For fans of the 1988 anime classic AKIRA, this may be the very best or worst news. Yes, after years of speculation Warner Bros have finally green lit a live-action version could start shooting by February/March 2012.
The original film – which follows the leader of a biker gang in New Manhattan who must save his friend from medical experiments using a whole range of psychic trickery – remains the most-beloved Japanese animation of all time. That being the case, let us hope that Warner Bros and rumoured director Jaume Collet-Serra (UNKNOWN) will do the project justice. THN is convinced that the studio will get this one right; it is, after all, a potential box-office smash, considering the computer effects, clever plotting, and existing fanbase that are all sure to factor in the film. It’s also worth remembering that Warner Bros have done excellent jobs of blockbusters in recent years, especially with Chris Nolan’s Batman reboot and the Harry Potter films.
At present there is no conformation on casting, but TRON: LEGACY’s Garrett Hedlund has been discussed for the lead role.
Katsuhiro Otomo, original writer and director, is on board as exec producer, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Davisson Killoran, and Andrew Lazar producing.
Source: Variety
