WB just bought the rights to Akira for live-action, which will follow, in two movies, the two books of the manga.

Squee!

Might as well crush your hopes right here and now.

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12:00 AM, 21-FEBRUARY-08

DiCaprio Bringing Akira To Life

Leonardo DiCaprio is teaming up with Warner Brothers to produce a live-action film based on the Japanese manga and anime film Akira, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Ruairi Robinson has been hired to direct what would ideally be a two-part epic. The film would mark the first full-length feature for Robinson, whose animated SF comedy short Fifty Percent Grey was nominated for an Oscar. Gary Whitta is writing the adaptation, which DiCaprio will produce through his production company, Appian Way.

Akira originated in 1988 as a manga and then as an animated film co-written and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. The story was set in a neon-lit futuristic post-nuclear war "New Tokyo" in 2019 where a teen biker-gang member is subjected to a government experiment which unleashes his latent powers. The gang's leader must find a way to stop the ensuing swathe of destruction.

Akira has long been in development at the company, with producers Jon Peters and Basil Iwanyk involved at various times, as well as directors Stephen Norrington and Pitof. The rights lapsed but Warner managed to acquire them again for Robinson, who came to the studio with a vision of a two-part adaptation.

The new story moves the action to "New Manhattan," a city rebuilt by the Japanese. The studio is eyeing a summer 2009 release for the first movie.

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[["DiCaprio Bringing Akira To Life"]] This more than ANYTHING, crushes my perception of what it might be.

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"People sometimes say that ideas cannot be stamped out by force. The Albigensian Crusade proves them wrong. Ideas can be stamped out by the elimination of everyone who holds the ideas." - Quote :"Middle Ages" by Morris Bishop.

Reading comprehension says Leo plans on producing the movies, not star in them. And considering he is one of the best actors in Hollywood, I wouldn't be too worried (were I a fan of Akira) if he actually acted in the movie(s).

hating successful people on the internet

ironically, isn't akira considered by anime elitists to be the equivalent of modest mouse's good news for people who love bad news by music elitists?

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Producer credit generally means getting to say when and where the money available for the movie gets spent.

If the Director wants something and the Producer says “No”, the Director is out of luck.

This usually isn’t a problem as most Producers are overwhelmed by a big named Director who will use force of will, and popularity, to get whatever in the hell they like.

I can only imagine that with DiCaprio as a Producer that he’ll have the lion’s share of say how the movie gets made.

He may have Produced movies in the past, but I’m not aware of them. which means he’s new at the job, and he is; still after all, DiCaprio.

I really haven’t liked anything he’s done personally. I can’t imagine him having that much control over a movie like Akira, is going to … produce… a winning result.

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"People sometimes say that ideas cannot be stamped out by force. The Albigensian Crusade proves them wrong. Ideas can be stamped out by the elimination of everyone who holds the ideas." - Quote :"Middle Ages" by Morris Bishop.

What, just because someone can make money means I can't find their acting style painful to watch? The only role I've ever seen DiCaprio in that impressed me was as Arnie, in What's Eating Gilbert Grape.

But please, don't let me stop you from pissing all over everything. We've seen this from you before, then you went away. Maybe we'll be lucky and history will repeat itself?

In addition to those, I liked him in Blood Diamond, Romeo and Juliet, the Aviator, and Catch Me If You Can.

I used to hate him... I didn't like him in Titanic or in Man in the Iron Mask at all. I've warmed to him lately though.

The man has two expressions. Regular and scrunch face.

Sarissa Candyangel

hah ok.

i was agreeing with what neesha was saying, but thanks for the overreaction.

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DiCrapp-e-o was also good in Basketball Diaries.

There's something about him which annoys me, even though he is a good actor. The Departed was just fantastic, especially when you consider the caliber of acting in that movie, everyone was amazing except the chick.

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because chicks can't act, amirite?

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World of Warcraft: Kallaystra, Gweila, Steakumn, Tarathia [ Feathermoon/Horde ]

unless they're acting like making me a sandwich (and actually making me a sandwich)

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I thought Jack Nicholson gave the weakest performance out of everyone (other than the chick) in The Departed. Even Martin Sheen was great!

I used to dislike everything he did, but after the departed and catch me if you can, I've come around. He was fantastic in both of them. Blood Diamond was decent too. That's a good enough run where I don't worry about him being involved with movies anymore.

I agree.

I've liked pretty much everything he's done since Aviator/gangs of new york. Both of which I consider to be two of my favorite all time movies.

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-Rileigh (aka Golliwog)