Feb 21 2008DiCaprio, Gordon-Levitt Join Drastically-Altered 'Akira'
Weekly, when I write down a list of Leonardo DiCaprio's interests, it generally includes the same items: acting, the environment, supermodels, Martin Scorsese, never quite growing out of a scrunched baby face. Never would I have dreamed "anime" would make the list, particularly over "idiotic facial hair." But apparently it has, with Leo announcing plans to bring the classic '80s manga/anime Akira to the big screen, with himself in the lead as Kaneda and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tetsuo.
Of course, since the film will take place in Neo Manhattan instead of Neo Tokyo, the names will probably be changed to something moms can more easily pronounce. And since DiCaprio is in his mid-30s, the whole teenage thing will have to be altered a bit, maybe adding some references to mortgages. And with his views on environmentalism, the signature motorcycle will probably be changed to hybrid mass transit, or maybe a community-shared bicycle. But ignoring all of the massive changes, it sounds like it will be a very faithful adaptation that should please all of the original's rabid, obsessive fans.
Is this as bad an idea as I think it is? All I can remember from the anime is the constant screaming.
Reader Comments
1. Morono - February 21, 2008 1:24 PM
Is THIS FOR REAL?
2. James - February 21, 2008 2:14 PM
"Is this as bad an idea as I think it is?"
Yes, yes it is. I'm not even *that* big of an anime/Akira fan, and the thought of Leonardo DiCaprio trying to play Kaneda... no. Just... no. Why would he ever think he could do that and not look like an asshat?
Although I do actually like Joseph Gordon-Levitt in general, and think he could pull off the whiny, bullied character of Tetsuo reasonably well. But honestly, there are dozen actors I'm not thinking of that could still surely do it better. And they're most likely JAPANESE.
3. Bobeyo - February 21, 2008 2:37 PM
If he's so Japanese, why does he have a US symbol pasted on his bike?
4. Shaking my head - February 21, 2008 2:38 PM
THIS has to be the worst Idea ever.. I loved the books and the movie (with the original voice overs) and this will ruin IT. the mythos the story , the idea ... oh good god !! Akira save us from that garbage actor Leonardo Dicaprio
5. masterless - February 21, 2008 2:49 PM
Dont listen to the haters. This is gonna be freakin awesome!
DiCaprio's dark side (Basketball Diaries anyone?) will shine as Kaneda and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Brick) will make for an awesome confused/maniacal Tetsuo!
One thing I ask is that they make a real version of the infamous bike and not just CGI it to hell. Oh and bring back some of that Tiko drumming from the animes score!
6. Snoodle - February 21, 2008 2:54 PM
I predict the movie(s) being a lot less of a mindf@ck than the anime was.....however it could work out to be a good movie regardless.
7. Nathan - February 21, 2008 2:56 PM
I hate most anime, atleast most new anime. I think its become commonplace and very slack in story and art. But akira, allong with some of other animes from the old school style are classics, It could be kinda cool. But not cool enough to really do. Don't ruin akira. Please.
PS: I occasionally do see an anime style movie that I like thats new, and usually the films are good but not the shows.. the shows fucking suck.
8. Giggleloop - February 21, 2008 3:17 PM
My lord, HORRIBLE idea.
Great soundtrack to Akira, used to listen to it all the time.
Oh, and TETSUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9. Eddy - February 21, 2008 3:38 PM
I thought them being teenagers was rather central. I'm not sure this plot would even work with older folk. Not that leo is old, but he's just... yeah.
I feel that this will go the way of every Phillip K. Dick story and get normalized to the point it becomes a very boring science fiction story and much less of a mindfuck than it should be.
10. PB&J - February 21, 2008 3:56 PM
Meh. Matthew "skin to win" Mcconaughey in Neon Genesis Evangelion is going to blow DeLamo's shit right out the door.
11. Oscar - February 21, 2008 4:01 PM
Lets remake the Godfather and Citizen Kane and ever other great film while were at it. Zac Effron and Shia Leboufferey would be great as Michael and Sonny Corleone wouldn't they? Michael Bay and Ben Affleck could do wonders for Citizen Kane!
These young actors should be ashamed of themselves. Remaking classics is...I think I'm going to vomit.
12. tobes - February 21, 2008 4:02 PM
this is the first post i've felt the need to comment on. i have no problem with the stars. it is the rest i have the problem with. rewatch akira, it is the absolute masterpiece of japanese animation. neo new york is going to be lame. joseph gordon levitt exploding and accidentally devouring sienna miller with his jabba the hutt bod will be spectacular.
