Put this in the file of 'Things That Don't Need To Be Real.'

After a series of developments on a number of other projects, Warner Bros. has put the brakes on the attempt at a live-action version of the anime classic, Akira. In their infinite wisdom, they want the script to be re-worked in order to try and lower the budget for the film. The Producers on the project, Jennifer Killoran Davisson (Orphan/ Red Riding Hood) and Andrew Lazar (Assassins/ Space Cowboys) along with Director Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan/ Unknown) are currently trying to make changes to ensure the project’s continuation, meanwhile several different writers, including Steve Kloves (All Harry Potter Movies/ The upcoming Amazing Spiderman reboot), Jonathan Nolan (Memento/ The Dark Knight) and Michael Green (Heroes/ Green Lantern) are being considered for performing another script re-write.

This adaptation, rather than being set in Neo-Tokyo like the 1988 original, is said to be taking place in Neo-Manhattan, fitting more comfortably with a predominantly western cast. So far Garrett Hedlund (Who starred as Sam Flynn in Tron:Legacy recently) has been confirmed as playing Kaneda, while Ken Watanabe (Batman Begins/ Inception) is set to star as The Colonel and Helena Bonham Carter (Fight Club/ King’s Speech) is rumoured to be playing Lady Miyako. One of the prospective actors linked to the role of Tetsuo is Dane DeHaan, who is currently starring in Chronicle, which has some very similar themes and plot points, and could be viewed as a very elaborate and extended audition for the role, should this project continue at some stage in the future.

Having already reduced the film’s budget by half (180 to 90 million) since it’s inception, they are now aiming to cut the costs by a further 20 to 30 million, which is leading to the belief that the film will be shelved entirely if the further cuts are not made. Would this be such a bad thing? A lot of people seem to be very happy about this project’s descent into development hell, as the originally film was and still is very near and dear to their hearts, and the idea of this radical change in medium and setting is worrying for fans.