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

[Still Wynning]

Takashi Yamazaki (Godzilla Minus One) or bust.

Oooh, I don’t even know why I didn’t even think of him! That’s an excellent choice!

He’s excellent at scope and scale, he’s can do the more intimate moments between characters, he has an eye for great visual effects and producing them on a smaller budget, he knows how to capture the weight of loss, hopelessness and despair in the midst of seemingly absolute devastation, he gets how to do “this thing is a metaphor for this”, he really gets and understands the power of the atomic bomb and what it means for his culture and, first and foremost, he’s Japanese, so he already has a leg up on everyone else that I suggested.

Yeah, I really love that suggestion. Maybe you could make it a co-production between Japan and America (maybe A24, since they produce films on smaller budgets and allow directors creative freedom to make what they want). Have Hollywood foot the bill for the film and its marketing, lend a bit of their creative talent and a few big actors, maybe a few small concessions, but the main crew in Japan get to make all of the big creative decisions and have control over the entire project.

 

[Pennywise]

Man, regardless if the film happens, I plan on reading the manga!

 

[Still Wynning]

Man, regardless if the film happens, I plan on reading the manga!

Read it, it’s great! A whole bunch of great characters, storylines and subplots that weren’t in the film, so much so that it’s almost a entirely different thing. I can see why Taika Waititi kept on reiterating in the past that he wanted to adapt the manga because it’s so different from the 1988 animated film, that, if adapted, it could stand as its own separate take.

Also, unfortunately, with ongoing events, it has become even more timely and relevant than when it was first written.

 

[Elayis]

You know, I think with the way the world is going right now and things seemingly going to pot, I think a lot of us are primed and ready for a sci-fi bending, political satirizing, societal critiquing, apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic/post post-apocalyptic/post post post-apocalyptic genre film, and it just might be what the doctor ordered.

In times of great crises, certain things at the right moment can just really resonate and hit. If done right, this could be one of those things.

A movie like that already came out this year, and it bombed.

 

[Pennywise]

‘Akira’ Rights Up for Grabs as Japanese Sci-Fi Leaves Warner Bros. (Exclusive)

After 20 years, a dozen creatives attached and millions spent on development, Warners is moving on from the seminal property.

t.co

 

[Joe Von Zombie]

Good

 

[DorkyFresh]

bullet dodged, but for how long? [cue ominous music]

Oooh, I don’t even know why I didn’t even think of him! That’s an excellent choice!

He’s excellent at scope and scale, he’s can do the more intimate moments between characters, he has an eye for great visual effects and producing them on a smaller budget, he knows how to capture the weight of loss, hopelessness and despair in the midst of seemingly absolute devastation, he gets how to do “this thing is a metaphor for this”, he really gets and understands the power of the atomic bomb and what it means for his culture and, first and foremost, he’s Japanese, so he already has a leg up on everyone else that I suggested.

Yeah, I really love that suggestion. Maybe you could make it a co-production between Japan and America (maybe A24, since they produce films on smaller budgets and allow directors creative freedom to make what they want). Have Hollywood foot the bill for the film and its marketing, lend a bit of their creative talent and a few big actors, maybe a few small concessions, but the main crew in Japan get to make all of the big creative decisions and have control over the entire project.

 

[Sithborg]

Good

[monkey paw curls]

Netflix now buys the rights.

 

[TheVileOne]

I hope this movie never happens.

 

[Another_Fool]

Late on this but honestly I would rather get a Japanese produced anime series that adapts the the 6 volume Akira manga over a live action film. I think I remember a few years ago Sunrise studio was going to do it but I hadn't heard a peep about it so I assume it's dead, which is a bummer.

 

[Still Wynning]

Late on this but honestly I would rather get a Japanese produced anime series that adapts the the 6 volume Akira manga over a live action film. I think I remember a few years ago Sunrise studio was going to do it but I hadn't heard a peep about it so I assume it's dead, which is a bummer.

I think it was announced a little over half a year before Covid happened and a lot of productions got shut down and delayed, and when Covid ended, a lot of people all over the world had to play catch up, recalibrate and readjust. Otomo-san already had some other project on his plate that he wanted to make (Orbital Era, though, who knows if even that is still in the works), and he probably had to make some tough calls, and I’m guessing that was one of the casualties.

Real shame, too. I’m a huge fan of the original movie, but I think the manga is objectively better and was really looking forward to seeing what a full on anime adaptation of that would look like.

 

[TheVileOne]

I was there at Anime Expo, I think in 2018, when they announced a new Akira anime production. It never materialized. Not sure what happened, but the pandemic likely didn't help. They kind of teased that it would be a more faithful adaptation of the manga.

I think an episodic anime series that faithfully adapts the manga would be the best way to go. A live-action adaptation is a terrible idea.