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Warner Bros. Loses Akira Live-Action Movie Rights After 20+ Years of Failed Attempts


Warner Bros. has lost the live-action movie rights to Akira after more than two decades of stalled development.

The rights have officially reverted to Kodansha, the Japanese publisher behind the original manga created by Katsuhiro Otomo in 1982, according to an exclusive report by The Hollywood Reporter.

Kodansha is now reportedly preparing to relaunch the project, with producers and talent already lining up to pitch new versions to studios and streaming platforms.

Warner Bros. first acquired the live-action rights to Akira in 2002, envisioning a Hollywood adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo’s postapocalyptic cyberpunk manga.

The studio initially tapped Blade director Stephen Norrington, followed by a long string of creatives that included Gary Whitta, Mark Fergus, Steve Kloves, the Hughes brothers, and Jaume Collet-Sera.

Over the years, the project was derailed by creative differences, budget concerns, and backlash over casting choices.

One version set the story in New Manhattan instead of Neo-Tokyo, sparking accusations of whitewashing.

In 2012, a version with Tron: Legacy actor Garrett Hedlund was halted just before filming, despite having a $90 million budget and a cast that included Kristen Stewart, Helena Bonham-Carter, and Ken Watanabe.

In 2017, Taika Waititi joined the project with plans for an all-Japanese cast and a faithful take on the source material. The film even secured California tax incentives and a May 2021 release date.

However, production stalled again due to Waititi’s commitments to other projects, including Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Love and Thunder, and he ultimately never returned to Akira.

At one point, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson came on board as producers for the movie. But, it still wasn’t enough for the movie to escape its production hell.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

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