Keanu Reeves passes on Akira remake
The studio has also shut down the pre-visualization department and let go of staff members working on the movie. However, Warner Bros. is still actively searching for cast members. Here is a statement released by the studio.
"Production on Akira has not halted or been shut down, as the film has not yet been greenlit and is still very much in the development stage. The exploratory process is crucial to a project of this magnitude, and we will continue to sculpt our approach to making the best possible film."
We reported in February that screenwriter Steve Kloves is rewriting the script, which was originally written by Albert Torres. Albert Hughes and Allen Hughes are still attached as directors, although it isn't clear when Akira will be given the green light.
Akira comes to theaters in 2013 and stars Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Ken Watanabe. The film is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.
Comments (24)
To leave a comment, please sign in or use
Facebook or Twitter
Salem6777
good to hear
2 years agoby @Salem6777Flag
Nautical
AAAWWWW but Keanu is the Sci-Fi guy!!!!!!
2 years agoby @nautical05Flag
Avian
Let it die!
2 years agoby @avian005Flag
skullleader99
THANK GOD FOR THAT ONE!!! Akira is a masterpiece of Anime gold, and to think of making the main character Kaneda in is 40's and not a teen was freaking dumb. He needs to work on the Bill and Ted 3rd movie.
2 years agoby @skullleader99Flag
skywise
Keanu was never right for that role, he should stick with his Cowboy Bebop crusade because he was born to play Spike. But not Kaneda.
2 years agoby @skywiseFlag
Jimthar
im not happy or upset about this decision. i never really got into the anime. truth be told, i dont like anime at all. i tried watching AKIRA once and i only got about 10 minutes into it and shut it off. thats not saying that a live action movie wouldn't be cool. would have been fun to see keanu in this. but if he's too old, then he's too old. i'm sure it'll all work out in the end.
2 years agoby @jimtharFlag
Bryan Yentz
And this is a bad thing because???
2 years agoby @bryanyentzFlag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
Some anime are best left as anime
2 years agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
RojoDiablo
Personally I don't think we need this movie but I would have checked it out if Keanu was in it and who cares about the age issue, they don't have to make it exactly like the original imo.
2 years agoby @rojodiabloFlag
CUPID
@shnoopbop Exactly man.
Dont care for the movie being made but am curious to see whos playing who.
2 years agoby @cupidFlag
Shnoopbop
@amano Kaneda's a teenager. Keanu's pushing 50
2 years agoby @shnoopbopFlag
CUPID
@amano Seriously?
2 years agoby @cupidFlag
amano
Too bad could definitely envision Keanu playing Kaneda
2 years agoby @amanoFlag
The King of Thorns
While I love the anime to death, it was VERY flawed. It was pretty unstructured, disoriented, and somewhat overly brash in its characters. The second act was especially weak with it's story. This adaption is just a chance for the creators to fully pay respects to the property, while fleshing it out and giving it an acute punch.
I too wish it was still in Tokyo, but since it's in Chicago, it's fine if they cast a Caucasian actor in the lead role. Only problem with Reeves was he was too old. He didn't properly represent Kaneda, but I think they were going to make him more of a bad-ass character, that had a subtle temper, instead of a young hot shot, which would have worked well for Reeves.
2 years agoby @champion-bescosFlag
Cheetoboy
Well although Keanu turned this down, hopefully Will won't do the same with Django.
2 years agoby @cheetoboyFlag
CUPID
@shnoopbop Yeah, that could be kinda cool.
2 years agoby @cupidFlag
Shnoopbop
@cupid What I'd really like to see is an Akira video game. It could be cel animated like DBZ games, and you'd play certain parts as Kaneda and other parts as Tetsuo with all his powers, some motorcycle racing... now that would be sweet.
2 years agoby @shnoopbopFlag
CUPID
@shnoopbop The anime movie was EPIC but turning this into a live action movie i'm sure its gonna suck and never live up to the anime.
2 years agoby @cupidFlag
Diaigma
I'll have to side with @cupid on this one.
If they gave Akira the Tintin treatment, then maybe . . .
2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
Shnoopbop
@cupid You're probably right. It's a movie I would LOVE to see done correctly, but this has been going down the wrong road for a long time. I really like the Hughes Brothers but I've got such mixed feelings about it
2 years agoby @shnoopbopFlag
CUPID
@shnoopbop Or maybe they shouldn't make it.
2 years agoby @cupidFlag
Shnoopbop
Excellent! (Air guitar) Maybe they can find some actors that are, oh I don't know, JAPANESE!!
2 years agoby @shnoopbopFlag
CUPID
Just dont make it.
2 years agoby @cupidFlag
Diaigma
Thank you, Cinema gods! :D
2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag