A targeted bunch of actors have been sent the screenplay for the planned Akira movie for main lead parts, according to Deadline. The feature will be an adaptation of the six part graphic novel series by Katsuhiro Otomo. Albert Hughes is directing.
The two major roles are Tetsuo, which has gone out to Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield and James McAvoy and Kaneda, for which Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake and Joaquin Phoenix have all been named for.
The story takes place in the rebuilt New Manhattan where a leader of a biker gang saves his friend from a medical experiment.
The film is set up at Warner Brothers and shooting is expected to kick off in August. Steve Kloves has just rewritten the script. Andrew Lazar, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran are producing.
More at Deadline.
