News
New Screenwriters for Akira Movie
September 8, 2009
We haven't heard much about the live-action Akira movie since February of 2008 (actually, back then it was reported that two films were being made), but now Collider says that Warner Bros. Pictures is still developing the movie and has hired screenwriters Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby to pen the script. The duo co-wrote the first Iron Man movie and Children of Men.
Akira is based on anime artist Katsuhiro Otomo's six-volume graphic novel masterwork. The film is said to take place in "New Manhattan," a metropolis that was rebuilt after being destroyed 31 years ago. The famous motorcycle will also definitely be a part of the film.
The movie could possibly go into production in 2010. To learn more about "Akira," go here.
Related Articles From Other SitesPosted by: Jared on September 8, 2009 at 11:17:36
I JUST started reading AKIRA! Great news!
Posted by: Sebastian on September 8, 2009 at 11:19:34
NOW THAT WOULD BE TOTALLY AWESOME FILM IF THEY REALLY STICK TO THE SOURCE MATERIAL AND CAEFULLY WRITE IT -- IT WAS SUCH A GREAT ANIME FILM ON SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS...
MAYBE THEY CAN GET SETH ROGAN TO PLAY AKIRA
Posted by: unreal101 on September 8, 2009 at 11:22:32
New Manhattan? This is already starting to sound like a fail! Why the F*** does everything have to revolve around NYC? I liked the fact that it took place in Tokyo. BUT I do trust the writers; both of their works were excellent. I hope they make this right, it could possibly be the 'The Matrix' of it's time.
Posted by: The Rain Splitter on September 8, 2009 at 11:40:38
Why can't they just leave to good things alone?
I'm really not excited for this at all just because of the 'New Manhattan' deal.
Posted by: Hanzo the Sword on September 8, 2009 at 11:51:03
Trust the writers on this. I believe that they know that they've been given an honor to write for this movie. Plus putting "Children of Men" and "Iron Man" concepts together would honestly be a almost perfect fit.
I'm just more concerned on who is going to direct and give their visual take on this.
Posted by: A sphincter says what...?!? on September 8, 2009 at 12:22:31
NICE
...I would love to see this live action....and won't hold my breath that they will stick 100% to the source material as...it does get a little out there.
Posted by: The One on September 8, 2009 at 12:23:50
I do trust the writers,but please don't change the setting to new manhattan.Keep it in neo tokyo,use asian actors,and maybe remix the original music too.That would be cool.
Posted by: Tracker on September 8, 2009 at 12:27:39
In spite of the screen writers fantastic past work this monster should be killed with fire. The anime's biggest strength is its visual brilliance and unparalleled style, something that I doubt would translate well to live action. Likewise, if they change location from Tokyo to NYC I can't help but fear American recasting.
Posted by: gepeto on September 8, 2009 at 12:31:48
loved the film one of my first mangas i saw
Posted by: impulse83 on September 8, 2009 at 12:35:24
Tetsuuuo!!!!!
Posted by: Zyclonis on September 8, 2009 at 13:02:47
New Manhattan? New F***ing Manhattan? WTF happened to Neo Tokyo? kill this project. I guess Leo Dicaprio is going to play Keneda? Toby Maguire as Tetsuo? maybe Keanu Reeves as the child AKIRA... how can anybody be excited about this?... at least the original comics and animated movie will remain.
Posted by: Elijah Wood Is Tetsuo!!!!!!!!! on September 8, 2009 at 13:03:45
Back when Leo DiCaprio was going to do this movie it was being suggested that he'd play Keneda as well as produce.
Also Joseph Gordon-Levitt was being talked about as Tetsuo. At the time both were neither teenagers OR JAPANESE.
I know some will say to trust the writers to do a good story even if Americanized, but the thing that gets to me in this case is that it may lose some of it's great cultural elements that both the original manga and anime both had.
See, Akira is a story that is very central to the culture and setting of Japan, or specificaly Neo-Tokyo.
I feel like they're Americanizing it to connect to American audiences.
But look at something like District 9 which isn't even set here in America and has done extremely well at the box-office.
I think by keeping in Neo-Tokyo, they'd only further examplify an otherwordly type of quality to the flick.
