Leo taking on “Akira”
Leonardo DiCaprio and Warner Bros. are set to remake the groundbreaking anime film “Akira” as a pair of live-action movies, according to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.
The movies will be based on Katsurhio Otomo’s six-volume futuristic graphic novel ”Akira.” Each movie will cover three volumes in the series.
Otomo directed and co-wrote the 1988 animated movie based on his graphic novel. The story centers on a teen who goes on a destructive rampage after tapping his psychokinetic powers.
Otomo’s film adaptation boasted stunningly innovative animation, and it’s hard to imagine how some of those jaw-dropping visuals will translate to live-action.
Ruairi Robinson has been tapped to direct the two-part project. It will be his feature film debut; he is best known for his 2002 Oscar-nominated animated short “Fifty Percent Grey.”
Screenwriter/comic book writer/all-around uber-geek Gary Whitta will write the adaptation, and DiCaprio will produce through his production company, Appian Way. No word yet on who will make up the cast.
The new version will move the story from Neo-Tokyo to “New Manhattan.” The first of the live-action films is set for a summer 2009 release.
- BAM
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Hopefully Leo will be playing Tetsuo- so we can have a happy ending.