Live action Akira movie back on with Jaume Collet-Serra returning to helm

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

The big-budget, live action version of AKIRA has stalled more often than my old motorcycle, but that hasn't stopped Warner Bros. from trying to get it going again and again. Now Variety is reporting that HOUSE OF WAX and ORPHAN director Jaume Collet-Serra is in discussions to return to the directors chair for AKIRA, signing on to helm Warner Bros. adaptation of the popular anime pic.

You may remember that Collet-Serra left the project in early 2012 after production stalled, with the studio shutting down pre-production so that fixes could be made to the script, including tightening the budget from its original $90 million range. At the time, Collet-Serra was in such high demand coming off the recent success of the Liam Neeson action pic UNKNOWN that he decided to leave instead of waiting for the changes to be made so that he could pursue other projects.

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.

Set in a future city environment called New Manhattan, AKIRA is the sci-fi epic that follows the leader of a bike gang who must save his best friend who has been experimented on by the government causing him to develop dangerous and destructive psychokinetic powers.

Appian Way’s Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran are producing the movie with Mad Chance’s Andrew Lazar, while Katsuhiro Otomo, who wrote and directed the 1988 Japanese anime version of AKIRA, will executive produce.

Will it finally happen this time? We'll keep you updated on news regarding AKIRA as we hear it.