Something out of the normal for Americans to experience and even for the Japanese culture too in regard to the ideas of it being set in a post-apocolyptic setting as Neo-Tokyo (after the bomb drops 30+ years later).
Posted by: DCas on September 8, 2009 at 13:45:54
No no no no no no. A live action/any remake of this film WILL JUST PLAIN SUCK!
This is one movie that is as much about the animation as it is about the story. This was cutting edge brilliance back when it came out.
I wouldn't pay a nickle to see the preview of a something like this. I'm not saying they can't make it with the special effects, I'm saying don't mess with PERFECTION!
Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you should! Learn from Dragonball Z, People. Something don't translate into real life and this is one that won't and shouldn't even be attempted.
Posted by: Chill yo... on September 8, 2009 at 13:52:36
FAIL
Leave Akira alone and go remake Ninja Scroll or something
Posted by: Ender88 on September 8, 2009 at 14:16:00
well Dragon Ball the movie sucked because it was 20th century fox this actually has potential given it's warner and all but still could be terrible i would really like to see this into a live action movie! there is a possibility it could be really epic
Posted by: Nerd Alert on September 8, 2009 at 14:38:00
if this gets made and released, and it does take place in "New Manhattan", I will go to the theater and run around screaming KAAAAAAAANEEEEDDDAAAAAAA until i get arrested.
it's like taking LOTR and changing the setting from Middlearth to my backyard.
Posted by: Rich S on September 8, 2009 at 14:43:10
it's more fun in a film to see the U.S in jeopardy. I won't enjoy it all japanesed out with subtitles or with an all asian cast. I'd watch the fuggin Anime if i wanted that. It's obviously going to be a U.S adaptation of Akira. Plus anime sucks anyway. All looks the same and the stories suck. Akira was good. Ghost In The Shell was good. The Street Fighter Animated film was really good...but as far as all the other stuff...it all sucks. I mean they're not god awful..but they do suck.
Posted by: Sawx Fan 1997 on September 8, 2009 at 14:55:19
Why are people so sensitive about the change in setting? Is it any surprise that the setting changed from Tokyo to NYC, when AN AMERICAN MOVIE STUDIO IS MAKING THE MOVIE? I don't see why it can't work, NYC and Tokyo have a lot of similar elements, being the quintessential metropolis in their respective countries. I can understand the fan-driven need to have things stay 100% anime/manga-to-film, but give it a chance at least.
Posted by: Mack 5 on September 8, 2009 at 15:00:23
PLEASE DON'T MAKE THIS MOVIE!! Just let it be the masterpiece anime movie that it is. It doesn't *need* to be re-made into a live action flick. Can't you Hollywood types make a frickin' original movie? I mean, you all got your butts kicked by District 9 this past summer...not even that crappy Transformers 2 flick was worth a crap. Get original!
Posted by: Elijah Wood Is Tetsuo!!!!!!!!! on September 8, 2009 at 15:08:40
Posted by: Sawx Fan 1997 on September 8, 2009 at 14:55:19
Why are people so sensitive about the change in setting? Is it any surprise that the setting changed from Tokyo to NYC, when AN AMERICAN MOVIE STUDIO IS MAKING THE MOVIE? I don't see why it can't work, NYC and Tokyo have a lot of similar elements, being the quintessential metropolis in their respective countries. I can understand the fan-driven need to have things stay 100% anime/manga-to-film, but give it a chance at least.
---------------------------------------
Hi. Just wanted to address the above quoted post.
I understand the thing of it being an AMERICAN MOVIE hence the change in setting.
But in a way the persone who posted the comment somewhere above had a point in the idea of changing the location from Middle Earth to his backyard in the Lord of the Rings movies.
I don't need everything to be 100% exact like the comics or the anime in everything. Not very realistic in thinking it would be.
But like I said in my previous post, Japan is an essential element in that story. In fact, in a lot of circles it's been upheld as one of the key factors to what makes Akira such a groundbreaking work. A lot of the symbolisms of the bomb being dropped in Japan at the end of World War II and the juxtaposition of a nuked Tokyo and a Post-Nuked Neo-Tokyo after World War III would be lost in the translation.
