"Akira" Live-Action Plot and Preliminary Casting Revealed
Four cast members listed by Acting Auditions employment site for actors
Following up on our coverage of the Akira live-action adaptation, an employment site for actors by the name of Acting Auditions has revealed the new plot and the preliminary casting of four characters for the film. The plot follows below with the preliminary cast after it.
Plot:
Kaneda is a bar owner in Neo-Manhattan who is stunned when his brother, Tetsuo, is abducted by government agents led by The Colonel.
Desperate to get his brother back, Kaneda agrees to join with Ky Reed and her underground movement who are intent on revealing to the world what truly happened to New York City thirty years ago when it was destroyed. Kaneda believes their theories to be ludicrous but after finding his brother again, is shocked when he displays telekinetic powers.
Ky believes Tetsuo is headed to release a young boy, Akira, who has taken control of Tetsuo's mind. Kaneda clashes with The Colonel's troops on his way to stop Tetsuo from releasing Akira but arrives too late. Akira soon emerges from his prison courtesy of Tetsuo as Kaneda races in to save his brother before Akira once again destroys Manhattan island, as he did thirty years ago.
The site also listed the following actors as part of the preliminary cast for the film:
- Kristen Stewart as Ky
- Garret Hedlund as Kaneda
- Helena Bonham-Carter as Lady Miyako
- Ken Watanabe as The Colonel
This follows earlier news this month of the above actors being offered the above roles within the past month.
Current Akira Situation:
Garrett Hedlund in line for Kaneda
Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter offered The Colonel, Lady Miyako
Keira Knightley approached for undisclosed role
Casting call seeks Japanese-American for Yamagata
Warner Bros. has two potentials for AKIRA's Tetsuo
Twilight's Kristen Stewart Offered Role As Kei in Akira
Gary Oldman on Live-Action Akira Role Offer
via ANN
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11/29/11 by bakanogami
yeah, that's a plus but the first movie wasn't very faithful either. the story is too epic to be compressed into a 2 hr movie
11/29/11 by bakanogami
okay, trying to keep an open mind here but this has FAIL written all over it. Kristen Stewart????? Are they for real?
11/29/11 by coolworlds
It failed the moment i read 'Kaneda is a bar owner..' the rest was like watching a wallstreet crash happening in slow motion. i don't us these words often but on such occassions it is necessary.
EPIC FAIL!
EPIC FAIL!
Come on everybody, lets jump on the Fail Train. I like many of you really want to see exactly when this thing derails and kills us all.
ikr, i honestly think the whole movie will flop vs. steven Spielberg trying to push a live adaption of ghost in the shell. i only say it would do good because Spielberg usually does si- fi genre Justice . warner bros was gonna originally have tom cruise direct akira...thats almost as bhad as Kristen Stewart offered the akira role.
Agreed. I was in denial up until the point I had to Google her name to see if she was actually who I thought. This has the great potential to suck the big one. Plus it just... doesn't follow. They're taking it in a neat direction, sure, but then they could at least come up with their own movie and not ruin this awesome story.
I know!!.....but....that's Hollywood for ya...
11/29/11 by bakanogami
I know, how does this crappy actress from a lame vampire series keep getting cast (casting couch?) She's supposed to be butchering Snow White too.
11/29/11 by brightredglow
To each his/her own, but I like Kristen Stewart and she hasn't ruined any of the films that I've seen her in. She's actually a pretty damn good actress.
11/30/11 by IchigoPikaPika
If by good you mean her amazing ability to stair blankly in ANY direction with her mouth gaping open. Or perhaps you mean her uncanny ability to play with her hair every 5 min in an attempt to push her character's innocence. Or maybe it's the way she bites her lip all the time to convey her nervousness.
If you think she's a good actress... Then I question who you think is bad.
If you think she's a good actress... Then I question who you think is bad.
It depends on the movie, really. Like, personally, I thought she was good with Dakota Fanning in... ffff I forget the name of it, but she was all right in that. But then there's the Twilight movies; she wasn't exactly a star in those. Basically... she has her moments, but she's by no means great.
But as you said, to each his/her own. It's really all a matter of opinion. Which is probably a good thing.
