Cool News
Live-Action AKIRA moves forward... with the King Of The World? PLUS - Exclusive AICN - We Know who Tetsuo is!
Hey folks, Harry here - we had this story, the one about DiCaprio - about a week ago, but while Moriarty was playing with Toshi - we lost the exclusive. Dammit. However, now we have Tetsuo - which isn't as big a name as DiCaprio - but it's a damn fine name. Joseph Gordon Levitt... you know - from BRICK - the upcoming STOP LOSS and G.I. JOE! Joseph is a fine fine young actor - and I'm very much looking forward to watching him opposite Leo. Now - here's Quint with the original story...
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. I'm not the anime expert here, but you don't need to be an anime geek to know AKIRA or to get excited about seeing it live action.
I've noticed a trend here... first we had Tobey Maguire get a live-action ROBOTECH movie moving forward, attached to produce and star, and now his buddy Leonardo DiCaprio is doing the same for AKIRA. Some friendly competition maybe? Or maybe this is just the shit that greases their geek-wheels.
Ruairi Robinson, who did that awesome 3-D animated short film FIFTY PERCENT GREY, will make his feature debut directing the project, which was pitched as a two-part epic.
The Hollywood Reporter story doesn't mention DiCaprio doing anything other than producing via Appian Way banner, but I have it on good authority that he is also set to star as the lead, Kaneda.
Thoughts?
PS - If you haven't seen it, check out Robinson's 50% Grey below!
Readers Talkback
comments powered by Disqus-
+ Expand All
-
in 3....2....1...
-
AKIRAINO!!!
-
I was just about to post some a piece on this. Looks like Quint beat me to the punch by minutes. <br><br> The manga should provide a wealth of plot and action to draw from, but it should be interesting to see how the movie deals with revolutionary and nationalistic politics of the manga, as well as its political elements. <br><br> Dark Horse's 2000 translation of the manga can still be found online, but the license for the anime is held by Geneon USA, who no longer markets or distributes anime in North America. <br><br> Amusing note, that's Akira, a teenage girl from Capcom fighting game Rival School's on Hollywood Reporter's Akira article.
-
glad to see some top names getting behind geek projects...now somebody go out and make an X-O Manowar movie happen!!!!
-
I hope the movie makes more sense than the anime. And if they use the whole manga as source material, it could easily be a trilogy.
-
Whaaaaaat? Maybe he's just producing. With any luck, it'll be in 3D and Cameron will get roped into consulting.
-
"Amusing note, that's Akira, a teenage girl from Capcom fighting game Rival School's on Hollywood Reporter's Akira article." too funny
-
He wants to play the part of a Japanese teenager in a futuristic bike gang?
-
Ok, I don't want to be mean here. I am loving the fact that this is getting considered. I'd love to see it honestly. But, I am worried about DiCaprio as Kaneda. But at least I can say one good thing about that... at least he's not possibly playing Tetsuo...
-
Should be fun, although even a re-production with modern animation techniques would be stellar.
-
I'm just asking...
-
AICN's editor/reporter for anime and manga
-
Now!
-
isnt Kaneda a teenager? - DiCaprio has finally grown up enough to look like a "man"
-
the political aspects of the story would be very cool to see. But it's just hard for me to imagine epic manga/anime brought into live action. Has it ever been done successfully?
-
Classics should be left alone! This is a bad idea, does anyone honestly think Leo as Kaneda is a good idea?
-
I'm just saying, the first Blade was dripping with style, and it's a shame that LXG made Norrington retire early. There are some parts of Blade that feel like it could belong in Akira. The fast-moving car, the fluorescent eerieness of the city. I think this 50-percent Gray guy has some chops - I just hope the studios don't sideline him with a $40 million dollar budget and a 80-minute running time. They made Watchmen - anything's fuckin' possible. It's official.
-
Aside from the fact that Kaneda was a high school student, I'm excited?! 2 Parts? eeeehhh, boy I'm way nervous here.
-
Feb. 20, 2008, 8:11 p.m. CST
To be honest with the Avatar Update post and the King of the wor
by modlight
I thought you were going to say that Cameron was gonna do this.
-
Feb. 20, 2008, 8:13 p.m. CST
WELL QUINT, PENNSY I HATE TO SAY IT BUT....................
by Deus Vult
This reminds me of Paul Mooney's now very old quote on the chappelle show where he talks about "hollywood is crazy. they cast Brad Pitt as The Mexican and Tom Cruise as The Last Samurai...what's next, Tom Hanks as The Last Nigga on Earth?"<p>His words, not mine. <p>But they're SOOOOO pertinent here. I mean, come on guys, Leo as Kaneda, Tetsuo or even Akira himself? Gimme a fuggin break. This is easily one of the dumbest ideas in movie history, maybe as dumb as Cool World but since I haven't seen the film yet I can't say if it sucks as bad as Cool World, or Plan 9 From Outer Space, or Ishtar.<p>The reason I think this is dumb casting? EASY: EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE AKIRA UNIVERSE HAPPENS IN TOKYO TO JAPANESE TEENAGERS AND TWEENS. <p>and what is leo? a white guy, in his 30s, with ROUND eyes and lives in america. all of that adds up to one extremely foolish and ridiculous casting.<p>I'm so afraid to say it but does anyone disagree with me and if so why?<p>in the meantime while you type up your response I'm going to watch houston's own katie malloy shake her tits on american idol...
-
I thought the same, that James Cameron was going to direct/produce the movie. Leo´s too old to play anybody, but i can picture Teenage Leo playing Kaneda, driving around the kickass bike.
-
actually, he sucks!
-
they play the movie Titanic over and over again. FOREVER!
-
I know the question has been answered, but it's worth asking again...
-
for making me think Cameron was gonna direct a live-action AKIRA.
-
Thats all I remember from the movie. Half an hour of yelling that back and forth. And bikes.
