Blockbuster Actor Behind New Akira Movie

It’s becoming increasingly clear to me Hollywood is made up of two factions: those who have great ideas and want to use them for good and those who have terrible ideas and are too stupid to realize it. I wish there was more gray area in this opening paragraph, but it just seems like every story I read about has either a sense of greatness behind it or a terrible sense of dread. Lately, it’s been a lot of dread. However, I did manage to find one diamond nugget in the rough this week.

Like many comic book and cartoon freaks of the 1980s, I grew up in absolute awe of Akira. Here was a great introduction into adult cartoons (as my father called it) and opened up an entirely different world I had only seen in the corner of comic book conventions. Akira was wildly popular and even managed to spend a short time having success in the mainstream. That was before the geeks took over the discussion and ran the popular kids back to the mall where they belonged.

Akira has meant many things to people in my generation. When it first came out, we were amazed by the film. We watched it again in college (possibly while drunk or high) and began debating its usefulness to society. As an adult we have learned the meanings of the film are overlapping and know it has excellent clarity about war, society, violence, love, etc.

It appears there is a huge effort to get Akira back on the silver screen, except this time, in live-action form. I know, I know, I know, we’ve been hearing about this since 2008, right? Well, this time it has a lot more organization, prowess, and money behind it. Here’s how it breaks down.

One of the ring leaders behind the scenes is Leonardo DiCaprio. Technically, it’s his company, Appian Way. They have decided to take the 2,000-page script and chop it into two movies. I guess they figure even the most hardcore Akira fan wouldn’t likely want to sit through a four-and-a-half hour film. Good call.

Another thing I like is the director slated to film it. Actually, there are two directors: the Hughes Brothers, Albert and Allen. They have given us some solid films such as The Book of Eli, Menace II Society, and Dead Presidents. While I’m not overly in love with any of these movies, they have shown me a penchant for detail and I like their vision behind the camera. I really feel if they get a solid script it will become something great.

There is no word, as of yet, on who will star in the film. Warner Brothers announced they are still in negotiations for the rights to the picture, but feel it will get done. In fact, they are so confident; they want to begin filming next year.

As with any Akira fan I have many concerns about this film. My biggest concern is staying true to Akira as a visionary piece and not making it an all-out science fiction thriller. Director Katsuhiro Otomo did a great job of carving out a piece of history with the animated version. He took chances, he saw things differently, and we loved him for it. If the Hughes Brothers really want to do something special, they have their chance. If you really think about it, Akira the movie strayed away from the epic manga the first time around as far as plot was concerned. The Hughes Brothers can take some liberties and create a good film. They just have to keep in mind why the first one worked and how to adapt that in contemporary setting.