Leonardo DiCaprio Won't Be 'Akira'
Filed under: Action, Classics, Foreign Language, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Thrillers, Warner Brothers, Fandom, Scripts, Newsstand, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels
It's been two months since we heard anything about the Leonardo DiCaprio-produced Akira. This is a remake that has caused a bit of upset in our comments, as initial reports suggested DiCaprio was set to star alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt. However, Gordon-Levitt denied having any connection to the film, and now DiCaprio has clarified his involvement. In an interview with MTV's Splash Page, he denied that he was going to be starring in Akira, nor will he be playing any part in Ninja Scroll (which he just optioned a few weeks ago). He made it clear that his only involvement is as producer, via his Appian Way banner.
So, where does Akira stand in pre-production? Remember, this was once being fast-tracked for a summer 2009 release, which it's obviously not going to make. But that's because DiCaprio is making sure this is handled right: "We're waiting for the final draft of the script. I'm a big fan of Japanese anime ... I know there a lot of loyal fans out there of the project and die-hard fans, so we're going to try to do the best job we possibly can and we're not going to make the movie until the script is in the right shape."
If only big fans could be the producers on every beloved property, no fans would ever lose sleep. Are you slightly reassured, now? And hey, post your Akira dream cast. DiCaprio knows you're out there, and he might just listen.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-12-2008 @ 8:20AM
bongo123 said...
Im just happy with the fact that there making it, one of the first animes i ever watched so it'll be cool to see that bike in the flesh
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11-12-2008 @ 9:57AM
yanipheonu said...
First sign he is NOT an anime fan: he called it japanese anime.
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11-12-2008 @ 12:21PM
Herff said...
While I believe he is well meaning, I'm doubtful. I'm going to have to stick with "I'll believe it when I see it."
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11-12-2008 @ 11:34PM
Bill said...
My casting suggestion would be JAPANESE PEOPLE.
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11-12-2008 @ 5:41PM
joits said...
he's not a fan because he calls it japanese anime? that's just elitist crap. people can call it whatever they want, a fan is a fan, simple as that. dicaprio likes it, therefore he's a fan. period.
i hope he has the guts to at least try to fill the casts of both movies with asians and not do the obvious hollywood thing and cast a white guy or fill the cast with white actors. there are a lot of really talented asian actors who aren't known by general audiences here but if he's serious about making something that the fans of these two shows will like, then he has to take the time and search for the right cast.
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11-12-2008 @ 10:15PM
Jen said...
DiCaprio won't be "Akira"? The leads in "Akira" are named Tetsuo and Kaneda. The Akira of the title is actually a very minor character, essentially the story's Macguffin, and actually a pretty good choice for a cameo if DiCaprio did want a little screentime. .
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11-13-2008 @ 1:40AM
esoterikal said...
A good choice for a cameo? Akira is a very young child, no more than 8. There are plenty of good cameos for someone of DiCaprio's age, but Akira is not one of them.
11-26-2008 @ 1:22AM
Adam Lowe said...
Yeah, defo needs an all-Japanese cast. And shouldn't be set in Manhattan (unless the Japanese invaded the US during WWII and stayed there). And Tetsuo should not be called Travis.
Did I mention it should be an all-Japanese cast?
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11-26-2008 @ 1:55PM
Keaton said...
Paul Dano might make a complex, anxt-driven Tetsuo.
Shia LaBeouf would be believable as a strutting, overly-confident biker-gang leader Kaneda (since Shia LaBeouf kind of does all that already).
I'll play Nezu.
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