galactica even though he had nothing to do with the new show.

American Akira is going to blow.

 

[papa-alpha-charlie]

whoa.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/keanu-reeves-circling-warner-bros-185872

Akira, the English-language, live-action take on the landmark anime and manga property, is zeroing in on its star, and it just might be Keanu Reeves.

Warner Bros. has been having a tough time finding the two leads of the movie, to be directed by Albert Hughes. In the script, the action moves from Neon-Tokyo to New Manhattan, where a biker gang leader tries to save his best friend from a medical experiment that threatens to unleash destructive powers.

Actors ranging from James Franco and Joseph Gordon-Levitt to Robert Pattinson and Michael Fassbender have circled the project in some form or fashion as the studio sought to find an A-list lead.

Now comes word that Reeves has held talks with the studio, with whom he already made the massively successful Matrix movies, for the part of Kaneda, the gang leader. Reeves doesn't yet have an offer for the role, but we hear the talks with his reps have been going well.

Reeves anchoring the project could serve as a strong lure for another A-lister to take the role of Tetsuo, the best friend.

Andrew Lazar is producing with Appian Way's Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran.

Reeves, repped by CAA and 3 Arts Entertainment, is currently shooting the samauri action pic 47 Ronin for Universal.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

Why are they trying to cast these older actors? Aren't Kaneda and Tetsuo like 14-15 or so? Taking it out of Neo-Tokyo and making the leads white is bad enough, but they're going to be adults as well?

 

[karamazov80]

Almost as bad as trying to pass Keanu off as John Constantine

 

[The Mike]

This still lives:

​Dear everyone who sent me a link to any article talking about how the live-action American Akira remake was "dead" and why wasn't I doing an article on this wonderful news: This is why (from Variety):
Warner Bros. is moving ahead with its remake of "Akira" in a fiscally sensible way, tapping reliable Spanish helmer Jaume Collet-Serra ("Orphan," "Unknown") to direct a live-action version of the anime cult hit at a lower revised budget of $90 million.
And as The AV Club adds:
...the filmmaker has become highly in demand for his signature directing style of not blowing a bunch of money, and his economically agreeable vision could be just what the project needs to become what is now being pitched as "a tentpole with a mid-level budget along the lines of Clash Of The Titans," a phrase that should be read in monotone and preceded by a resigned sigh.
Bad ideas don't die, they just get worse. Now, instead of a terrible but massive two-movie epic starring white people, we're going to get a 90-minute crapfest, still starring white people, along the lines of the live-action Dragonball Z movie. Maybe this Collet-Serra dude won't end up directing it, but I promise you three things: 1) this movie will eventually get made, 2) it will be ____ing terrible, and 3) no matter how long it takes, WB will never raise the budget again. So just bend over and wait for an animated masterpiece to get ____ed by the Hollywood machine.

 

[Khev]

Are the white guys they cast still going to be named Kaneda and Tetsuo?

 

[The Mike]

According to everything I've read....Yes.

 

[Darth Waller]

Garrett Hedlund from TRON: Legacy is the frontrunner now.

https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Aki...rett-Hedlund-Frontrunner-Lead-Role-27425.html

 

[IronFingaz]

Garrett Hedlund from TRON: Legacy is the frontrunner now.

https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Aki...rett-Hedlund-Frontrunner-Lead-Role-27425.html

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

Why are they casting so old?! I just don't get it. What a mess.

And I also don't see the need to go white. This isn't the 1950's, it's the 21st century, make them Japanese like they're supposed to be.

 

[ironwez20]

Are the white guys they cast still going to be named Kaneda and Tetsuo?

Nope. its going to be kenny and terry. Dear lord I hope not. We might have another avatar on our hands. I'm so sick of hollywood whitewashing the anime movie's. I mean yea some look white but for akira they need to be japenese.

 

[Kamandi]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jafd97yJFOI[/ame]

 

[papa-alpha-charlie]

looks like it's a go-


Warners greenlights 'Akira'; Hedlund front-runner

Warner Bros. has greenlit its live-action remake of the anime cult hit "Akira" for a late February/early March start, sources tell Variety.
In July, Warners tapped Spanish helmer Jaume Collet-Serra ("Unknown" ) to direct at a budget of $90 million, which was brought down from an initial figure of well over $100 million. Where the budget stands now isn't clear, and Warner Bros. had no comment on the project.

With a greenlight in place, studio can begin shopping for the two male leads; sources tell Variety that "Tron: Legacy" star Garrett Hedlund is considered a front-runner. Both Warners and Collett-Sera have been keen on the thesp, but had to wait for a greenlight to make their move.

Though no offer's been made, insiders say an offer could come soon.

"Akira," long in development at the studio, has hit several speedbumps over the last several months, including Albert Hughes falling out as director. Collet-Serra was brought on quickly, but working out the budget took about two months, with studio and creative execs meeting last week before the decision was sealed over the weekend.

Appian Way's Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran are producing with Mad Chance's Andrew Lazar. It's another big win for Appian Way, which just secrured "Cloverfield" director Matt Reeves to helm its "Twilight Zone" pic at Warners.

WB acquired the potential tentpole project for a seven-figure sum from Japanese manga publisher Kodansha in 2008. 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.

Katsuhiro Otomo, who wrote and directed the 1988 Japanese anime pic of the same name, will exec produce "Akira."

 

[Darth Waller]

Kristen Stewart Offered Lead Female Role In Akira

https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Kristen-Stewart-Offered-Lead-Female-Role-Akira-27904.html

 

[IronFingaz]

Kristen Stewart Offered Lead Female Role In Akira

https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Kristen-Stewart-Offered-Lead-Female-Role-Akira-27904.html

[ame]https://youtu.be/31g0YE61PLQ[/ame]

 

[jrice73]

This ____ has to ____ing stop...