But as you said, to each his/her own. It's really all a matter of opinion. Which is probably a good thing.
i could care less the actors i just hate whenever they change the plot of something totally when made into a film from something else, kaneda bar owner and tetsuo WTF!!!
bar was marginal/anecdote and they where fellow gang members/best of friends not brothers!
havn't read manga but movie was what got me into anime in the first place so plot change really pisses me off -_-
bar was marginal/anecdote and they where fellow gang members/best of friends not brothers!
havn't read manga but movie was what got me into anime in the first place so plot change really pisses me off -_-
11/29/11 by bakanogami
the movie made no sense, you need to read the manga to really understand what was going on
11/29/11 by bakanogami
but I'm like you Akira was what got me into anime too, but the way they made it, its almost like a collage of elements thrown in to the movie because they simply didn't have enough time to give them the attention the deserved. The Pill on the back of Kaneda's jacket is one, Joker, the leader of the Clowns is another, Lady Miyako who they show getting killed on the bridge. all these things are like nods to the source, as if to say to the audience, "We know this isn't all it should be but its the best we could to with 125 minutes"
11/29/11 by coolworlds
yeah the manga is definately better off being turned into a series. there's just so much going on it really was almost imposible to fit it all into a single film.
But i think what they did do with the film is to really get how the story felt and what the characters would act and behave like. So if you saw the film and then read the manga it's almost like you can here and see them act on a page. Like wise if you read the manga the film just adds more to what you've already read like those bike sceans and the guys being crushed in the corridor by tetsuo.
But this doen't even do that. It's just like they've mine'd a story for elements they liked but just ignored to rest. If only the japanese film industry could hook up with ILM, and pine wood studio's we could have a real monster of a film on our hands. But that just isn't going to happen.
But i think what they did do with the film is to really get how the story felt and what the characters would act and behave like. So if you saw the film and then read the manga it's almost like you can here and see them act on a page. Like wise if you read the manga the film just adds more to what you've already read like those bike sceans and the guys being crushed in the corridor by tetsuo.
But this doen't even do that. It's just like they've mine'd a story for elements they liked but just ignored to rest. If only the japanese film industry could hook up with ILM, and pine wood studio's we could have a real monster of a film on our hands. But that just isn't going to happen.
11/30/11 by coolworlds
oh don't get me wrong. I love Akira it's one of my favourite films of all time and also one of the films that got me into watching anime and reading manga. I own every version ever released, vhs, dvd's, blu-ray.
Im just saying that after i read the manga i realised just how much was missing/ how much they had to fit into the film. So what they did was great as it stands on it's own, so if you either read Akira or watch it it compliments both forms of that story without really detracting from it.
Where as this live action film won't really have anything to do with the source material other than it name.
Im just saying that after i read the manga i realised just how much was missing/ how much they had to fit into the film. So what they did was great as it stands on it's own, so if you either read Akira or watch it it compliments both forms of that story without really detracting from it.
Where as this live action film won't really have anything to do with the source material other than it name.
11/30/11 by coolworlds
If anyone ever seen Miyazaki's 'Nausicaa of the valley of the wind' It's more or less the same situation. The fim is 90minutes but theres 14 books worth thats missing from the film. The film itself stands on its own it's a timeless classic. But the manga, it just blows you away.
11/29/11 by AlphaOtaku7
You know, now that I come to think of it I really should read the manga. I mean I own the movie, have watched it, and love it but it sounds like there is so much more going on in the manga that now I am really interested in reading it as apposed to before where at one time I thought the manga was done after the movie. Now don't ask why I thought that because for awhile I didn't realize that Akira was a manga.
11/30/11 by coolworlds
It's 6 Monster sized volumes. A worth every penny if your buying them, the detail in the work is almost at OCD levels and to this day still has some of the best backgrounds you will ever see drawn in a manga. ( it's also one of the reasons it always printed at full size rather than pocket book ) Yeah they're's so many plots and side stories and characters etc deffinately worth the read.
11/29/11 by kitsuneshoujo
You COULDNT care less... please for the love of Akira, get the expression right. >.<
11/29/11 by sortoffaerygirl
Not only "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" but "HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS" as well...
Write it down now: this movie will LOSE MONEY...
/tragically mishandled anime property yet again
Write it down now: this movie will LOSE MONEY...
