Remember that live-action Akira reboot incubating in development hell over at Warner Bros.? Of course you do. It seems every other month brings a new status report on the long-gestating project, and it’s often anyone’s guess whether said tidbit is good news or bad. According to a fresh rumor unearthed by Den of Geek, however, today’s update on the studio’s reboot potentially belongs in the former camp.
Given that this is a project that has flirted with development since 2002, it almost goes without saying to file the following slice of speculation firmly in the rumors and speculation category. With that said, the alleged report claims that Warner is now gearing up for a live-action trilogy based on Katsuhiro Otomo’s genre-defining anime, and that Christopher Nolan himself could be on board to produce.
Eagle-eyed fans will recall that the studio recently pegged Nolan’s latest, yet-to-be-revealed film for a July 2017 release date, which has led many to put two and two together. It’s a partnership that would undoubtedly send anime fans into a tail-spin, and we can’t help but imagine a Neo-Toyko that has been built from the ground up with Nolan’s distinct brand of realism. Even still, the filmmaker’s involvement borders on wishful thinking, so it’s best treating it as it is for now.
For the longest time, Warner has been swapping out writers and directors on the Akira reboot, though the most recent update on the project brought word that Daredevil showrunner Marco J. Ramirez penning a revised version of the script. At various points in the film’s prolonged development, Keanu Reeves, Kristen Stewart, Ken Watanabe and Helena Bonham Carter were all attached, though each actor has moved on in search of pastures anew. If Den of Geek’s report is indeed accurate, surely Warner won’t scupper a chance to have Christopher Nolan’s name on the masthead, right?
It’s been almost three decades since the lush, neon-soaked environments of Neo-Toyko lit up our screens, though with today’s new rumor in mind, could it be that Warner Bros.’ long-in-development Akira reboot is finally beginning to take shape?