-
or is this going to be set in New York instead of Japan? It could be good if done properly...
-
Remember the last time they moved a Japanese classic to Manhattan? We got Godzilla with Ferris Bueller and Diddy raping classic rock with the help of Jimmy Page... I really want an Akira film done right, and the fact Watchmen was even made gives me hope, but Leo as a 17 year old bike gang leader? No thanks. Leo just produce, maybe play another role. Cameo as the pill bar dealer or some shit... Find some kids, hell go to a juvy ward and find some decent actors in there if you must Americanize it. But so help me, if you have a damned 9-11 refrence in this film I'm callin you out sucka.
-
Jesus. Why can't somebody in Hollywood just write a goddamned original script? Or here's an idea. Make a movie that is SIMILAR to Akira but not called Akira. Then nobody cares what you changed. For example...ever wish they would make a new Buck Rogers? They did, it was called Farscape and it was a total BR ripoff but nobody cared because it wasn't called Buck Rogers. Make this movie...call it "After The Bomb" and set it in Seattle. Then nobody cares if the wrong clown dies on the freeway attack.
-
KANEDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
-
DeCaprio should play the Cop/mutant mentor if he does anything. Great he wants to get this made but you have to know when to take a back seat.
-
Feb. 20, 2008, 8:40 p.m. CST
Want some hardcore, real live Akira action? Somebody else is alr
by braindog
It's called Speed Tribes and based on the NYT bestseller. Imagine the motorcycle scenes in Akira but the whole movie...
-
i cant imagine that live action... the ending transformation will have to be cg... don't see what the point of this is..
-
Shortly after Transformer's I made a joke about Hollywood raiding the anime vaults next. I thought I was merely joking but it seems to have come true.
-
Feb. 20, 2008, 8:42 p.m. CST
Get Marky Mark to explain away Leo's f'd-up occidental accent.
by Christopher3
Simple.
-
how hollywood is always trying to handover high budget movies to wonder kids who make wonderful short films.50 percent grey is alright, but I think they should. . . and I bet they will get another director that can do the movie justice. This guy should have at least 3 or 4 full-lengths under his belt before hitting such a project. There have been so many AFI grads who's short films were the talk of the town, but when it came push to shove they could never deliver a good feature. just my 5 cents.
-
A live action USA/Japan production with mostly Japanese cast...maybe. A hollywood project...stop it now please. I mean seriously there are no lack of new ideas out there (or novels for that matter). Come on...Akira is not perfect by any means but it's a standard bearer for the genre....no, this is bad...
-
yes because the robot chick is hot as hell. I'm not gonna lie.
-
I so fucking sick of big movies being set in NYC. There are other cities in the country (let alone the world) that could make a better backdrop. I had always hoped to see the SF Bay Area be used for an American live-action version of "Akira". Broadway Tunnel in SF; pratically all of 3rd Street; the Bay Bridge could have been used for that famous scene with Tetsuo kills all of the protesters crossing on foot (No offense, but it reminds me of the '89 quake); the Caldecott Tunnel in Oakland; either UC Berkeley or Stanford could have been used for gov't labs; Cal's football stadium, the Coliseum in Oakland, or Candlestick Park could have been used for the Olympic Stadium.... I could go on, but why bother? Hell, I would live if Leo stole this idea from me and used in the movie as his own just so I don't have to see another summer blockbuster set in NYC!
-
Congrats, bro!
-
None of that fucking PG-13 pussy shit Hollywood keeps shoveling down our throats!
-
Kaneda and Tetsuo are angst-ridden teens. Their gang are a bunch of punk kids. A Kaneda any older than 17 will be wrong.
-
The SF Bay would be a PERFECT setting if they must Americanize it.
-
Though I revealed my abysmal lack of AICN anime knowledge with that question...
-
There are actually motorcycle gangs here. Tons of bikes all around the bay.. it's a biker paradise. Post-apocalyptic San Francisco? DO IT!
-
Hire an animation short director to do a live action version of an animated movie and How is Leonrdo gonna pull off the Asian look and black bowl cut hairstyle!?<P>KANEDA!!!<P>Watched this at college on magic mushrooms! Did not need the shrooms by the time everything started mutate into giant Blomonge Monsters and Hell knows what was going on anyway!?
-
But I agree with you that it should not be set in NYC. In fact, if the production has any balls it will feature an english-speaking Asian cast, set in Neo Tokyo. Film it wherever you can dress up the streets right, matte paintings and CG for everything else. Could be epic.
-
Production I.G, the force behind the various anime versions of GiTS is trying to make it happen. Via http://www.productionig.com/contents/news/2007/01/ig_represents_g.html "Pursuant to the agreement with Kodansha Ltd., Production I.G. Inc. will represent the author of the original work and the publisher in negotiations with major film companies for the production and distribution of the live-action Ghost in the Shell."
-
Could this work? POSSIBLY! But it would have to be done in a way that was respectful to the material and took advantage of the technology. <BR> <BR> Plus, no more grunting, huge Americans. NO THANKS!! <BR> <BR> http://tinyurl.com/23n3p3
-
1)Will it BE Americanized, with Leo as a gaijin Tetsuo in NYC/LA/SF? 2) If not, will Tokyo get destroyed in 1982... 1988... or 1992 for the film? 3)And will Danny Elfman going to replace the Geinoh Yamashirogumi soundtrack?
-
TO THE ANIME. It will never work.
-
It'll come to fruition about as much as the remake of "Forbidden Planet" did.
-
And while you're at it, Sam Jackson to play a Japanese teenager.
-
on cable, and came in 15 minutes late. It freaked me the fuck out. Little teddy bears marching on the night stand then big fucking teddy bears crashing through the walls!?!?!?!?<br> <br> So, you guys in the know... Just before he detonated, did Tetsuo phase out of reality and create new alternate universe by being a new big bang, and he's the God of that universe? or did he travel back in time and become the God of OUR universe?
