Christopher Webster [Celluloid 07.14.11] movie news scifi



Jaume Collet-Serra will direct the live action version of Akira says Variety. The Spanish filmmaker is most known for his recent film Unknown staring Liam Neeson as a scientist who loses his memory.

Collet-Serra's reputation for delivering increasingly successful films at the box office is said to be the reason for WB's decision to pass him the $90 millon tent-pole. His directorial debut House of Wax took $68 million while Unknown has grossed over $130 million worldwide on a budget of only $30 million.

WB acquired the project for a seven-figure sum from Japanese manga publisher Kodansha in 2008 and has since written two drafts and reset the futuristic story from Neo-Tokyo to Neo-Manhattan. One of those drafts was written by Harry Potter's Steve Kloves. Keanu Reeves was at one point set to star, but the actor has since dropped out. So the question remains as to who will play Kaneda, the film's main character.

Appian Way's Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran are producing with Mad Chance's Andrew Lazar.

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chuck (11 years ago) Reply

Dammit! Comics Alliance announced that this project was dead on Wednesday and a million comics and film fans rejoiced! Now it's getting a reprieve? This is a bad idea. Especially if it's moved to NY and cast with a bunch of white folks. Will the bikes be Harleys now, or even worse, modern rice rockets ala Biker Boyz? Oh well- they can't do worse than Starship Troopers.

MrSatyre (11 years ago) Reply

In my crack-pipe inspired fantasy world, Otomo goes back to his manga series, and from them develops three feature-length anime films which flesh out more of the story. I would kill to see the Tetsuo vs. US 7th Fleet battle with modern state-of-the-art anime!

Anonymous (11 years ago) Reply

Akria was a great manga and great movie. I just know it will be ruined and americanized. God this sucks.

Anonymous (11 years ago) Reply

I just read the Manga about two weeks ago again and I watched the new DVD that was released with the new audio. I have to say they really did do a fantastic Job making Akira into a movie.

Now I wonder what Leo and crew will have up there sleeve? This type of movie will be expensive.

Kamakazinc (11 years ago) Reply

Hey at least it is being made. It'II bring exposure to the original movie and the manga. I really like the original. Anime. The Manga is awsome. It should be ok. They cant change the bikes. The motorcycles are part of the cast too. Like an Xwing fighter or KITT form knight rider. I think Leoardo Nam from F&F Tokyo Drift ( on of D.K.'s guys). I think he did a really good job. Let's hope for the best Starship troopers happened a long time ago.

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