Warner Bros Loses AKIRIA Live-Action Film Rights and The Revert Back To The Publisher
After more than two decades in development limbo, Warner Bros. has officially lost the live-action rights to Akira. As reported by Deadline, the rights have now reverted back to manga publisher Kodansha, putting a hard stop (for now) on Hollywood’s long-running attempts to bring the iconic 1988 anime to live-action.
Tht should make some fan of the iconic franchise happy. To give some perspective, WB has held onto Akira since 2002. That’s over 20 years of false starts, rotating directors, casting rumors, and deep pockets spent on development.
Big names like Stephen Norrington, Albert Hughes, Jaume Collet-Serra, and Taika Waititi all circled the director’s chair at different times. Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way was heavily involved. There was even an $18.5 million California tax credit tied to the film.
At various points, Michael Pitt, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Helena Bonham Carter, and Ken Watanabe were attached, or at least close to it.
Akira was directed by Katsuhiro Ôtomo, and it’s a landmark anime based on Ôtomo’s manga. The film follows Tetsuo, a teenager whose exposure to a secret military experiment awakens dangerous psychic powers, turning him into a city-leveling threat.
His best friend Kaneda is the only one who can stop him, all against the backdrop of a decaying Neo-Tokyo. The movie’s visuals and themes have influenced generations of sci-fi filmmakers, yet adapting it has proven to be a cursed endeavor.
Hollywood’s track record with anime adaptations is rocky at best. Paramount’s 2017 Ghost in the Shell starring Scarlett Johansson was a $110M misfire that earned just over $40M domestically and sparked major backlash for whitewashing.
Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop series, despite fan anticipation, was cancelled less than a month after it launched. Original Bebop creator Shinichirō Watanabe told Forbes he “couldn’t bear to watch” the live-action version.
Akira’s live-action rights reportedly cost Warner Bros. eight figures over the years. Now that they’re back in Kodansha’s hands, the race is apparently on again as a bidding war is already underway, though no specific parties were named.
So, another studio will eventually make an attempt or several attempts to try and bring this story to life on the big screen.