-
This could really be the best possible solution to the problem of translating Akira to the big-screen, western style. Although I love the original, its got some serious pacing problems that could stand to be ironed out. Still amazing though... <BR> <BR> The summer of 2009 sounds white-hot! GOOD science fiction makign a comeback?? <BR> <BR> http://tinyurl.com/37oxj6
-
With Lee Young Ae (from Lady Vengeance) as Major Kusanagi.
-
In my own little fantasy world of possibilities... that Leo has finally sat down and watched 'Akira' for the first time recently and has decided to PRODUCE a live action remake. Not actually star in it. Unless he plays a bit part as one of the rebels Kaneda falls in with later in the film. That would be acceptable.
-
...I don't really get the point of an Americanised, live action Akira. Sounds fucking retarded actually. Don't know much about this director either, but I'll check out his short. But damn, good casting. DiCaprio and Levitt. Sounds like they're off to a flying start at least.
-
...Both actors are probally too old, maybe Levitt can get away with it, but DiCaprio has no chance. I guess they might just remove the school element. Just bike gangs.
-
Sounds risky. Hopefully there's a lot of reason to be confident that none of us know.<p>I don't have much emotional attachment to this remake, but I really hope they make the same powerful use of silence that the original anime version did. It's used to great effect throughout the film, nowhere more so than in the apocalyptic ending. No sound could be as expressive as the silence that pervaded that mind-blowingly epic sequence. So make everyone occidental if you like, but retain the spirit, okay?
-
Because, really, the manga has very little story wise in common with it. The fact they are basing it on the manga, and going for two films out of it shows they have some clue as to what they are doing with the property. As far as Maguire and Robotech goes, I think alot of the techie fans will disappointed to learn the film won't and can't contain anything related to Macross. Harmony Gold doesn't have the rights for any anime or films based on the series. You'll be getting a MOSPEADA (aka New Generation) movie, or whatever nonsense they have spun off of it.
-
i've always loved that short...one of my fonder shorts back in animation school.
-
Adam? Or are Americans just going to be going around with japanese names in the futurepast?
-
...Thats all you have to do to helm a hundred million dollar sci fi epic franchise starring one of the biggest actors in the world? Sweet.
-
Feb. 20, 2008, 10:03 p.m. CST
mamoru oshii... has anyone else seen his live action film Avalon
by seekshelter
the main character was very Majorish...
-
Live action Akira with a first-time director? What the fuck are you thinking? Even if James Cameron was attached to direct, I would still be skeptical. You are messing with a classic here hollywood. If this is true the world is about to end. Fuck!
-
What they really need to do is make a live action "Ninjs Scroll" film. That shit would rock balls! Have to say, JGL a great choice for Tetsuo.
-
And if I see it, chances are I won't like it. Some stuff just doesn't translate. I have faith Cameron can pull off Battle Angel, but Akira...leave that one alone fellas.
-
...Live action Urotsukidoji. All the way. Or a live action Kite/Mezzo Forte with any choice of current teenage starlet.
-
As long as they cast Scarlett Johannsen as Akemi. If so then tentacle porn ahoy!
-
I pretty much dislike anime. IMHO, it tends to be a lot of really amazing (or rather lousy) animation paired with stories of little substance or overblown, pretentious drivel. Anime's tendency to include some iffy voicework has always been an annoyance to me, too. However, I have found AKIRA, GHOST IN THE SHELL, and COWBOY BEBOP to be quite exceptional. (And I admit that I've only seen a few marquee-style animes over the years. enjoyed those three - but I really enjoyed those three.)<P>As for a live action AKIRA, I say - Good. Fucking. Luck. DiCaprio and Levitt are as good a casting choice as you can make, I guess. But a supposed first-time director taking on a project of this scope (which contains several elaborate metaphysical plots) does seem a bit risky.<P>I've become quite the fan of GHOST IN THE SHELL. I loved the first movie and really enjoyed the SAC-I (haven't seen SAC-II yet). It's a shame that movies like THE MATRIX have snagged so many ideas from GITS because I think the subject matter is primed for a live-action film. It's really heady stuff with great characterizations. Strangely enough, I think a lot of it would be very applicable to the world of today. So, if a live film does come to fruition, I would really like to see the material handled well.<P>Which brings me to my final point:<P>If they do bring GITS to the big screen, they better make sure they cast Motoko Kusanagi to a fucking T. Is there even an actress working today that is hot enough to play The Major?!<P>Ahem...I admit it. There is actually one cartoon character that I think is hot as balls...
-
He is perfect for tetsuo, nice casting.
-
at least it has better pacing than most of what Hollywood spits out nowadays. As for Leo, i like the man but he is too old for this part. Not that all of this is true anyway.
-
Don't know how the extra "enjoyed those three" got in there. Damn.
-
So Leo, the fella who is going to play Teddy Roosevelt, is also going to play a teenage boy? I mean, I don't mind them remaking the film, but something is not right.
-
...to make us forget about his forthcoming goddawful performance as Teddy Roosevelt for Uncle Marty. Bully! Seriously, here is an actor who has never heard a bad accent that he didn't enjoy chewing to pieces, be it Irish, South African, or New Yawkuh. So, with that in mind, I say set it New Tokyo and BRING ON LEO'S BAD JAPANESE ACCENT.
-
I may as well bend over and spread my perenium cos watching this will be like a gang ass rape. Fuck DiCaprio
-
Live-action Evangelion? <p> (Actually, I more agree with others who lament H-wood's inability to find an original idea with both hands & a shovel.)
-
I smell Oscar!
-
Yes, I agree that it would be silly to have a bunch of white American men pretending to be Japanese teenagers. However, if they were to change everyone's names, relocate the story to the USA, and tweak the story enough to make these changes matter, then I could see it working. If they can find a way to make this a remake of Akira without calling it "Akira", and without having Leonardo DiCaprio play a Japanese teenager named Kaneda, then I could see it working.
