Remember that extremely bad ass Anime film from 1988 called 'Akira'? Katsuhiro Otomo is currently dipping hands with Hollywood for a live action version of it via DiCaprio in the production seat with uncle Warner flipping the bills. First-timer, Ruairi Robinson, is said to be directing; the Warners liked his adaptation. This is going to be a 2-film release with the first one to come out sometime in 2011. Amazing, I am excited but also afraid that they might butcher it. The revealed plot actually sounds quite good, check this out: "Set in 2019, Akira follows a group of motorcycle riding teens in Neo-Tokyo that get wrapped up in a government conspiracy that threatens the world with annihilation." What is Neo Tokyo you ask? well instead of being set in Tokyo, the film takes place in Manhattan?!?! What? But it's like a post-apocalyptic New York where it had a mega economic crash and it gets bought out by the Japanese. NYC becomes a place where Americans and Japanese heavily roam the island. Sounds dope.

The animated Akira had it's toll and influence on Hollywood. How and what will the new Akira films do? I personally think this is going to be a super rad little series. The animated Akira was a cult classic and I'm way interested in seeing what a Neo-Tokyo holds! And yes I know it's not just a comic book or animation but a real dope graphic novel! We'll be posting the trailer as soon as it is available. Aww Can't wait!

Labels: Film