And that's a big element of the setting of the story of Akira.
They might try and draw symbolism to 9/11 or something, but the effect of it wouldn't be the same.
Now does that mean that it couldn't work with New York? No it doesn't mean that, but haven't we seen the dystopian/post apocolyptic New York thing done to death by now?
Posted by: Sawx Fan 1997 on September 8, 2009 at 15:15:23
@ Elijah Wood Is Tetsuo!!!!!!!!!
I understand that. What I'm saying is that the symbolism aspect of the story, while unique and ground-breaking for its time, isn't the only thing that's important. Sometimes audiences get tired of symbolism, and just want to see a thematic story without loads and loads of symbolism. Besides, symbolism in this instance can be molded to fit something different. America (and American movie studios) can play with our history regarding the atomic bomb, terrorism, how people feel about war, etc. I know this isn't the focal point of the original, and maybe foreign audiences won't enjoy it or understand it as much, but the same can be said for American audiences and the Japanese cultural symbolism with a live-action version of the original.
Posted by: Elijah Wood Is Tetsuo!!!!!!!!! on September 8, 2009 at 15:34:37
Posted by: Sawx Fan 1997 on September 8, 2009 at 15:15:23
@ Elijah Wood Is Tetsuo!!!!!!!!!
I understand that. What I'm saying is that the symbolism aspect of the story, while unique and ground-breaking for its time, isn't the only thing that's important. Sometimes audiences get tired of symbolism, and just want to see a thematic story without loads and loads of symbolism. Besides, symbolism in this instance can be molded to fit something different. America (and American movie studios) can play with our history regarding the atomic bomb, terrorism, how people feel about war, etc. I know this isn't the focal point of the original, and maybe foreign audiences won't enjoy it or understand it as much, but the same can be said for American audiences and the Japanese cultural symbolism with a live-action version of the original.
---------------------
I can see your points there.
The thing on symbolism is that it doesn't have to totally consume the movie either. It's also in the telling of the story. To be fair, let's take something like Watchmen.
They changed the Giant Alien Squid thing from the book and replaced it with an atomic blast.
Now I can see why they did it. Even Alan Moore himself said that was something he didn't like in retrospect in that it was kind of a B-Movie thing to do. For some, it was okay. For others they wished they'd retained the Giant Alien Squid or something more graphic.
Some felt let down not seeing that image of all the dead bodies piled up and about everywhere amid the tentacles of the Giant Alien Squid. And yet, there it was, another destroyed New York image. ;)
I actually had no problem with that change, to tell the truth and agreed that the Squid thing was may've been a little too B-Movie.
But it would've been cool to see it like that and I don't think too many would've really said boo about it.
Right now, I'm just hoping that when Tetsuo (or whatever his name will be if he's japanese or not) starts "growing" that he won't look like an effin' muppet like Malebolgia in the live-action Spawn movie!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!! ;D
Nice chattin' with ya'! ;)
Posted by: Hal Jordan Jr. on September 8, 2009 at 15:50:41
seth rogen should get the lead in akira too.
Didn't seth read for taking over the role of superman for the reboot?
Posted by: Nick on September 8, 2009 at 16:01:45
What the !@#$! is with the New York Hate! If you have a problem with it, do something about it! Sawx Fan 1997 is right, give it a chance. I'd say that most modern adaptations of comics and anime are better that they were 10 years ago. Studios are getting better at sticking closer to the original material, not quite where we really want them, but the progress is become more apparent...
And another thing, just because an american studio is producing it, doesn't necessarily mean that everything is being americanized. Seeing as how the setting is New Manhattan, the leads could still be asian. It's easy if you know that New York is the most culturally diverse city on Planet Earth! If it was New Wichita, I'd be "oh, so the bike is now a tractor...? And Keneda is now just Ken....with a trucker hat...?" How about we wait till a director signs on and we start seeing some footage before we pass judgment. Don't forget, almost two years ago, people were pissing all about Heath Ledger being cast as the Joker, Now we can't see anyone else but Heath in that role.
Gotta have Patience, people.
Posted by: disappointed on September 8, 2009 at 16:04:36
District 9 already proved that not all stories have to be stuck in the US setting so why revamp it to america?
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