/tragically mishandled anime property yet again
"Tetsuo, is abducted by government agents led by The Colonel."
Lol why does KFC want Tetsuo?
Lol why does KFC want Tetsuo?
11/29/11 by coolworlds
hahaha lol
i can totally see the colonel having a go at tetsuo but with a voice like foghorn leghorn.
like this http://youtu.be/-LCsiWL6gn0
i can totally see the colonel having a go at tetsuo but with a voice like foghorn leghorn.
like this http://youtu.be/-LCsiWL6gn0
11/29/11 by bakanogami
He's afraid that Tetsuo's mind powers will unlock the secret of the 14 herbs & spices
11/29/11 by coolworlds
'help me kaneda.... im loosing control... i can feel it... Flour, egg, bbq seasoning, pubes.. ARRRRGGGGGGGG!!'
Hand expoldes and reaches for kaneda's family bucket
Hand expoldes and reaches for kaneda's family bucket
I will for sure NOT be seeing this movie!!! Raise your hand if you are with me on this lol! I mean come on you have Kristen Stewart in it?!?! Have these people even SEEN or read Akira? ...smh
11/29/11 by sortoffaerygirl
Not only should it not be seen.... it should be protested!!!
#OccupyAkira!
#OccupyAkira!
Agreed! Everyone should tag #OccupyAkira!
11/29/11 by sortoffaerygirl
I sent a Tweet to George Takei, since he led the last Akira protest. Hopefully, he will pick up #OccupyAkira! ...
If he doesn't, everyone else should Tweet it... see if we can get this trending.
If he doesn't, everyone else should Tweet it... see if we can get this trending.
Sweet! Whats your twitter so that I can retweet it?
11/29/11 by bakanogami
I will probably pirate it, I won't lie. but that's just as good, right?
lmao! Just about!
#OccupyAkira
#OccupyAkira
11/29/11 by sortoffaerygirl
No no no... #OccupyAkira! ... the exclamation point is key! :P ((it isn't really, since hashtags break on punctuation... but STILL :P))
Oops! My bad! lol!
#OccupyAkira!
#OccupyAkira!
I think i petition should be started to not see this movie, this is horrid.
Granted Ken Watanabe as the general seems awesome, that is if they were doing a live action Akira... And not a movie loosely based on Akira.
Granted Ken Watanabe as the general seems awesome, that is if they were doing a live action Akira... And not a movie loosely based on Akira.
11/29/11 by kitsuneshoujo
LOLOLOLOL Kristen Stewart... thats what we need horrible acting coupled with lots of gaspy lip-sucking.
11/29/11 by sortoffaerygirl
Twitter... here... where ever else we can get this out... this aggression will not stand :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jafd97yJFOI
11/29/11 by Castor2641
WTF! Bar Owner?! Leave it to Hollywood to muck up the plot. I also smell a fail. Maybe like Dragon Ball movie fail. Aiyahhhh!
11/29/11 by kitsuneshoujo
The fallout from Airbender supposedly sucking (I liked it), will pale in comparison to the backlash from this suckfest.
Oh please do not mention Airbender or Dragonball! Both make me want to upchuck!!!
#OccupyAkira!
#OccupyAkira!
11/30/11 by IchigoPikaPika
I actually liked Dragon Ball if I don't think at all about the fact that it's supposed to be based off of Dragon Ball.
11/29/11 by admiral1983
As soon as I read the first line of the plot I heard a toilet flush in Hollywood and that's where this movie is. I mean this could not get any worse unless half way through Gilbert godfried came alone and insult the reminder of the loyal Akita fans that gave this film a chance. I suspect in the end this film will just be an orgy of big explosions and some sort of disneyfied finish at the end. It seems to me that the writers have ignored the original its plot is gone I bet the physically Injested the manga and preceded to deficate
11/29/11 by bakanogami
That's Hollywood for you, That's why most of my entertainment is from other countries
11/29/11 by admiral1983
deficate this obomination i gives me great indigestion that hollywood expect people to swallow this faces. i just like to say im officiall boycotting this movie
+1 here, I will not pay for this bull
11/29/11 by admiral1983
i think the japanese entertainment industry should take revenge and remake classic hollywood movies
11/29/11 by bakanogami
wouldn't work, the Japanese Entertainment Industry takes too much pride in its work
11/29/11 by kitsuneshoujo
I think they would rather commit seppuku rather than remake half the crap that considers itself "entertainment" in holywood...
