The highly anticipated live-action Akira film has just received a significant development. After more than two decades in development, Warner Bros. has officially relinquished the rights to the adaptation .
The information was confirmed exclusively by the American press. Now, the rights return to Kodansha , publisher of the original manga Katsuhiro Otomo , first published in 1982. Thus, a new chapter opens for the Japanese cyberpunk classic.
Attempts, failures and many millions invested
It's worth remembering that Warner acquired the rights in 2002 with ambitious plans. However, the project faced numerous obstacles over the years. Several writers, directors, and producers were involved—including Leonardo DiCaprio and Taika Waititi —but none managed to bring the idea to fruition.
The project entered pre-production several times. However, budget issues, criticism of "whitewashing," and creative changes undermined any progress. The final push came in 2017, when Taika Waititi took over as director. Despite this, he was involved in other commitments, and Akira was shelved.
The future of live-action remains uncertain
Now, with the rights back at Kodansha, new studios and streaming platforms are showing interest. After all, Akira is one of the most influential works in Japanese pop culture, having marked a generation with its 1988 animated film.
Meanwhile, fans are hoping a new adaptation will respect the source material, including the futuristic Neo-Tokyo setting and iconic characters like Kaneda and Tetsuo . Furthermore, there's still no confirmation on a new director or cast.
Finally, as the film itself says: "The future is not a straight line." We'll wait and see what the next step in this long cinematic journey will be.
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Source: The Hollywood Reporter