-
SOL!!!
-
Is there some weird, secret Hollywood contract that says that New York must be destroyed in at least three movies each summer? Also so lame and done to death would be setting it in SF (*cough*incredible hulk, core, etc...*cough*) or anywhere in America, for that matter. The story, if anyone even cares about it, is uniquely Japanese. I love how they're saying that it will be based on Otomo's books and do this in two parts, but if there's really any reverence to the source material, please don't give me a fricking "post-9/11" Akira.
-
What city will they substitute for Neo-Tokyo? What is the English equivalent for the name Akira? I think whatever the case, the fact that they're westernising this film is gonna be viewed a near heresy by the Akira purists. Hopefully they won't buggerise the story too much, and keep most or all of the existing musical score for it.
-
Tetsuoooooooooooooooo!!!! oooooooooooo!!! ooooooo!!! ooooooo!!!
-
I would rather have it be Japanese actors, but that's just me. But if I had to have caucasian American actors in it, these would be the two I would pick. Well played, WB. Plus this director's short film has me believing he can easily pull of the feel needed to make this movie awesome. Also it's taking its inpiration more from the manga than from the movie. Why are they not screwing this up yet?
-
Feb. 20, 2008, 10:53 p.m. CST
And I think after 300's success they WILL be going for an R rati
by polyh3dron
I hope so.
-
the manga is hands down the greatest graphic novel EVER. <p> the movie is cool, but otomo's work in the novel is truly epic and this is kind of sad to me. <p> being that this film version will probably be set in the states with american actors, i highly doubt it will have the same resonance and impact, especially in contrast to the ending presented in the books...and as mentioned above, dicaprio is much too old to play kaneda. part of kaneda's charisma is that he is young, naive and immature. <p> i can't say i'm surprised though...after hollywood tried to make evangelion (making such phenomenal decisions as renaming shenji "steve" and casting american actors), and then seeing kanye west blatantly rip akira off for his stronger video while never mentioning otomo anywhere, i knew this would probably be next. the U.S. is the king of raping foreign material and turning it into disposable trash.
-
Can't be adapted to be "uniquely American"?
-
And it was sort of clever...but why does everyone once again make Hell out to be a bad place to be? Seriously, that shit is getting pretty fucking old.
-
happy, and tremendously sad. This is a delicate, delicate, delicate project. I doubt it'll stay together through production...somehow, they'll make this story that is so perfectly fine-tuned and spelled out for them into crap anyhow, just you watch. I really really hope this isn't true, I want this to be amazing, I'm eager for this but I'm also very, very concerned, to the point that I have to wonder the necessity of this in the first place. I swear to god...
-
How crazy and odd would that be?
-
This is quite possibly the most retarded idea I've ever heard of in my entire life. I rarely post on here but Jesus H. Fuckin' Christ. I had to say something. The anime AKIRA is amongst my all time favorite films. I make an effort to watch it at least once a year. There is something inherently JAPANESE about AKIRA in general, and for me, that's what makes it click. I don't know...perhaps the title, "AKIRA" denotes this. The culture, the politics, the way the characters interact...it's Japanese to the bone, baby. And to Americanize this...to replace the primal fear of civilization on the brink of collapse with another 9/11 allegory...to discard an iconic deep-rooted pop culture character such as KANEDA and replace him with the cover boy of every fuckin' teeny-bopping magazine out is sacrilege.
-
I don't want to see Akira fucked up to suit the tastes of the general audience that made Meet the Spartans NUMBER FUCKING ONE for the week. It's just inherently wrong. It feels wrong, it feels slimy, I feel like it's the trustworthy uncle come to touch my giblets. It's wrong.
-
i'm sure it can be adapted, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to turn out good. <p> in the manga, much of the atmosphere at the halfway point is set by the rest of the world cutting their ties from Neo-Tokyo and not coming in to help after Takashi's death sets Akira off and destroys Tokyo for a second time...other world powers are literally just waiting for a time to come in and clean up and take over the country after the problem with Tetsuo is extinguished. <p> America (and I think the UN) eventually become interested in intercepting Tetsuo and has a naval carrier show up off shore. At this point, there is no Japanese military left. America, being the biggest super power, and not being able to stop Tetsuo shows how out of control the situation is. <p> Now, if the film takes place in the US, and the US military is wiped out halfway through, then who will be a believable superpower off shore trying to stop Tetsuo? <p> the filmmakers won't likely take that route, so the US military will remain as a presence throughout the film/films...which destroys the idea of having a country that is fucked, and other countries flying around like buzzards trying to claim it. The animated Akira did not utilize this element from the books, and I feel it suffered because of that, so the live action film will probably follow the same route. So that is the first reason this doesn't quite fit in the U.S. for me personally. <p> Also, Akira seems to be based around a fictional future that is sort of a commentary on the aftermath of Hiroshima. I think the filmmakers think Akira could work based in the states because of 9-11, but looking a little deeper, it would be more anti-military and pro uprising, which would be cool but i doubt they'll go for that...and that is one of the greatest things about the book...again something that was left out of the animated film. <p> at the end of the series of graphic novels, the representatives of the japanese military, along with the US and the UN try to move in to rebuild Tokyo. Kaneda and his posse show up, and tell them to get the fuck out of their country, and that their presence is not wanted there. they then create the "Great Tokyo Empire" in rememberance of Tetsuo, and take on the rest of the world who will no doubt try to take over the country. <p> I just don't see this working with the people of "Manhattan" isolating themselves from the rest of the United States. I guess they could try to make it work Escape from NY style, but my gut feeling is that they're going for more of an adaptation of the animated feature which is a much more inferior version...even though Otomo was adapting his own work. <p> I love the books so much that my immediate reaction is that to make such radical changes to the source material from the start just gets under my skin. i guess it could just be my bias taking over, but these are literally my number one favorite books and i'd hate to see a shitty film be remembered in history rather than Otomo's masterpiece that is already more than 25 years old. i guess the fact that they'd want to adapt it is a compliment, but it scares me.
