Every time I have to write something about the live action Akira films, I feel both silly and guilty because it’s hard to imagine this as anything other than a mess and all the casting suppositions and propositions just add fuel to that already large fire. I’m just waiting for it to be called Akira: Evolution and get it over with.
With that said, Garrett Hedlund of Tron: Legacy has been the most commonly dropped name since the film got its recent green light to go ahead and Variety is saying that he’s the one that is definitely in talks for it to take on the role of Kaneda, the lead of the feature. While that is in the firm realm of likely to happen, the other is that Deadline is reporting that Gary Oldman is once again in demand (and he damn well should be) over at Warner as they want him to take on the role of the Colonel. With the way Oldman is able to seemingly become any character necessary over his career, this is one that I’d actually like to see happen, especially if there’s an homage to the dub voiced version somewhere in there. Warner also wants him for the role of Merlin in Arthur & Lancelot, which we’d put money on that he’d take over Akira.
Jaume Collet-Serra is set to direct with Steve Kloves writing the latest version of the script. Appian Way’s Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran are producing with Mad Chance’s Andrew Lazar.