Sci-Fi WB creating live-action Akira - Part 1

[Blitzkrieg]

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

That's ominous. Could the next bit of news be Waititi dropping out?

 

[Blitzkrieg]

WB and Di Caprio's production shingle had to rush the pre-production because they were given a deadline to meet the tax incentives of the state. They better figure out a way to get this thing back on track within the next couple of weeks otherwise we are looking at an indefinite delay.

 

[I Am The Knight]

Damn. Not that I particularly cared about this film getting made...

 

[Pennywise]

 

[terry78]

That's why the rumor mill is just that.

 

[Pennywise]

Have no idea who this guy is.

 

[Still Wynning]

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Have no idea who this guy is.

He used to run Variety's awards podcast. He recently stepped down. He is legit with lots of contacts and insider infos.

 

[TheVileOne]

Atlanta is in *ahem* Georgia. Just saying

 

[Pennywise]

It’s weird as as a few weeks ago, it was reported to begin production in LA. Could the shooting location have changed over that time.

 

[TheVileOne]

It’s weird as as a few weeks ago, it was reported to begin production in LA. Could the shooting location have changed over that time.

In a state where Hollywood studios, production companies, actors and filmmakers have been threatening to boycott and proclaiming they will never shoot.

 

[The Endless]

Yea there could be something to that.

 

[HammerDown]

Feature Films: Warner Bros. 'Box 28' | Backstage

Jun (Lead): Male, 18-24

Male, to play Japanese, English speaking. Must be legal 18-20's to play 18: Sharp-eyed, sinewy, tough, handsome, cool. He is the leader of a street gang of teenagers & knows how to have a good time. JUN should not be too cool or too tough. He's a scrappy, ragtag kid who's not worried about anything. Your weird, natural authentic self is encouraged! LEAD.

Ethnicity: Asian

KOICHI (Lead): Male, 18-24

Male, to play Japanese, English speaking. Must be legal 18-20's to play 17: Constantly forced to punch up in order to survive. He's fearless to the point of recklessness. He is haunted by the loss of a loved one. LEAD.

Ethnicity: Asian

MISA (Lead): Female, 18-30

Female, to play Japanese, English speaking. Must be legal 18-30: Beautiful, intelligent, strong-willed. She is a member of an anti-government organization trying to save her city. LEAD.

Ethnicity: Asian

REINA (Supporting): Female, 18-24

Female, to play Asian, English speaking (Japanese a plus). Must be legal 18-20's to play 17: Gentle, kind, cute, compassionate. She is a member of a biker gang & cares deeply for Koichi. SUPPORTING LEAD.

Ethnicity: Asian

TAKAMATSU (Supporting): Male, 18-24

Male, to play Asian, English speaking (Japanese a plus). Must be legal 18-20's to play 18: Large, tough, loyal, short-fused. A member of Jun's gang & a close friend. SUPPORTING LEAD.

Ethnicity: Asian

YUKI (Supporting): Male, 18-24

Male, to play Asian, English speaking (Japanese a plus). Must be legal 18-20's to play 16: A small, clever, brainy technical wiz, he is the youngest member of Jun's street gang. SUPPORTING LEAD.

Ethnicity: Asian

GEN (Supporting): Male, 10-12

Male, to play Asian, English speaking (Japanese a plus), age 10: A small, mysterious boy on an urgent mission; he is humble, shy, compassionate & wise beyond his years. SUPPORTING LEAD.

Ethnicity: Asian

AIMI (Supporting): Female, 10-12

Female, to play Asian, English speaking (Japanese a plus), age 10: A mysterious girl on an urgent mission; she is kind, gentle, compassionate & wise beyond her years. SUPPORTING LEAD.

Ethnicity: Asian

SUMIO (Supporting): Male, 10-12

Male, to play Asian, English speaking (Japanese a plus), age 10: A larger, mysterious boy on an urgent mission; he is bold, brave compassionate and wise beyond his years. SUPPORTING LEAD.

Ethnicity: Asian

 

[HammerDown]

For those unaware of what the previous comment is...
It's a casting call for "an untitled Warner Bros. live action film". A casting call that expires August 1st. The Akira production is said to be starting August 19th.

It's clearly for Akira looking at the character descriptions... and most importantly it will feature an all asian cast. And it seems as though there's going to be some Japanese speaking as well. It's a promising start.

 

[OutOfBoose]

Really happy they're going for Asian cast. Good start.

