Fans ofKatsuhiro Otomo’s mangaAkirahave been waiting several years for this project to arrive on the silver screen, but there has been very little progress since the movie was first put into development way back in 2002. A number of filmmakers have been attached since then, with the latest beingJaume Collet-Serra. But hedropped outof the project back in June. Today we have a new, unconfirmed report fromDen Of Geek, which claims thatChristopher Nolancould be makingAkirahis next directorial project, which will be the first in anAkiratrilogy.
Just last week, we reported that Warner Bros. has set a July 21, 2017release dateforChristopher Nolan’s next film, although no title or story details were given. The site claims thatAkiramay be this mystery movie set for the summer of 2017, since the filmmaker reportedly met with an unidentified filmmaker who was formerly attached to directAkira, over the past three months. The site also speculates that it’s possibleChristopher Nolancould only be coming aboard to produce, like he did with 2013’sMan of Steel.
We reported in June thatMarvel’s Daredevilshowrunner Marco Ramirez signed on to take over the writing duties onAkira. Dante Harper (Edge of Tomorrow) had previously been attached to write the screenplay. Over the years, there have been several delays on the project, but it came close to startingproductionin 2012, whenGarrett Hedlund,Kristen Stewart,Ken WatanabeandHelena Bonham Carterwere in negotiations to join the cast. The project eventually fell apart over casting, budget and script issues.
The original manga is set in Neo-Tokyo, centering on two members in a biker gang, Kaneda and Tetsuo, who become bitter rivals when one develops amazing telekinetic powers. The manga was originally a six-volume comic, so amovie trilogywould certainly make it easier to put as much of this beloved story on the big screen as possible.Leonardo DiCapriohas long been attached to produce through his Appian Way production company.
The report onChristopher Nolan’s 2017 mystery movie didn’t indicate whether he was writing the script himself, which could be a sign that this mystery project is in factAkira. While Marco Ramirez is working on the current script draft, if this does turn out to beChristopher Nolan’s project, the writer-director would certainly take a crack at the script himself. What do you think aboutChristopher Nolantaking onAkira?
