The project may have stalled more often than a faulty motorcycle, but Warner Bros. remains committed to bringing its live-action version of classic anime Akira to the big screen. The latest twist has Unknown director Jaume Collet-Serra back into the fold.
This isn’t his first go-around with the tale of the biker gang leader looking to save a psychokinetically gifted friend from the government and military who want to turn his powers into a weapon. Collet-Serra was hired for the job in mid-2011, only to leave when budget issues couldn’t be worked out and Warners decided to throw the script back into the development maw.
Collet-Serra had other fish he wanted to fry, including a reunion with Unknown’s Liam Neeson for air marshal thriller Non-Stop. Now, however, Variety reports that the studio still likes the director’s ideas for the film, and he’s made room in his schedule to get back to work on them. Part of this new dawn includes an approach that shaves cash off the cost.
It’ll still have to wait, though, as Collet-Serra’s about to shoot Run All Night with, you guessed it, Liam Neeson, Joel Kinnaman and Ed Harris. Warners wants Akira back up and running by early 2014. Don’t tell us they want this thing ready for summer 2015! Are there any dates left in that year? As for casting, nothing is locked down despite the likes of Garrett Hedlund, Ken Watanabe and Helena Bonham Carter hvaing been attached at various times. We’d put money on Collet-Serra at least offering Neeson a role… As for Non-Stop, that will fly into UK cinemas on February 28.