Live Action Akira Debuting as Early as 2011

It’s been over twenty years since the immensely popular anime “Akira” captivated the world, creating a strong cult following to this day. Though fans have been content with just re-watching the original over an over and reading the manga series that started it all, talk of a live action movie sent fans into a frenzy. With Warner Bros. helming the movie and Leonardo Dicaprio rumored to star in and produce the film, anime forums began buzzing with debate. However, originally rumored for a summer 09 release, months went by without one more word uttered on the project leading many to believe the Akira project dead in the water (or at least kept in an underground cryonic chamber). Those worries were put to rest when writers Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (Children of Men, Iron Man) were confirmed to be working very diligently on getting the script just right. If the script is accepted then production could start in 2010, with a release date of 2011. This is great news for Akira fans to know that an anime of such caliber is being worked on patiently and not rushed for quick profits.

Though, with much of the Akira movie still being shrouded in a cloak of mystery, fans cannot help but speculate on what to expect. Will Leonardo DiCaprio actually have a role? Will Tetsuo’s famous fight with the milk crying teddy bear remain intact? Will Kaneda be Japanese unlike the Dragonball live action??

This is what we do know about the movie:
1) Kaneda’s famous bike is in it
2) It’s set in a post-apocalyptic Manhattan
3) It will be awesome.. or so we hope!

I will continue to provide updates on the status of this blockbuster as I get it. In the meantime, pop in the Akira DVD and fantasize about what life will be like after the live action release!

via: JK
source: collider