Akira‘s motorcycle has once again stalled out on 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 legacy as one of the most recognizable and influential anime films to 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 let Akira go 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 to Katsuhiro Otomo‘s original story in 2002, numerous creatives and stars have been attached to the live-action film adaptation, starting with Blade‘s Stephen Norrington before most notably landing with Leonardo DiCaprio back in 2008. The Titanic star had been lined up to produce, and rumors flew that he would co-star in it with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, while Ruari Robinson directed. It naturally sparked backlash as an example of Hollywood whitewashing, though nothing came of the project in the end, and thus began a long span of rotating names being attached Akira, from the Hughes Brothers and Harry Potter‘s Steve Kloves taking the reins, with Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield, and James McAvoy among those eyed for the role of Tetsuo, to a version that would’ve starred Garrett Hedlund as Kaneda.
Trying to adapt Akira saw Warner Bros. sink plenty of money into the project, close down production offices, and face backlash aplenty. Their final serious attempt came in 2017 when Taika Waititi was 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 between Thor: Love and Thunder, Jojo Rabbit, and The Mandalorian. A change of scenery and a fresh set of eyes might be what’s needed to finally get things moving again and 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 that threaten 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 classic not only stands the test of time, but can still be felt as an influence in modern cinema, particularly with 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.
via Collider