Live-action Akira movie

[Batty]

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I don't know if I want to see a westernized version of Akira (if they westernize it). It'll be produced by Leonardo DiCaprio.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i1afdf3970176b315c08be93972a6ee89

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

A Hollywood live-action adaptation is almost guaranteed to be poop.

 

[galactiboy]

Sounds about as good as Monopoly

 

[Batty]

The Monopoly movie is gonna rock!

 

[carbo-fation]

I hope they won't ruin this classic. They should just drop it and do GSSS. That would make quite a good live-action movie.

 

[jory REX]

akira is a classic anime, it'd be a shame if they ruin this!

 

[screamingmetal]

I don't really see any reason to make a live remake. Sure the visuals will be more impressive but that's no reason to remake a great movie.
But if it turns out well, I probably will go catch it in theaters.

 

[galactiboy]

Luckily even if it blows (which how could it not) the original is still a masterpiece.

 

[Vader AL]

i saw a movie at Wally's the other day and I thought it was "Akira"....it looked like it was a foreign live action film with an Asian girl on the cover....can anyone tell me if it is a good movie from my very vague description?

 

[Batty]

Luckily even if it blows (which how could it not) the original is still a masterpiece.

 

[Bardoon]

KKKAAAAAANEEEEEDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Sorry, it had to be said...it's an Akira thread you know?

 

[Batty]

Some more news. It takes place in "New Manhattan" and will be 2 movies. Executive producer will be Otomo... So that's some good news. I also like that they won't try to cram everything into 1 movie. There was so much in the manga that wasn't in the original movie.

https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117981194.html?categoryid=10&cs=1

 

[piccolodaimaoh]

I have high hopes for the Speed Racer and Dragonball Z movies so all I can say is we shall see. Transformers has given me hope, though, that a live action movie can be done right.

Who knows, the Akira manga was not complete when the Akira movie came out in the mid 80's so maybe this movie will try to do the entire series with the manga in mind. I would love to see Akira, not the movie but the person, on the big screen.

 

[Rogue Trooper]

At least i will have the original but i will go see this. Wonder if there will be more material from the massive manga series.

 

[galactiboy]

Some more news. It takes place in "New Manhattan"

Ughh... guess this way they can have white kids in it

 

[Batty]

Maybe it's after the Cloverfield monster attack.

 

[The Mike]

From AICN:

Live-Action AKIRA moves forward... with the King Of The World? PLUS - Exclusive AICN - We Know who Tetsuo is!

Hey folks, Harry here - we had this story, the one about DiCaprio - about a week ago, but while Moriarty was playing with Toshi - we lost the exclusive. Dammit. However, now we have Tetsuo - which isn't as big a name as DiCaprio - but it's a damn fine name. Joseph Gordon Levitt... you know - from BRICK - the upcoming STOP LOSS and G.I. JOE! Joseph is a fine fine young actor - and I'm very much looking forward to watching him opposite Leo. Now - here's Quint with the original story...
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. I'm not the anime expert here, but you don't need to be an anime geek to know AKIRA or to get excited about seeing it live action.

I've noticed a trend here... first we had Tobey Maguire get a live-action ROBOTECH movie moving forward, attached to produce and star, and now his buddy Leonardo DiCaprio is doing the same for AKIRA. Some friendly competition maybe? Or maybe this is just the **** that greases their geek-wheels.

Ruairi Robinson, who did that awesome 3-D animated short film FIFTY PERCENT GREY, will make his feature debut directing the project, which was pitched as a two-part epic.

The Hollywood Reporter story doesn't mention DiCaprio doing anything other than producing via Appian Way banner, but I have it on good authority that he is also set to star as the lead, Kaneda.

Thoughts?

DiCaprio as Kaneda? I'm sorry I just can't see that....

 

[Batty]

DiCaprio as Kaneda? I'm sorry I just can't see that....

I actually like Leo as an actor, but he's way too old to play Kaneda. Even Joseph Gordon Levitt is too old. I guess they'll be taking the whole school element out of the movie.

 

[The Mike]

I like Leo as well but not as Kaneda. I don't know if I can think of one mainstream actor off of the top of my head to play him. I have the McFarlane Kaneda and Immigrant on my desk at work and while I think that both Leo and Levitt could be babyfaced enough too pull off like High School Seniors if the make up and hair is done right I don't think they have the right flair for the characters themselves.

 

[screamingmetal]

Luckily even if it blows (which how could it not) the original is still a masterpiece.

Very True.
It's strange that I usually hate action movies that cast young actors as the leads, but here I actually think it's appropriate, the kids were in high school.
I like Dicaprio but he's just too old for the part. Maybe the adult subject matter is why they're making them older, I'm sure there was a rape scene in the anime? But the Manhattan and older cast make me think they'll have no problem changing some aspects of it.

I also wonder what they're going to do about the music. The original anime score was amazing and just couldn't be replaced with anything else.