-
What in the anime Akira (I'm not commenting on the manga, since I've never read it)that was uniquely Japanese could not be adapted to be uniquely American? Yes, the culture and language were obviously Japanese, since it was a Japanese movie. My question is, if it had NEVER been Japanese, and had ALWAYS been an American film, what about it wouldn't have been Japanese enough for you?
-
also makes an excellent point.
-
Thank you for specifics. Those were clearly explained points that I was able to understand, even having not read the manga. You have indeed provided strong evidence that an adaptation of the manga Akira could not be properly done if set in the USA. However, my point still stands as far as the anime goes. Most if not all of the things that you brought up were manga-specific, and had nothing to do with the anime, so I still don't see where people who have only seen the anime are coming from when they say that that couldn't be set in the USA.
-
"Yes, the culture and language were obviously Japanese, since it was a Japanese movie." <p> didn't you just answer your own question? of you course you could make it "uniquely american". kaneda could work at kfc and tetsuo could be crazy because he watched too much reality television. that doesn't make it good. akira is already amazing, and a lot of that, at least for us americans, is because it showed some of us an insight into the japanese culture and a hyper real version of Tokyo. <p> But to look at it from the other side of the argument, otomo was no doubt influenced by american culture, just as leoni was influenced by american culture when he made his spaghetti westerns...and kurosawa was influenced by american culture when making his great samurai epics. it isn't about culture. <p> the point is: sure, they could make a great film based on akira that could work for people who know nothing about akira without it being japanese in any way. what you're dealing with here are die hard akira fans who are scared that they are going to fuck something up that means so much to so many people, and is already a masterpiece to many fans. <p> fear is driving the haters of an american version of akira on this talkback, and i believe it to be 100% justified.
-
I can't wait for the Japanese to make a live-action version of Toy Story just to piss Americans off.
-
Get ready for something offensive!!
-
I dream of a day when the developmental aspect of Pixar announces they want to nake an R-rated Akira... i'm talking all 6 mangas condensed into 3 3-hour movies.<br><br>that would be a slice of hot sex. close to it, anyway...
-
I totally understand the concern about fucking up Akira. I love Akira too (the anime only...as I said, I've not read the manga). And yes, I think that the fears of fucking it up are entirely warranted, and I actually fear the same thing (that they're gonna fuck it up). But when I think of the ways that they could go wrong, the setting of the story is the LAST thing I'm worried about. It might be different with the manga, and based on your description about plot points in the manga, I truly do see the validity of yourconcerns with regards to comparisons to the manga. However, as far as the anime goes, I couldn't give a flying fuck where they set it. As far as I'm concerned, it would have to retain the same themes, same level of craftsmanship and directing, that sort of thing. That goes without saying. But if you were able to do this correctly, I don't see anything wrong with setting it in USA and having the protagonists being white guys. I don't know Japanese, I've never lived inJapan. I was able to relate to the Akira anime DESPITE not knowing about the culture, and that's what I expect from the "remake". The remake should be strong enough that people pretty much ANYWHERE can relate to it without having lived in the USA, because that's precisely the same level that the anime worked. I guarantee you that most people who love Akira are fairly ignorant about Japan. But it works because it transcends its setting.
-
Massawyrm's review of X-Men: The Last Stand contained a rather interesting idea regarding the various cinematic adaptative deviations of current comic book movies: In order for it to "connect" and be effective with it's target audience, it must leave the characterizations and themes intact" Which I completely agree with wholeheartedly. Apparently they are not going this route with the story. Whereas Bernard mentioned that the anime was a metaphor for the effects and aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing...that isn't too relevant in the US of A. Changing the setting from a ravaged Tokyo to a (I assume) post-apocalyptic dystopian America and replacing Asian teenagers with adult actors practically renders this project unrecognizable. Hell, they won't even be able to call this film AKIRA without somehow convoluting the story. I mean, come on. Do you see anybody with the moniker AKIRA walking around in the US? I know I sure as hell don't. Narratively, the drastic "tweaks" to this project will undermine and ultimately destroy it. This isn't AKIRA, folks. This is a vain attempt to cash in the cow.
-
well put, and i agree that akira transcends its audience and people of any country/race/etc can identify with it...but i'm not so sure it can work in any setting. <p> if they're not going to do it in tokyo (which kills me to even type considering neo-tokyo sounds so damn cool), then i think the best bet would be to set it in a fictional city or a hyper real version of an existing city rather than just call it manhattan or something. but neo-new york, neo-manhattan, and neo-san francisco just sound lame.
-
that is a very interesting point about adaptations from comics to the screen. <p> i don't understand why comic book films have to be so grounded in reality these days, and that is one of the reasons i don't care much for the x-men films. <p> sure, they may be heavily based in logic and science, but to me they are flat out boring. why do filmmakers get so wrapped up in logic rather than entertainment? why can't comic book films just be balls-out entertainment? <p> for me, growing up with the x-men comics, i always dreamed of film versions of the stories that would be very absurd and colorful. i had hopes that the x-men would be a band of misfits hiding in the Australian outback using that aborigine guy to travel to mojo land. <p> but instead we get magneto being pissy about the holocaust and hours and hours of melodrama. and the x-men were always about really fucked up mutants of all sizes. i was hoping to see the gamut of characters range in size from 3 feet to tall to juggernaut being 3 stories tall...and characters like beast and sabretooth actually looking reminiscent of animals, but instead we end up with normal looking actors of normal stature who at most get some blue makeup slapped on their skin. <p> hopefully comic book adaptations in the future will get a little crazier and we'll see some really great and more importantly, WEIRD films.
-
but um, I was playing with Toshiba or something...
