Akira has long been one of my favorite Japanese animated films and it was probably one of my first exposures to anime as a child (my first being Project A-ko. Yes, how appropriate for an elementary school kid). I became very excited many years ago when I heard that a live-action version was in the works for Akira, but after a slew of Japanese animated films being adapted for western audiences and failing miserably in theaters (ex: Speed Racer and Dragon Ball Z) I began to lose hope. I also didn’t want the movie that I and so many others cherished as one of the greatest Japanese animated films ever to turn into a steaming pile of dung.

Off and on I would hear rumors that writers were coming and going and that there were a lot of script issues and in-house fighting about how the movie should be adapted, and the project would just be put on the back burners.

But here’s some potentially good news! According to Deadline.com, Edge of Tomorrow scriptwriter Dante Harper has joined Warner Bros, Appian Way, Mad Chance and director Jaume Collet-Serra on the live-action Akira. Can Harper do the movie justice? We’ll have to wait and find out! Also, Akira manga creator and anime director Katsuhiro Otomo is reportedly overseeing the project as executive producer. Here’s hoping a proper adaptation truly is in the works.

In other Akira news, about two months ago a fan made trailer was put together by a slew of artists from around the world and started The Akira Project. I think the trailer proves that if the right people who are passionate about something can band together to work on a project, it shows the potential what a true live-action adaptation can be. Check it out below:

Other Akira related stuff:
Bartkira, the Akira manga redrawn in the style of The Simpsons by different artists
Chronicle, my recommendation for a live-action movie that’s similar to Akira

Images via The Akira Project