
Back in May fans of the hit Japanese manga and animated feature film Akira were filled with joy at the news that the rumored Keanu Reeves would not be starring in the planned American remake and that director Albert Hughes had left the project, leading many to think the movie would never happen.
That joy didn’t last long, however. It was announced just a couple of months later that Warner Brothers had chipped down the budget of the remake from over $100 million down to $90 million, and that they had hired Unknown and Orphan director Jaume Collet-Serra to replace Hughes. Now comes word that the studio has officially given the greenlight to a live–action American Akira remake, so this bad boy is happening for real.
Take a moment to grieve.
No actors have been cast for the two lead roles yet, but WB does have their eye on someone. According to sources, Tron: Legacy and Friday Night Lights star Garrett Hedlund is a “front–runner” to land one of the lead roles. Nothing is official yet, but if you’re looking for potential names, there’s one for you to discuss.
Leonardo DiCaprio and his Appian Way Productions will be producing, and Katsuhiro Otomo, the man who wrote and directed the animated original, will act as an executive producer.
[Source: Variety]
Sorry but, did the people who greenlt Akira watch Tron 2? The guy in the lead roll was one of the worst things about it. God, when the f*** are Hollywood going to wake the f*** up.
Comment by Lusky — October 20, 2011 @ 12:40 pm