-
Seriously...could it be possible for them to pick a city as bland as New York? Manhattan is hardly as visually arresting as Tokyo. Every goddamned American disaster film just has to be set in New York. How many films alone have featured a dystopian/ruined New York? I AM LEGEND, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, INDEPENDENCE DAY, GODZILLA, CLOVERFIELD, THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, ETC. Watching the Big Apple go up in flames is a bit redundant. It happens so often in cinema that it has become numbing. At least they could've set the film in Las Vegas. BRIGHT NEON LIGHTS=POETIC BEAUTY IN THE FACE OF DESTRUCTION. I'm just saying.
-
I have to agree with the poster who said, why not just make a movie similar to Akira and call it something different? A fat faced white man should not be playing a rebelious teen street biker.
-
i wonder what zelda rubinstein is up to these days...she would've been perfect for an american version of lady miyako back in the day. <p> and i know this sounds weird, but i think big boi from outkast might make a pretty good joker from the clown gang.
-
Not really, but you'd think so with how many times they've tried to destroy New York. Christ, give it a rest. I'm surprised they haven't started Rampage!: The Movie yet.
-
totally wrong choices in every way.
-
Is to bring Shinya Tsukamoto over and let him exorcize his "Tetsuo III" demon dreams. We'd get practical effects, too. I like Leavitt - he's definitely gone some gutsy places nobody could have ever predicted based on Angels in the Outfield, so there you go. Tsukamoto and Angels in the Outfield in the same post. Now that's a remake!
-
Feb. 21, 2008, 2:40 a.m. CST
I have actually imagined a live action Akira in my head for a lo
by Gwai Lo
Well, specifically, the bike fight sequences. All I'm going to suggest is that they should put Tadanobu Asano somewhere in this movie.
-
That's all. You say "Fuck Michael Bay" all you want, but at least he comes out with a film every few years. And some may suck and some may be good popcorn entertainment. James Cameron has done some brilliant films. T's 1 and 2, ALIENS... and a really good film in TRUE LIES. And I know it's cool to say that TITANIC sucked. You know why it's cool to say that? BECAUSE IT DID. IT SUCKED ASS. And that was 10 years ago. He's either gotten worse or better. And he's despicable as a human being too. I've never seen someone chase so much co-star ass.
-
...I'm not sure. They would be best following the manga and not trying to ape the original film.
-
I'm not remotely interested in a Hollywood bastardization of this seminal Manga series, the whole look, ethos and feel of Otomo's work is rooted in Japanese culture. Supplant Kaneda with some generic U.S actor and the battle's lost IMO.
-
the best idea I've heard connected to this was at the top where someone suggested San Fransisco. <P>If they must do this, and I really hope it gets stranded in development hell then they need to write some sort of EFNY-esque backstory where after WW3 the union dissolved and Akira takes place in the Country of California. <P>And not call it Akira.
-
And I used to watch 3rd Rock. At least we have the first film.
-
Feb. 21, 2008, 4:01 a.m. CST
Leave well the fuck alone: Akira is a masterpiece that needs to
by wowsah156
No way. DiCaprio will just ruin this. Akira cannot be translated to live action due to so many issues. Leave well alone.
-
I just don't get the choice of director. Ruari Robinson obviously knows a thing or two about c.g. cinematography. But nothing I've seen from him makes me think he can articulate the dramatic elements. Could it be that he's ONLY directing the visual elements?
-
I have no problem with a live action AKIRA, but I have a BIG problem with them trying to westernize it. Neo-Tokyo is in Japan, not the US. The characters are all Japanese, not American or European. To change this stuff is really to change the entire context of the original film and manga, and therefore, wrong. Keep it Japanese, or don't do it at all.
-
Oh god no. No, no, no, no, no, a thousand times NO.
-
Robinson is a badass. I've known him for a while, and while he has remained mute about this "future project" as he called it, I have the utmost faith in him. <p>The man has great style, and is a visually-enhancing powerhouse. Just watch any of his shorts and you'll see that he's got "an eye" for great shooting. Hell, he was nominated for an Oscar for Christ's sake. He must be doing something right.</P> <p>I know the nerds and the fan boys will give him shit, and say that Akira shouldn't be made, but don't. Stop and think about that fact that he is just the man, a cog in a bigger machine, doing the job he's been given. He won't let any of us down, and when it comes to his execution, I have no doubt that with a great script, he'll deliver a phenomenal product.</p>
-
They got old, and I realized a live action movie would probably suck balls compared to the animated movie. JGL isn't a bad choice for Tetsuo--although that makes me sad that Heath Ledger cannot play Kaneda as that'd have been cool. Either way, it is still fan dreaming that makes it even remotely possibly good. More than likely it'll be nothing like the source material. Unless they got the other King of the World to direct this. He brings his Aliens/Abyss mojo and it'd be great.
-
They took a massive destruction epic movie rooted deeply in Japanese post-war mentality and transplanted it to the U.S., it was Roland Emmerich's Godzilla.
-
After all, he voiced Jim in "Treasure Planet", which was Disney's attempt at an anime, following the suit of "Turn-A Gundam" where it's a far flung future that embraces the past.
-
http://www.ruairirobinson.com/ There's some good stuff in there, especially the short The Silent City.
-
This must be a joke.<p>A bad one.
-
All of the visual FX and CGI were done by Ruairi himself. Watch the SFX featurette, it's cool.
-
I had the best ideas for this movie. I was hoping that no one would make this movie until I got into the business and did it justice. Yet I'm sure thats how all us AKIRA fans feel. I agree with everyone talking about how bad it is to have Americans in Japanese roles. This movie should totally be done through the Hong Kong film industry. Get Andy Lau to make it. This is gonna be a A RAPING!! I still have my original version dvd of Akira forever... I'm golden.