13. Zee Brat - February 21, 2008 5:21 PM
KAAANEEEEDAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
14. Brandon - February 21, 2008 6:12 PM
I can't watch this.
15. Dan - February 21, 2008 6:26 PM
KEEEEEENNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
ah shit, Zeebrat beat me to it.
anyway, i think Leo's a great actor, and I would've loved the chance to see him in this, but seeing the way they're butchering the story leaves me pessimistic.
btw, whatever happened to the god damned Evangelion movie?
16. ama - February 21, 2008 6:46 PM
Evangelion as a film isn't even mentioned on imdb. Maybe they proposed Matthew McBiceps as a decoy to make Akira not seem as much of a bad idea. There are animes one shouldn't fuck with, and this is one of them. I refuse to see it. I can't suffer another trauma like I did with Dungeons and Dragons but I thought for an irrational second, maybe just maybe it wouldn't be a pile of celluloid crap or rather, digital do-do. Fuck the digital age. It forced m to think of a new alliteration term for bad movies. And I hate thinking almost as much as I hate the idea of killing this classic anime.
Tet-suuuuuuuuu-ooooo!
17. proteon - February 21, 2008 7:06 PM
two words
Aeon Flux
18. Hal - February 21, 2008 9:24 PM
So why has every single director attached to this since Stephen Sommers mercifully left the project been some sort of director with only an animated short under his belt?!?! Between this and WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, Warner Brothers is 2/2 in REALLY bad ideas this week. It would take a director of massive talent to put me in the theater... not sure if the guy who directed "50% GREY" is that... Now if it was Scorsese and DiCaprio reuniting, I'd be in.
19. Hal - February 21, 2008 9:26 PM
Also, there are so many things that just aren't that great, but have potential to be remade into a spectacular film in both anime, comics and even film - WHY NOT ONE OF THOSE THINGS INSTEAD OF A BONA-FIDE CLASSIC!?!?!?!
20. Berzerker - February 21, 2008 9:33 PM
i was hoping they'd re-do Akira sometime, what with all the computer grafixs and such these days, but i wish they'd follow the origonal comics, and not mess with things
21. TetraShiva - February 21, 2008 10:16 PM
*deep breath*
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU FUCKING ASSHOLES HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY TRY TO RUIN SUCH A GREAT FUCKING MOVIE INSTEAD OF COMING UP WITH YOUR OWN ORIGINAL IDEA?!! I HATE YOU AND HOPE YOU DIE FROM FUCKING CANCER!!!!
22. spence - February 21, 2008 10:28 PM
The only thing that redeemed Akira was the unbelievable artwork. The story was confusing and the dialogue was utterly atrocious. But the artwork was mindblowingly great. Which is why i enjoy the film so very much.
23. spence - February 21, 2008 10:31 PM
...but without the beautiful aesthetic of the original film... it will probably suck.
24. trickykel78 - February 22, 2008 2:54 PM
Typical Akira buff here with his two sense worth!
As an Akira fan and a fan of anything not homogenized (Hollywoodized.) I'm pretty dissapointed we won't get a major blockbuster sci-fi film set in Tokyo with an all Japanese cast, in Japanese (your the man Clint!) That being said, if I were going to gamble on this project i'd be less nerve wracked about the final product with Leo at the helm than say that Paul Anderson (AVP) goon directing and a couple E-list teenie actors trying there best god bless em.
25. groonk - February 25, 2008 1:07 AM
FAIL.
leave Akira alone Big Hollywood
26. nic - July 21, 2008 9:52 AM
First off, those of you who write that they " hate most anime" and "think its become commonplace and very slack in story and art" obviously have formed a bias towards the genre and as a result are ill informed. Some modern anime is more ground breaking than most live action. See Mind Game or Tekkonkinkreet if you doubt me. These are both circa 2000 and are sick sick films, Tekkonkinkreet carrying the Akira torch expertly. That being said: DiCaprio shouldn't be in the film. He is too old. The beauty of the original anime (and manga) lies in the juxtaposition of destruction and youth and their interaction. Furthermore, I see no way that Tetsuo can make his transformation in live action without looking unbelievably cheesy. If DiCaprio were such a fan he'd just leave the thing alone. The director's cut of Akira still stands as one of my favourite films of all time and I'm sure the live action will disappoint.
27. Otaku of the World UNITE! - July 25, 2008 2:15 AM
"Very faithful adaptation" MY A$$. Katsuhiro Otomo should put a rather large bounty on the head of whoever is directing AND producing this. They are surely going to turn this classic into a really big pile of crap...