Akira’s motorcycle has once again stalled outon the road to a live-action adaptation. According to The Hollywood Reporter,Warner Bros. has given up the film rights to the classic cyberpunk manga and anime feature after over 20 years of trying to put together a new spin. The rights have been returned to the original manga publisher Kodansha, and, reportedly, interested producers and creatives are already gearing up to make their case to take on the legendary Japanese story ahead of it being presented to prospective buyers. Given its legacyas one of the most recognizable and influential anime filmsto ever release, it’s bound to be a white-hot commodity as another studio tries to do what Warner Bros. couldn’t.
That Warner Bros. finally letAkirago is a bit of a shocker considering just how much time and effort the studio has put into bringing Neo-Tokyo to life. Since acquiring the rights toKatsuhiro Otomo’s original story in 2002, numerous creatives and stars have been attached to the live-action film adaptation, starting withBlade’sStephen Norrington beforemost notably landing withLeonardo DiCaprioback in 2008. TheTitanicstar had been lined up to produce, and rumors flew that he would co-star in it withJoseph Gordon-Levitt, whileRuari Robinsondirected. It naturally sparked backlash as an example of Hollywood whitewashing, though nothing came of the project in the end, and thus begana long span of rotating namesbeing attachedAkira, from theHughes BrothersandHarry Potter’sSteve Klovestaking the reins, withRobert Pattinson,Andrew Garfield, andJames McAvoyamong those eyed for the role of Tetsuo, to a version that would’ve starredGarrett Hedlundas Kaneda.
Trying to adaptAkirasaw Warner Bros. sink plenty of money into the project, close down production offices, and face backlash aplenty. Their final serious attempt came in 2017 whenTaika Waititiwas called in to direct and produce. It got far enough to set a release date in 2021 and begin a search for an all-Japanese cast. Alas, this, too, went dormant with Waititi being pulled betweenThor: Love and Thunder,Jojo Rabbit, andThe Mandalorian. A change of scenery and a fresh set of eyes might be what’s needed tofinally get things moving againand close the book on a cursed chapter of development hell for the studio.
Why Is ‘Akira’ So Hard To Adapt?
Based on the original 1982 manga of the same name,Akira’s release in 1988 was a watershed moment for anime and adult animation in general, for breaking cultural boundaries and reaching a worldwide audience. The film takes place in a dystopian 2019 and follows Shōtarō Kaneda, a biker gang leader who is forced to confront his childhood friend, Tetsuo, when a motorcycle accident leaves him with telekinetic powers thatthreaten the entire world. It’s all set against the backdrop of a clash between anti-government activists, corrupt politicians, and oppressive military forces shaping the future of Japan after WWIII. To this day, Otomo’s classicnot only stands the test of time, but can still be felt asan influence in modern cinema, particularlywith its iconic motorcycle slide. Whoever tackles it next faces a massive responsibility to make their version a worthwhile remake, and that version is likely a long way from coming to life.
Stay tuned here at Collider for more updates on the future ofAkirain live-action.