-
Do we agree that this is a vanity project for Di Caprio? It just seems so hilarious. I wonder if in some ways he'll be "directing" the film and that's why they got a newbie to boss around???
-
Give Chris Cunningham a call, cuz he needs to direct this movie.
-
But they should cast a lot younger, get small skinny teenagers. The british kid from "Spiderwick" and "Willy Wonka" would be perfect...
-
Quite frankly it would be surprising if even one character is Asian at all. They should definitely change the names of the characters just because it would be a little odd to have a bunch of Americans with Japanese names. So Tetsuo will probably turn into Thomas or something like that. Too bad, Tetsuo sounds so good when it's screamed. We could still get something with the same theme, though. Context doesn't necessarily dictate theme, we just have to come to an American understanding of it. Also as much a fan as I am of DiCaprio, gets better every year, he's too old to play a teenager. He still looks young but more like he can still play like he's in his twenties. Also, there might be one character who could be Japanese, Akira.
-
Feb. 21, 2008, 1:57 p.m. CST
I knew animes were going to be the next hot commodities
by tbransonlives
Which one is next? My money is on Cowboy Bebop.
-
Never watched it...because I'm an adult. <p>Only time I watch cartoons is with my kids. I have never understood why grown ass men and women want to watch foreign, dubbed cartoons? I think it's good that they're doing them in Live action, so those with a grip on adulthood may finally see them! LOL</p> <p>RuRob for President! Just from talking to him about other movies and his inspirations, prior to ever even getting this assignment, it's going to be epic.</p>
-
Thanks to Bernard and SpiceWonBruce above for trying to explain why Akira is "uniquely Japanese." <Br> <Br> Why can't the suits just accept that Akira is a Japanese tale, not an American one? Why can't Hollywood produce a film with a mostly Japanese cast? Does Hollywood still have something against Japan? Or do they think that their audience doesn't like seeing Asians in movies? Bullsh*t!!! I recall a recent, pretty well-received movie with an nearly all-Japanese cast by some guy named Clint Eastwood. Ever hear of him? And, it got a lot more attention than the much-hyped companion film with the American cast. <Br> <Br> This is such bad news. Next, you're going to tell me that Ridley Scott is directing the "uniquely American" Cormac McCarthy novel "Blood Meridian." What's that? ...Fuck.
-
Akira no good. Yaay!
-
...You are such a suit. Oh, and all grown up, too. We're so proud of you.
-
Why flame? I was just stating a point. The only reason there IS anime in the first place was because of the Japanese sensoriship would allow violence only in animated form for the LONGEST time. It should have been in Live Action anyway. Get over it, and push away from that kiddy table for a while. And yes...I am a suit.
-
jesus fucking christ. quoted from another media source. "Leonardo DiCaprio and his Appian Way company will produce the new version which moves the action to "New Manhattan," a city rebuilt by Japanese money after being destroyed 31 years earlier." You people need to learn to read before posting... On another note this could well turn out to be a great movie as long as they keep to the original manga theme.
-
Feb. 21, 2008, 3:42 p.m. CST
If Its In the U.S. and Features U.S. Actors Then Its Not AKIRA
by LaserPants
If its delusional to want the live action version bare some semblance of a relationship to the original film, then I guess I'm delusional. I mean, if they're gonna change it that much, they might as well just rip off the basic story and call it something different. Kind of like how THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN was ripped off of SEVEN SAMURAI and FISFUL OF DOLLARS was ripped off of YOJIMBO.
-
But since someone else is, here's what you must do:<br>1.Adapt the manga, the whole manga, like 2 boks per movie for a trilogy, or maybe even 3 boks for two films can be feasible...<br>2. This film must be set in Neo-TOkyo with an asian cast! You don't have to fly to Tokyo to flm, since it's the future you can shoot this with sets and green screens in Hollywood, but it MUST be fucking Tokyo, and the names Kaneda, Tetsuo and Akira must not be bastardized!<br>3. Don't be cheap on the effects budget! I want to see flying buildings and destruction everywhere! Killer satellites every damn thing from the destruction of the moon right down to the light trails on the Motorcycles!<br>4. IMAX 3D kthanxbye
-
Yes, you can certainly tell, one who typically likes to insult and belittle his audience. Where exactly do you get off coming to this site, of all boards, to suggest that "grown ass" men and women are immature for their appreciation of anime, which you clearly choose to know nothing about.
-
It will take place in America because the film will be made by an American Studio, with American studio, and will be marketed to an American audience. Marketing is a huge determining factor in Hollywood. Look at "21." In the real story almost everyone was of Asian descent, in the movie there's only that Asian kid from Disturbia as far as I can tell. Why? Because American studios habitually underestimate what your average consumer is willing to accept. So everyone please stop implying that American audiences, especially in the Midwest and South, are dimbulbs. They're not the ones making this movie, they will be the ones paying to see it because there's going to be something appealing in the trailer. And if it turns out to be good and tanks will you still be calling them stupid for not appreciating quality when they see it? Just do everyone a favor and knock it off with the condescening bullshit, please. Chances are you're not as smart as you think you are. No one is. If I were in charge of greenlighting this I would probably have some reservations. It's a tough sell at best and an easy disaster. Some stories might be best left to the mediums they were originally conceived in. Kind of like the Golden Compass, good book, absolutley baffling movie.
-
Asian actors, anyone? C'mon! I feel that as an American production, this will be totally bastardized and made into a mockery of the original. PASS!!!
-
It feels very Anime anyway, but it's American! And then you won't have to hear the endless bitching from purist anime fans on Talkback! Or is that considered part of the fun of making a movie like this? Round up the side show of talkbackers and it sit back with yer popcorn?
