Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:07PM8 comments ›
Thu Feb 21, 2008 — by Chris Ullrich
Live-Action 'Akira' On the Way from Leo DiCaprio
DiCaprio has the power
Yesterday, the Hollywood Reporter dropped the news that Warner Brothers has snapped up the rights to make a two-part, live-action version of the Japanese Anime classic Akira. Not only that, but producing the film will be superstar Leonaro DiCaprio. In addition, first-time feature helmer Ruairi Robinson will be taking on the directing duties and Gary Whitta is writing the screenplay.
But wait, there's more.
Today, it was confirmed by Aint it Cool News that DiCaprio will, in addition to producing, star in the live-action film as the lead character Kaneda. Also confirmed is that Joseph Gordon-Levitt, soon to be seen in the upcoming live-action G.I. Joe, will join him in the cast as Tetsuo.
In case you're not familiar with Akira, it originally came out in 1988 as a manga and then as an animated film co-written and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. The story, set in a futuristic post-nuclear war "New Tokyo" in the year 2019, concerns a teen biker gang member called Tetsuo who is subjected to government experiments which unleash his hidden and terrifying powers. Kaneda, the gang's leader and Tetsuo's best friend, must then find a way to stop the ensuing destruction caused by his friend, even if it means killing him.
I first saw the film in the early '90s and was blown away. At the time it was like no other animation I had ever seen and I've always secretly harbored a desire to see it as a big-budget, live-action feature. I guess I'll get my wish. Hopefully, that will be a good thing.
Warner Brothers is looking at a Summer 2009 release for the first film.
Jump to comments (8) 
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Comments (8)
Marilee J. Layman (6:17 PM on Thu Feb 21, 2008)
Huh. It was remarkable as anime, I wonder if live action can do that.
Rick Marshall (8:07 AM on Fri Feb 22, 2008)
It's funny, as I think I'm some sort of heretic here: I REALLY disliked Akira. In fact, I remember watching it to see what all the fuss was about and then, midway through, turning to a friend of mine and saying, "This is really disappointing." He was shocked -- as if I just shrugged my shoulders at one of the Wonders of the World.
I thought Akira was poorly written and paced, with terribly sub-par animation for the time it was made.
... but that's just me.
Mike Gold (9:18 AM on Fri Feb 22, 2008)
I liked Akira, but I probably saw it quite some time before Rick did. Cartoonist and anime expert Doug Rice turned the Chicago comics scene onto anime back in the late 70s, so I was on the lookout since I first heard of it. At the time, I thought it was quite a remarkable achievement...
... but I liked the manga a lot more.
Rick Marshall (10:06 AM on Fri Feb 22, 2008)
Yeah, the first anime that really *hit* me and made me feel like I had seen something astonishing was "Ghost in the Shell" -- I know, more versed anime fans will probably laugh at that, but I still count "GitS" as one of my favorite films, animated or otherwise.
Mike Gold (10:13 AM on Fri Feb 22, 2008)
Grave of the Fireflies.
Not only the best anime I've ever seen, but it's one of the best movies I've ever seen. Absolutely brilliant -- stop working, run out and get it, watch it, then think up some excuses for why you took the time off.
Rick Marshall (10:17 AM on Fri Feb 22, 2008)
Okay, it's been officially added to my Blockbuster queue.
Marilee J. Layman (4:29 PM on Fri Feb 22, 2008)
Yes, definitely. Every time I watch it, I put it back at the bottom of my Netflix queue. Have you watched the companion disc? The one with all the interviews? Most people haven't, and so I carefully ask who they think is at fault, and they agree with me, which is not what the writer had in mind. Big culture difference.
(I'm also very fond of Kiki's Delivery Service.)