Akira is turning into one of those films like the Watchmen. They have their fanbase, a niche market and rabid believers. But will it ever get made? Well Watchmen is well underway so if there is some mystical connection, this is good news.
We get an update via Variety:
Each feature will be based on three of the books in Otomo’s series. The story takes place in New Manhattan, a metropolis that was rebuilt after being destroyed 31 years earlier. Otomo will exec produce the films.
Graphic novel was first adapted for the bigscreen in 1988 as a popular animated film which Otomo directed.
The animated feature was a moving experience for me in my teens and therefore I am eager to see what they do with it as a live action feature. This could totally bomb and tear away any of the qualities that has its crazy followers so in love with it.
But I do think it is good news that they are making it into two films. This pretty much guarantees that more of the actual story is told. I just hope they don’t butcher it and make it “based on” instead of “actually is” the graphic novel story.
I’m a big sci-fi / action film fan cos I love the escapism and entertainment. I thought the original Akira was fantastic and I can’t wait for the new ones to come out.
Just a thought tho….. I was watching Hulk the other day (2003 version) and I thought hang on – this is a bit familiar.
eg:
The Secret Lab facilities.
The Colnell/General.
Capture and escape.
The way the military keeps trying to destroy Testuo/Hulk with more and more powerful weapons and only ends up p!ss!ng them off resulting in more and more destruction!
There are probably more similarities – and with other films too, but thanks for reading!
Biship has a point, but to have it not take place in a future Japan is just stupid. Why not honor the culure and country that gave us this great story? No wonder most americans know nothing about other countries until they actually go there. Cuz they for sure aren’t getting that knowledge threw Hallywood films.
But really thats the least of my worries about this film. Akira is my most favorite movie since I was 13 years old. While it’s great they are making it into 2 films, Akira is just so far out there, and has way too deep and contraversal themes that Hollywood will be way too scarred to make it much of anything like the animated or comic book version. It will be way too toned down, no where near as jaw dropping as the original, and full of rewritting into an american sci-fi film with no originality.
It’s stuff like this that make me wish the writers stike DIDN’T end.
i agree bishop but having only read a little of the original manga i dont know how this will turn out. but knowing how hollywood does thing they will americanize the hell out of it, and take away some of the questions on life presented by both the anime and the manga.
i personally think this is not a good idea….come one hollywood make up something new…stop redoing and possible screwing up this that made my childhood great….
I would like to bring up an important point here. Please, when discussing a new Akira film, keep one thing in mind. The animated film was truly amazing. It was.
HOWEVER
The animated film was a great departure from the manga itself.
SO
You cannot complain that a remake has departed from its source, when even the source has departed from the original material.
Does that make sense?
hmmmm Interesting
I heard this news earlier this week, and I just prentended that it wasn’t true. I hear Josheph Gordan and Leo Decaprio will star. I wanted to puke. I just pray to god that this thing sinks before production starts. New Manhatten???? Give me a fucking break. If your going to do it, do it right. Have it in Japan with japanese actors.
I also believe that two movies is the best way to go. I really hope they stay faithful to the original material.