 

[Silvermoth]

Yeah that’s pretty cool. Wonder if Ryan potter will go for it? Or Yoshi Sudarso

 

[Filmfreak]

Glad about the Asian cast too. My only concern is the tone of the movie since Waititi has only done comedy-based movies so far. Hope he nails it.

 

[-JKR-]

Have you actually SEEN Taika's films, aside from "Thor Ragnarok"?

 

[HammerDown]

Glad about the Asian cast too. My only concern is the tone of the movie since Waititi has only done comedy-based movies so far. Hope he nails it.

Honest question: Have you seen his movies? I mean he always adds comedy to his projects but some of them have real dramatic weight.

Boy - Comedy / Drama
Hunt for the Wilderpeople - Adventure / Comedy / Drama
Jojo Rabbit - Comedy / Drama / War *

Some people might have a different perception of TW work because of Ragnarok and WWDITS. Ragnarok was his welcoming party to the big Hollywood stage and he leaned heavily into the comedy but he’s so much more than that.

A lot of people have never seen Boy or HFTWP which is a shame because they are gems. I think Jojo Rabbit is much more like his earlier work and people might be surprised by how well he delivers dramatic beats.

 

[-JKR-]

Yup, the only broad comedies in his filmography are "Thor Ragnarok" and "What We Do in the Shadows".

 

[Filmfreak]

I have. I never said or meant he makes straight up comedies. Maybe "comedy-based" was poor phrasing. "Comedy-related" is probably more accurate. If he goes with the tone of the manga/anime it's going to be the only one out of his entire filmography that has very few to pretty much none comedic elements.

 

[Still Wynning]

Feature Films: Warner Bros. 'Box 28' | Backstage

Nice to see the all-Japanese casting confirmed.

Interesting that in “Koichi’s” (going by the description, this is definitely Tetsuo) casting call, he’s described as being haunted by a lost loved one, and that “Reina” (probably Kaori, though I’m not really sure) is part of a biker gang who is in love with “Koichi” (a rival biker gang? Could be a bit of a West Side Story thing going on).

So, in this version, maybe he loses her, possibly early on (accidental use of his powers, or when he first gets them?), and this is what drives him further to madness and go on his power trip? I really hope they don’t pull a “My Dead Family” and just use her character as something just to further Tetsuo’s character and fuel his growing madness. Not a fan of “female character solely as driving plot device for male character” in movies. It was kind of dumb in the anime movie, and it would be pretty dumb here. But, who knows, maybe Taika will be smart enough not to do something like that. At least Kei’s character seems to be intact, which is great.

Otherwise, looks like everyone pretty much the same. Last three are definitely the espers. “Yuki” I’m guessing is this movie’s version of Kai, though he’s a tech wiz in this. Wonder how that’s going to pan out in the movie.

I don’t know guys, the more I hear about this, the more excited I get.

 

[HammerDown]

Spoiler: Jun = Kaneda

Spoiler: KOICHI = Tetsuo

Spoiler: REINA = Kaori

Spoiler: MISA = Kei

Spoiler: TAKAMATSU = Yamagata

Spoiler: YUKI = Kaisuke

Spoiler: GEN = Takashi

Spoiler: AIMI = Kiyoko

Spoiler: SUMIO = Masaru

 

[HammerDown]

Kaneda - "Sharp-eyed, sinewy, tough, handsome, cool. He is the leader of a street gang of teenagers & knows how to have a good time. JUN should not be too cool or too tough. He's a scrappy, ragtag kid who's not worried about anything."

Tetsuo - Constantly forced to punch up in order to survive. He's fearless to the point of recklessness. He is haunted by the loss of a loved one.

Kei - Beautiful, intelligent, strong-willed. She is a member of an anti-government organization trying to save her city.

Kaori - Gentle, kind, cute, compassionate. She is a member of a biker gang & cares deeply for Koichi.

Yamagata - Large, tough, loyal, short-fused. A member of Jun's gang & a close friend.

Kaisuke - A small, clever, brainy technical wiz, he is the youngest member of Jun's street gang.

Takashi - A small, mysterious boy on an urgent mission; he is humble, shy, compassionate & wise beyond his years.

Kiyoko - A mysterious girl on an urgent mission; she is kind, gentle, compassionate & wise beyond her years.

Masaru - A larger, mysterious boy on an urgent mission; he is bold, brave compassionate and wise beyond his years.

The character descriptions for the upcoming movie with the corresponding names.