A live-action adaptation of Akira Has been stuck in development hell for years, but a perfect live-action movie version of Akira Already happened in an unofficial capacity over a decade ago. Hollywood has been trying to get a live action Akira movie from Earth since Sony Pictures acquired the rights to the original manga in the 1990s. Over the years, everyone from Blade Director Stephen Norrington to Bug one Writer Gary Whitta was attached to the live action Akira project. Jordan Peele and George Miller both turned down the opportunity to direct a Akira Remake.
The life-struggle Akira The movie was closer to becoming a reality than ever when Taika Waititi signed on to direct it As his follow-up to Thor: Ragnarok. He co-wrote the script with Michael Golamco, with a release date set for May 21, 2021. However, when Waititi moved to Thor: Love and Thunder And then to his current project, Clara and the SonThe project was once again put on hold. Waititi may eventually return to Akira Once, however It seems unnecessary, because the perfect life-struggle Akira The movie was actually made back in 2012.
Chronicle (2012) was heavily inspired by Akira
Chronicle is another YA sci-fi thriller about a telekinetic teen pursued by the government
Josh Trank’s 2012 directorial debut Chronicle is a unique found-footage take on the superhero genre, and it has a lot in common with Akira. Akira Revolves around a young adult, Tetsuo Shima, who acquires telekinetic superpowers In a motorcycle crash. Chronicle Revolves around teenage Andrew Dettmer, who acquires telekinetic superpowers while checking out a glowing crystalline object he and his friends discover in a mysterious hole in the woods. bTetsuo and Andrew go down a dark path after acquiring their powers, and their friends try to talk them down.
As they begin to unleash their powers on the world, both Tetsuo and Andrew are hunted down by their respective governments. Tetsuo is tracked down by the dystopian military complex of the sprawling futuristic metropolis of Neo-Tokyo, while Andrew is tracked down by the regular cops in the Seattle Police Department. in many ways, Chronicle is a grounded, contemporary version of Akira. Trunk’s direction of Chronicle is inspired by Curry And The furyBrian De Palma’s back-to-back supernatural thrillers about telekinetic teens, but above all, he was influenced by Akira.
Chronicle might be the closest thing we’ll get to live-Akira
The Akira remake continues to be delayed
since the Akira Remake continues to be delayed, Chronicle Could be the closest thing to a live-fight Akira movie that ever gets made. It’s a superhero thriller about a teenager who gains telekinetic abilities, goes down a dark path and needs to be rescued by his childhood friend. Akira is known for his distinctive visual style, and the fascination of Andrew’s video diary with the story similarly presents Chronicle Its own visual identity.
What the ideal live action Akira adaptation should look like
The best live action Akira movie would keep the anime’s vibrant visuals (and not whitewash the cast)
There is an argument Akira Does not need a live-action adaptation. The anime is a perfect cinematic retelling of his story, and recent live-action interpretations of animated classics have proven that the transition from animation to live-action usually makes for an uglier, worse version of the story. But since Hollywood did not give up the idea of ​​a live-action Akira For over three decades, it seems likely that a live-action adaptation will eventually be made. And when it does, there are a few key things to get right.
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Hollywood may be tempted to take these Akira The story of Japan and Americanizes it, but that would fundamentally change the source material. Japan’s role in World War II is crucial to Akiras narrative; Unit 731 and the atomic bombings were major influences on the original Akira History. It was suggested that it could be changed so that the 9/11 attacks take the place of the atomic bombings in the backstory, but that would require so many changes that it would not happen. Akira Anymore, and it might as well be its own thing, like Chronicle.
Hollywood may be tempted to take these Akira The story from Japan and Americanizes it, but that would fundamentally change the source material.
One of the biggest concerns about a Hollywood remake of Akira was that it would be whitewashed. Based on the actors who have been linked to the Akira Remakes over the years, from Chris Evans to Garrett Hedlund to Joseph Gordon-Levitt, these concerns seem valid. The Akira Remake needs to stay in Japan and cast Japanese actors. Above all, a live-action version of Akira Would need to maintain the vibrant visuals of the anime. It’s an aesthetically stunning movie, and no remake can afford to wash out the colors or flatten the style.