Taika Waititi is in talks to direct the live-action Akira movie

A live-action adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira has been off and on again so many times over the past few years. Nobody ever seems to want the film to be made when it is mentioned, but it seems Warner Bros. is going to try again.

For the live-action version, the studio is looking at Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What We Do In The Shadows). He is a great director, I’ve enjoyed all of his films and cannot wait to see the new Thor movie, but is the right choice for Akira? Should he do it if the talks go well?

From the synopsis, it appears the action will be transferred to America.

Set in a future city environment called New Manhattan, the sci-fi epic follows the leader of a bike gang who must save his best friend, who has been experimented on by the government causing him to develop dangerous and destructive psychokinetic powers.

According to Deadline, Mad Chance’s Lazar is producing with Appian Way’s Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson. The picture has been a big priority since Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures acquired it for 7-figures from manga publisher Kodansha. The intention has always been to make 2 films, each covering 3 books in the series.

The last news had Jordan Peele (Get Out) in talks to direct it.

I love the manga and anime. When I have seen fan-made Akira short films part of me has wanted to see more live-action set in that world, but there is so much that could go wrong. Maybe it could work with Waititi directing it, but I can’t help but feel that at its best a live action Akira movie will just be merely adequate.

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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