Thor: Ragnarok’s Taika Waititi in negotiations to helm the Akira adaptation
Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi is reportedly in negotiations to direct Akira, the Warner Bros. live-action adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo’s anime, according to Deadline. Akira consists of six volumes and there are reportedly gong to be two films, each based on three volumes. There was a Japanese animated film based on Akira back in 1988, directed by Otomo.
Recently, Get Out‘s Jordan Peele was attached to helm Akira. Back in 2015, Marco J. Ramirez, writer and co-showrunner of Marvel’s Daredevil Season 2, was attached to pen the script. Daniel Espinosa (Life) and David F. Sandberg (Lights Out) were in the running to direct as well.
The movie adaptation has carried this synopsis for years: 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.
Andrew Lazar (American Sniper) and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way are producing the film, for which the studio acquired the rights back in 2008. It’s had plenty of talent attached before. The closest it came to being made was in 2012, when Jaume Collet-Serra was to direct Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Ken Watanabe and Helena Bonham Carter.
In addition to the upcoming Thor: Ragnorok, Waititi is set to direct the upcoming WWII film Jojo Rabbit, which he also wrote. He’s also known for his work on the films What We Do in the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
What do you guys think of the choice of Taika Waitit to direct the live-action version of Akira? Who should be cast in the film? Let us know in the comments or at @SuperHeroHype.
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