Update on Akira
Many fans are doubting a live-action adaptation of Akira can work as the manga has a very niche audience, and it seems that Warner Bros. is thinking the same thing. We reported that Mila Kunis (Black Swan) turned down the role of Kei, “the gorgeous young revolutionary with whom Kaneda becomes enamored on his quest to find his disappeared best friend”, in Albert Hughes’ adaptation for Sam Raimi’s Oz, The Great and Powerful (here). According to Vulture, Hughes was adamant about casting the best possible actors in the film, but Warner Bros. wants actors that can draw an audience fo the film. The head of Warner Bros. even called up Brad Pitt, and offered him the lead role as Travis (Kaneda in the original manga/anime).
The studio did allow Hughes to offer Kunis the role in the film, but Pitt declined the role, and that has thrown the entire project in “disarray”. Hughes’ film will have an expensive budget, and WB is obviously concerned the film won’t sell outside of its audience. They obviously don’t want a repeat of Zack Snyder’s Watchmen that didn’t perform as the studio had hoped. They want a big name actor for the role, but they also need to find someone that’s both right for the character and available. We did hear rumor that James Franco was attached to star (here), but it’s pretty safe to say now that’s all BS.
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