Taika Waititi’s adaptation of Akira slated for a May 2021 release

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Hollywood has been attempting to develop a live-action adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira for decades. The project has seen a revolving door of writers and directors over the years, but the latest incarnation actually seems as though it will happen. Taika Waititi (THOR: RAGNAROK) has been attached to the project since 2017, and Warner Bros. have taken the step of slating the film for a May 21, 2021 release. It's getting real, folks.

That date will find AKIRA directly facing off against the recently announced JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4. In addition to directing, Taika Waititi will also co-write the script with Michael Golamco. The official logline seems to be sticking pretty close to the original story: "A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath that only two teenagers and a group of psychics can stop." The director hasn't revealed much about his plans for the project, but he has specified that it will be going straight to the original manga source rather than simply remaking the anime.

I actually love the books. Love the movie, but I would not do a remake of the movie. I would do an adaptation of the books.

Waititi also added that he wouldn't whitewash the film, preferring instead to discover unknown Asian actors. "Yeah. actually Asian teenagers would be the way to do it for me and probably no, not, like no name, I mean sort of unfound, untapped talent," Waititi said. "Yeah, I'd probably want to take it a bit back more towards the books." While I'm still uncertain that we need a live-action AKIRA, especially after so many years in development hell, it would be nice to see the project avoid the sort of backlash which Rupert Sanders' GHOST IN THE SHELL and Adam Wingard's DEATH NOTE received.