Sep 8 2009Some People Writing 'Akira'
It's been so long since first hearing of Leonardo DiCaprio's plan to produce a live-action remake of Akira, I was almost beginning to think he'd grown content with the perfectly satisfactory Akira movie that already exists. Alas, that's not the case. The thing is apparently still going ahead, and Collider is reporting the Children of Men screenwriters are at work on a script:
According to my source, screenwriters Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, guys whose work I like, are about to turn in their version of an “Akira” movie and the reason why the project has been so quiet is they’ve been hard at work trying to get the script right.From what I could gather, the movie is still a priority for the studio, and if the script meets with approval from key people, the movie could go into production in 2010 with a release date in 2011. Also, this isn’t going to be some mid-range budget movie. If the film goes into production, it’s going to be one of those BIG event movies.
Well, I'm not thrilled this is still happening, but at least it's better than someone remaking a Disney or Pixar film. It's good to send Japan the clear message that it's only their animation we don't consider legitimate enough to exist solely as animation.
Reader Comments
1. Hal - September 8, 2009 4:54 PM
I'm confused by both the sentiment and grammar (SENT?!?!? That's some AICN sloppiness not IWS!) of the last paragraph. I mean, wasn't "GRAN TORINO" the live action "UP!" ?
2. Mark - September 8, 2009 5:13 PM
Sorry. Give me an extra day off and I just fall apart.
It's somewhat fixed now.
3. Hal - September 8, 2009 5:56 PM
Great, now I'M the JERK. You're aces in my book Mark!
4. Benito - September 8, 2009 6:58 PM
I'm somewhat relieved that the grubby hands that are fondling this IP made a half-decent movie?
I think?
5. Vitero - September 8, 2009 11:11 PM
Ever seen the Japanese Spider Man? Perhaps the US is not the sole destroyer of foreign franchises
6. TetraShiva - September 9, 2009 1:50 AM
Son. Of. A. Bitch.
I don't even care that "I was shit in G.I. Joe, but had one good movie with Brick" Joseph LG is on this. Even Ben Affleck had two good films before he started sucking.
7. Tofu Butcher - September 9, 2009 8:45 AM
I thought the original idea was to make two movies based off the Manga, which is a lot longer than the anime. This may still have sucked but at least made sense. Now it looks like they are going to re-make and extremely badarse, brilliant movie for no particular reason.So basically the modern Hollywood business plan.
8. anime-hater - September 9, 2009 1:41 PM
Stoked for this only because it's going to piss a lot of anime kids off.
9. Beastman AIDS - September 9, 2009 4:58 PM
I foresee hundreds of thousands of asians crying "WHY IZN"T KANEDA AZN!!??XD!!"
10. Anon - September 9, 2009 8:55 PM
well technically everyone in the anime was asian, specifically japanese. Unlike avatar, this fact is not debateable.
11. Anon - September 9, 2009 8:58 PM
I wouldn't be surprised if they remade "grave of the fireflies" with an all "white" american cast. I'm beyond getting indignant with hollywood's blatant race bending
12. Anon - September 9, 2009 9:00 PM
Plus Leo has a hugh fucking head with an equally huge forehead and he has long past the point where he can play a teenager or even a 20 something. With these writters, this movie might fail in everything but the story line.
13. Amy - September 17, 2009 7:57 AM
Sorry but anyting involving Leonardo di craprio = fail in my book. i hear him and who is it, ben afflek or matt damon will be playing Kaneda and Tetsuo? who the hell is gonna pay good money to see that monstosity?