A live-action adaptation of the classic manga Akira has been in development for nearly 20 years, and finally Warner Bros. has announced release date of May 21st, 2021 for the Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok) directed film, which puts it head-to-head with the recently announced John Wick: Chapter 4.
Last year Waititi spoke about wanting to adapt the magna series instead of the 1998 anime film it is known for, saying “I haven’t really started to get my head around it yet. What I wanted to do was an adaptation of the books, ‘cos a lot of people are like, ‘Don’t touch that film!’ and I’m like, ‘I’m not remaking the film, I want to go back to the book.’ A lot of the people freaking out haven’t even read the books, and there are six gigantic books to go through. It’s so rich. But (the anime) Akira is one of my favourite films; my mum took me to see it when I was 13 and it changed my life.”
Warner Bros. first gained the rights for a live-action film in 2002 and ever since then it has faced a constant change of hands of directors and actors.
The synopsis for the film reads: “A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath that only two teenagers and a group of psychics can stop.”
Originally published May 24, 2019. Updated May 25, 2019.
