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Leonardo DiCaprio to Produce Live-Action Akira
Promotional image for original 1988 film
The Hollywood Reporter announced today news of the revival of the long in-limbo live-action adaptation of “Akira,” the classic manga and 1988 anime feature created and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. Leonardo DiCaprio will produce the Warner Bros. film via his Appian Way company, with writer Gary Whitta (former Editor-in-Chief, PC Gamer) penning the screenplay.
The memorably ultra-violent and lavishly rendered story of a Japanese teen biker gang member subjected to medical experiments in a post-World War III Neo-Tokyo, “Akira” was the anime most instrumental in blowing open the doors to Western pop culture in the late 20th century, and is considered to be one of the most influential animated works ever created.
The live-action version of “Akira” has long been in development at Warner Bros., with producers Jon Peters (“Superman Returns”) and Basil Iwanyk (“Firewall”) having been involved at various times, as well as directors Stephen Norrington (“Blade”) and Pitof (“Catwoman”). No director has yet been confirmed, nor is it known whether DiCaprio intends to star in “Akira.”
Comic Book Resources
Andy Khouri
February 20, 2008
Catwoman? Firewall? TETSUO!!!!! Although, you have to love that DiCaprio named his production company Appian Way. <3
***
Friday Night Lights' Taylor Kitsch to be Wolverine
As X-Men Origins: Wolverine kicks off filming in Oz this month, the flick has added Friday Night Lights hottie Taylor Kitsch to the cast. He'll be playing Gambit, to the delight of us Kitsch lovers (and FNL die-hards).
Along with Kitsch, the X-Men spin-off has also added a few other notables to its roster of thesps. Hip-hopper will.i.am has signed on, as has Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston and Lynn Collins as, respectively, Sabretooth, William Stryker and Silver Fox. Hugh Jackman will be back, of course, in the title role. — Anna Dimond
UPDATE: Ryan Reynolds (Definitely, Maybe) has been cast as Deadpool.
TV Guide
February 19, 2008
Can I just boggle at the fact that they cast a white woman to play a Native Canadian Blackfoot? I mean what the fucking FUCK!?! I knew this movie was going to suck, but it has already earned an automatic fail.
Promotional image for original 1988 film
The Hollywood Reporter announced today news of the revival of the long in-limbo live-action adaptation of “Akira,” the classic manga and 1988 anime feature created and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. Leonardo DiCaprio will produce the Warner Bros. film via his Appian Way company, with writer Gary Whitta (former Editor-in-Chief, PC Gamer) penning the screenplay.
The memorably ultra-violent and lavishly rendered story of a Japanese teen biker gang member subjected to medical experiments in a post-World War III Neo-Tokyo, “Akira” was the anime most instrumental in blowing open the doors to Western pop culture in the late 20th century, and is considered to be one of the most influential animated works ever created.
The live-action version of “Akira” has long been in development at Warner Bros., with producers Jon Peters (“Superman Returns”) and Basil Iwanyk (“Firewall”) having been involved at various times, as well as directors Stephen Norrington (“Blade”) and Pitof (“Catwoman”). No director has yet been confirmed, nor is it known whether DiCaprio intends to star in “Akira.”
Comic Book Resources
Andy Khouri
February 20, 2008
Catwoman? Firewall? TETSUO!!!!! Although, you have to love that DiCaprio named his production company Appian Way. <3
***
Friday Night Lights' Taylor Kitsch to be Wolverine
As X-Men Origins: Wolverine kicks off filming in Oz this month, the flick has added Friday Night Lights hottie Taylor Kitsch to the cast. He'll be playing Gambit, to the delight of us Kitsch lovers (and FNL die-hards).
Along with Kitsch, the X-Men spin-off has also added a few other notables to its roster of thesps. Hip-hopper will.i.am has signed on, as has Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston and Lynn Collins as, respectively, Sabretooth, William Stryker and Silver Fox. Hugh Jackman will be back, of course, in the title role. — Anna Dimond
UPDATE: Ryan Reynolds (Definitely, Maybe) has been cast as Deadpool.
TV Guide
February 19, 2008
Can I just boggle at the fact that they cast a white woman to play a Native Canadian Blackfoot? I mean what the fucking FUCK!?! I knew this movie was going to suck, but it has already earned an automatic fail.