by: The HORROR Man source: THR
He ain’t the sharpest fellow out there, but does that mean he can/should play Akira?
According to The Hollywood Reporter Akira, the English-language, live-action take on the landmark anime and manga property, is zeroing in on its star, and it just might be Keanu Reeves.
Warner Bros. has been having a tough time finding the two leads of the movie to be directed by Albert Hughes. In the script the action moves from Neon-Tokyo to New Manhattan, where a biker gang leader tries to save his best friend from a medical experiment that threatens to unleash destructive powers.
Actors ranging from James Franco and Joseph Gordon-Levitt to Robert Pattinson and Michael Fassbender have circled the project in some form or fashion as the studio sought to find an A-list lead.
Now comes word that Reeves has held talks with the studio, with whom he already made the massively successful Matrix movies, for the part of Kaneda, the gang leader. Reeves doesn’t yet have an offer for the role, but we hear the talks with his reps have been going well.
Stay here for more,and lord help us if this pans out.
(Update)
According to Mike Sampson at JoBlo.com Keanu Reeves has decided to pass on the role of Kaneda. Mike also went on to report that early Thursday morning, after receiving word from Reeves’ reps that he would be passing on the project, Warner Bros shut down AKIRA’s pre-viz department and let go most of the staff working on the film. Though reports indicate these events have nothing to do with each other. Warners, who has a close relationship with Reeves after the MATRIX films, was disappointed he passed but are still actively looking for a lead.
When asked to comment on the production shake-up, Warner Bros. released the following statement: “Production on ‘Akira’ has not halted or been shut down, as the film has not yet been greenlit and is still very much in the development stage. The exploratory process is crucial to a project of this magnitude, and we will continue to sculpt our approach to making the best possible film.”
