The latest update on Taika Waititi’s live-action Akira movie has brought disappointing news, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter (THR). This development has left many fans of the iconic manga and anime adaptation disheartened, as the hopes for a highly anticipated film have now been dashed.
Latest Developments on the Live-Action Akira Film
Recent insights from THR indicate that the live-action adaptation of Akira at Warner Bros. Discovery is officially canceled. The film studio has reportedly relinquished the movie rights, returning them to Kodansha, the original publisher of Katsuhiro Otomo’s groundbreaking manga, which first hit the shelves in 1982. This shift marks a significant turning point in the long and tumultuous journey of adapting the beloved story.
Furthermore, THR notes that various producers and creative talents have already begun expressing interest in the Akira property, eager to pitch their own visions for the project’s future. Unfortunately, for Waititi’s long-gestating adaptation, this recent news suggests that any chances of the film moving forward are now virtually extinguished.
The road to developing a movie based on Akira has been fraught with complications and setbacks. Warner Bros. acquired the rights to the immensely popular manga back in 2002, initially bringing on Stephen Norrington, known for his work on Blade, as the director. What followed was nearly two decades of what THR describes as “development hell,” with numerous writers and directors—including Garry Whitta, Mark Fergus, Hawk Otsby, and Steve Kloves—attached to the project at various points.
In 2017, Taika Waititi was announced as both the writer and director for the adaptation of the manga. At one stage, this project even secured a release date for 2021 and entered the casting phase, according to reports from THR. However, due to Waititi’s commitments to other projects, he ultimately did not recommit to the Akira film, leaving fans in a state of uncertainty.
Originally published in 1982, Akira unfolds in a post-apocalyptic, futuristic version of Neo-Tokyo, following the story of Shotaro Kaneda, a rebellious gang leader, alongside the militant revolutionary Kei and other pivotal characters. The manga gained further acclaim with its animated film adaptation in 1988, which is often celebrated as one of the greatest films in cinematic history. This animated version significantly contributed to the global popularity of anime, although it notably diverges from the original source material.
(Source: The Hollywood Reporter)
