Akira to get the Hollywood treatment
SnapshotsPosted by tim maughan 05 Mar, 2008 13:11:38
According to an article in Variety, it looks as though the long rumoured live action remake of Katsuhiro Otomo's classic 'Akira' may finally be moving into production.
A joint production between Warner Brothers and Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way company, will also feature Otomo himself as executive producer. Perhaps most interestingly, the adaptation will apparently take the form of two movies, based directly uponOtomo's original six-book manga rather than being a direct remake of the 1988 animated film.
However, the news has also caused a great deal of concern amongst the original's legions of international fans. For a start, the (perhaps unsurprising) decision to relocate the story from Japan to the USA has caused upset - instead of being set in 'Neo Tokyo' the action will now take place in 'Neo Manhattan'. Similarly, internet rumours that DiCaprio himself plans to play main protagonist Kaneda have stirred up controversy amongst the fan base, especially as the actor would appear to be too old for the teenage role.
The 1988 movie has a passionate following outside Japan, as it is fondly remembered by many anime fans as their first, intoxicating introduction to the art form and genre. It certainly opened up the market for anime and manga in the West, with it's adult content and immaculate production contrasting starkly with the reputation for low budgets and childish plots that 'Saturday morning' Japanese animation had unfairly gained with Western TV viewers.
For more information, see the comprehensive Akira page at Wikipedia.
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