Akira, the utterly incomprehensible manga/anime that’s apparently the pinnacle of Japanese culture post-Godzilla but pre-loli, is becoming an honest to goodness franchise for Warner Bros. The studio, which had previously announced a live action adaptation of the story, has said that they’re going to do two movies, with each encompassing three books of the six book manga.
The movies are still being directed by newbie Ruairi Robinson, who has helmed short films and commercials, and with a script by Gary Whitta, who has the unproduced screenplay The Book of Eli under his belt (the Hughes Brothers are supposedly getting some conjugal visits in director jail in order to make the film). Two major tentpole films with totally untested folks leading the creative charge? I have to imagine that producer Andrew Lazar will have to be very hands on with this one. Was he as hands on with previous films Death to Smoochy and Assassins?
The two films, which are being billed as City of God meets Blade Runner (set in New Manhattan, not New Tokyo, by the way), have to get underway soon; Warner Bros is eyeing a 2009 release date for the first movie.
22 comments
Bitchin'…
Okay, that was your funniest article headline yet, Devin. Made me spit out my tea.
OK, fuck you too Devin. What's so incomprehensible about a basic James Dean easy rider biker gang against the dark forces of the government aided by supernatural/new-age beings? The incomprehensible parts aren't even necessary for the story to work. Its like blade runner, you can take the private dick hunting down skinjobs story or you can take the lucifer descending into heaven story but it doesn't detract from the greatness of the film.
Fuck the fan boys. Devin's correct and thank God someone will finally say out loud that this overrated mess makes no sense what so ever.
"utterly incomprehensible"? Come on. Don't tell it was too much for the average american boy!
Honestly, the comment about the Hughes brothers makes me more excited than anything else in this article. Despite "From Hell," I've been looking to see them come back for a while.
New Manhattan? Fuck the Warners.
Rad. Say what you will about the story, the source material has some great visual moments and I hope they don't fuck it up. That, and the writer is a fellow Neogaffer. Believe.
Hmmm… Could be either really good, or really bad, but somehow i don't think it'll be anywhere in between. The comic is actually pretty damn good, Devin. It's only incomprehensible if you don't stick it out to the midway point where things are actually being explained. The anime movie's really only a companion piece/chopped up re-telling that's admittedly confusing if you haven't read the comics first. (and underwhelming but pretty if you have.)
Why not just make three movies for a trilogy? Or six movies for each book? Or how about 20 movies? Are they really that confident in Akira, or will we see one movie that ends halfway through the story, and then never see another movie when Akira (renamed "Bob" for American audiences) doesn't make as much as they want it to? Although, I do get the feeling if they call it Akira, it would probably make enough to justify the sequel.
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! And yes, it better be RATED R!!! None of that fucking PG-13 pussy shit Hollywood keeps shoveling down our throats! AND NO MICHAEL BAY!!! I don't hate him, I just think of movie of this caliber shouldn't be treated like Michael Bay does action films.
this pisses me off, as i always wanted to make this adaptation… bah.
New Manhattan you say? Hmm I bet you can drive around easier…and money on the names being like Theo for Tetsuo and Kane for Kaneda. And Yamagata will be Steve.
Nothing will change the original. I will see it, but they're not going to erase the comic nor the movie, so I just feel curious.
To make it's money back, you know this shit will be PG 13, and that means none of the gore and violence of the comic books. Plus, instead of an innovative soundtrack like the cartoon, it will have High School Date Rape Rock. And yeah, I said "cartoon" and "comic book" you arrested-development suckholes. Sorry. I'm sorry. I'm just bitter no one is buying my "Girl from Monday" DVDs.
Are all "Akira" fans dorks ?
You didn't read the comic did you? It's very straightforward and easy to understand. The movie is a great hodge-podge of manga cameo's but the comic is incredible.
Yes. Yes, they are.
Devin, you really should start cutting these "untested folks" some slack. You've made a bizarre habit out of skewering these people lately. Yes, it might be a dangerous risk to take, but this is probably the most risk-free movie climate we've ever lived in. Please don't contribute to a mindset that already thrives on statistics and charts.
AICN also mentioned that Leonardo DiCaprio (besides producing) looks likely to take on the role of Kaneda. While Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been cast as Tetsuo.
Great, this will sit up there with Evangelion and Battle Angel Alita as great animes that were being made into films, yet somehow manage to die just as they start.
Oh, and not to be a purist fanboy, but what's wrong with keeping it based in tokyo? Do they really think that it will hold the movie back if it's set in Japan? I wonder if the (big) movie industry will ever move out of this obsession with americanism.
yeah, i'm having a whinge, give me a break, its early and I haven't had my coffee yet.
i just want to see the bike.
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