-
Just psychic teens with telekinetic powers, a gigantic amoeba mutant, and a final cosmic rebirth enlightenment. Oh, and bad ass motorcycles and ultraviolence, natch. OH, and an unbelievably cool percussive soundtrack with atonality, bizarre buddhist-y / shinto-y chants, and chimes. God, I really hope they don't want this westernized. Its all wrong to do so. <br><br> Of course, pretty much every movie should feature Giant Robots, but Akira is one of the few that doesn't even need them, whilst also being set in a universe where they could very well coexist.
-
You think that wouldn't cause bitching?
-
If they're going to make a movie about white kids in the USA, they should just name it something different while acknowledging the source material. I think I'd be much more willing to see a good sci-fi that doesn't try to be what it's not. Given that Akira is the name of a kid in the original, the US version might as well be called "Chad".
-
Theres your title and tagline for the US version.
-
Its just too bad that Japan does not have the ability to make big-budget live action films... because at least we could have seen this film done the right way. I dont know how Leo obtained the rights from Otomo for this movie, but he must have greased his palm very well. A live action Akira has been rumored for at least the last decade now, if not longer. As an american made movie I think its a bad move. I'm not saying I wouldent check it out, but I'm not a huge fan of the concept either.
-
Even with an all white American cast, only Akira himself needs to be Japanese and we don't really see him until halfway through the manga and he rarely speaks... So if anything I guarantee that Akira himself will be Asian because even Hollywood can agree on retaining that role. It poses no problem... but still, it's not enough to appease me... the sad thing is I'd still watch it...
-
They already made a live action Ghost in the shell. It´s called The Matrix. It has so many changes to it it wasn´t worth calling it that. The same will happen with this.
-
Travesty I tell you. If it's live action it NEEDS to be a Japanese cast.
-
Otherwise what is the point? This is bullshit!
-
I'd bet a dollar that this project will get rave reviews by Rolling Stone and USA Today, but 2 months later everyone will agree it's shit.
-
Cause their is no way a mega big budget movie will have the same level of complication and violence that's in the original.
-
GAAASSsshhhhaa!
-
Feb. 21, 2008, 8:33 p.m. CST
Tetsuo can kick the u.s. navy's ass for a long time
by tenfingersofdoom
-
Feb. 21, 2008, 9:42 p.m. CST
Why would his name be Tetsuo if he's played by a white guy?
by kirttrik
-
Otomo is executive producing the movie, i dont know if that is good or if he is selling out on his vision if it takes place in new manhattan.
-
David Cronenberg should be at the helm. Old school Croney has his name written all over it. Fuck this first-timing Robinson twerp and fuck producer Leonardo DiCocksucker. AKIRA'S too epic and ambitious for an unestablished auteur to tackle.
-
Is inspired casting.
-
Sounds like they need David Heyman as producer. He got it right with a non American cast for Harry Potter, even with all the flack that surrounded his decision.
-
First off, this is when i'll be graduating high school, so i'm already looking forward to this year, not to mention looking forward to seeing a live action Akira on the big screen. Everyones talking about DeCaprio playing as Kaneda, well first off, thats only a rumor, right now he is only listed as a producer so everyone can calm the fuck down. The only person casted right now is Joseph Gordon Levitt (kid from 3rd rock from the sun) he's like 20 somthing now, but he can pull it off. Personally i think Leo would be perfect for the part of Kaneda if he was younger, as long as he read the manga thoughroly. And thats another thing, the movie isnt based off the anime, it's based off the MANGA, so for all the people who havent read the manga, you better do it before this movie comes out. The books are WAY different than the movie. I own the movie on DVD and i own all 6 volumes of the Manga, and i'll tell you the books are so much better. As for the director...hmm, well when i heard the movie was going to be split into two i was excited...sounded like some one had done their research and figured Akira was two big of a story to fit into a 2hour time frame. But whe i heard about this guy on here, and his...50% grey thing, i was kinda wondering if this guy was the right person for director. But of course, you can't really tell someones live action directing skills from a short 3-d animation clip. So best of luck to this guy, cuz hes gonna piss so many people off if he fucks this up. Last but not least the setting. I really wish everyone would stop whining about the Manhatten setting of the film. BOO-HOO. Its Americas equivelint to Tokyo. Be thankful they're not having an american cast in tokyo with all the other people being asian. it looks really fuckin bad. And as for the CA setting...don't even mention it...please....i love LA and all those places but thats definatly not the place to shoot this. One little thing i've been thinking of is who would play Akira??? personally i think David Dorfman, the little kid from the ring would be perfect if he dyed his hair black. He's a really good actor for his age. But now that i think of it he's going to be in that movie with Owen Wilson, and he looks alot older now, so nevermind..lol
-
I think i read that Otomo is overseeing the films production so i would't worry too much if the creator of the entire Akira project is on board with this idea.
Top Talkbacks
- That rumor about Sony selling SPIDER-MAN? Don't you believe it for a second! -- 382 total posts 206 posts
- Papa Vinyard thinks that HANGOVER: PART III was a paycheck grab for a buncha people who are already rich!! -- 161 total posts 161 posts
- Holy Crossover!! Magneto’s Boy Quicksilver To Be In Whedon’s AVENGERS 2 And Singer’s X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST?? -- 117 total posts 117 posts
- The METALLICA THROUGH THE NEVER Teaser! -- 179 total posts 113 posts
- New MAN OF STEEL trailer makes me happy that Superman has severe red eye!!! -- 778 total posts 106 posts
- Next on the Reboot assemblyline? TIMECOP!! -- 138 total posts 94 posts
- Sandler, Piss, Barf, And Hayek Grace The New GROWN UPS 2 Trailer!! -- 76 total posts 76 posts
- Seems Coppola Is Gearing Up For A New Italian-American Epic!? -- 64 total posts 64 posts
- We have some new details on the POLTERGEIST remake/reboot/sequel!! -- 204 total posts 54 posts
- Green-Band and Red-Band trailers for the new Jason Sudeikis & Jennifer Aniston VACATION ripoff, WE'RE THE MILLERS are here!! -- 52 total posts 52 posts