long-awaited movie Live-Action has just gained a significant turnaround in its production. After more than two decades under development, Warner Bros. officially gave up the rights of adaptation .
The information was confirmed exclusively by the American press. Rights now return to Kodansha , editor of Katsuhiro Otomo 's original manga , first published in 1982. Thus, a new chapter is opened for the classic Japanese Cyberpunk.
Attempts, failures and many millions invested
Remember that Warner acquired the rights in 2002, with ambitious plans. However, the project has faced numerous obstacles over the years. Several writers, directors and producers were involved - including Leonardo DiCaprio and Taika Waititi - but none managed to get the idea of the role.
The project has come to pre-production several times. However, budget problems, criticism of "Whitewashing", and creative changes undermined any progress. The last impulse happened in 2017, when Taika Waititi took over. Despite this, he got involved in other appointments, and Akira returned to the drawer.
Live-action future follows undefined
Currently, with the rights back to Kodansha, new studios and streaming platforms show interest. After all, Akira is one of the most influential works of Japanese pop culture, marking a generation with her 1988 animated film.
Meanwhile, fans hope a new adaptation respects the original material, including the futuristic scenario of Neo-tochio and the iconic characters like Kaneda and Tetsuo . Moreover, there is still no confirmation about a new director or cast.
Finally, as the work would say, "The future is not a straight line." Let's wait for the next step of this long film journey.
Follow other news about the future of Akira's live-action on our WhatsApp and AnimeNew Instagram
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