I too rarely watch US tv or movies anymore. K-dramas and anime are much more entertaining.
I too rarely watch US tv or movies anymore. K-dramas and anime are much more entertaining.
K-drama entertaining? Eww.
Its a good thing I'm not you.
Its a good thing I'm not you.
11/30/11 by admiral1983
i look at those hollywood movies that are just big explosions and a little bit of plot as an after thourght and i think surly it can be done better?
11/30/11 by IchigoPikaPika
It would just end up being a good movie, you see. I'd like to see Japan do Back to the Future. I think they'd do a great job of it.
Going to watch it for the lolz, but I'm not going to spend money on it to see it in theaters. I might just watch small clips on youtube. xD
This is so not cool, not cool at all, fix it hollywood, you still have time. PLEASE, NOBODY WANTS THIS, JUST LOOK AT ALL THESE COMMENTS
11/29/11 by kitsuneshoujo
You know, you have a point there. I might have to get a bootleg of it to see how horribad it really is.
Yeah I will wait till it fails in the moive theatre, then fail in the $2 movie theatre and then finally shows up on netflix instant. In no way will I purposely spend money to see this...
They must want the film to do bad if they're picking those so called 'actors'.
11/29/11 by brightredglow
I bet half the ppl posting haven't even read the manga and frankly, the movie is a series of scenes but hardly a story. I have concerns about the adaptation. I'd like to see more diversity in the cast for one. But there are a lot of elements that they can improve upon, especially in the last volume. As for the cast listed, no one is confirmed, but I know it is fashionable to bash Kristen Stewart, but I like her a lot and having seen most of her work, she does have the chops to take on the role of Kei/Ky. I was iffy on Carter but having re-read the manga this past weekend, I think she could pull it off. Watanabe is way better than Oldman as the Colonel. Obviously, given the subject matter, they had to age up the characters so I'll reserve judgment on Hedlund. Wouldn't mind seeing someone like Gina Torres as Chiyoko. Tetsuo's casting is key. I do hope that they change names. But as for 'another bad adaptation of manga/anime'? Please. This is the first real attempt by a major studio to adapt a manga to screen. Speed Racer doesn't count.
11/29/11 by kitsuneshoujo
You like her a lot and that invalidates half your comment, since you are biased and therefore defensive of anyone "fashionably bashing" her. ;)
Did Hollywood run out of people to cast? I'm sorry, but Kristen Stewart hasn't sold me in any of her roles since "Panic Room" (2002) when she was 12 playing an epileptic.
Aside from her, I'm happy for Helena Bonham-Carter and Ken Watanabe. Both of them are amazing.
Aside from her, I'm happy for Helena Bonham-Carter and Ken Watanabe. Both of them are amazing.
Yes big hollywood....please stick another knife into my childhood. ala Dragonball live action etc...
Way too much hate imo. The story is pretty much identical and the only bad casting is Kristen Stewart imo. Then again, I thought the first Akira was pretty bad outside of visual spectacle so I've never held in as high regards as others do. To me this movie seems like it could be decent, which is equal or better than what the anime was.
I hate everything about this. T_______________T
11/29/11 by AlphaOtaku7
You know one way or another this will be a flop or be somewhat successful. Either way I have given up worrying or even caring at this point because it is being made anyways. And there is not dam thing I can do about that. But from reading this plot, I probably will just not go see it. I was against them making this into a live action like so many others to begin with. There are somethings that should not be touched.
nooooooooooooooo fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! Dx all of this makes me wanna cry </3 fu-- Stewart! D<
11/30/11 by Maderu
I'm still wondering if they're going to keep the Japanese names for the American actors, somehow the names just don't fit the faces. =/ Truth be told I'm perfectly fine with them changing the plot to fit American audiences so long as they don't call it Akira and maybe instead call it something else and say it was "loosely based on the manga".
The only thing I am really disappointed in is; Kristen Stewart. She's not pretty, not talented, and that has nothing to do with me not liking the Twilight movies, I didn't like her before either. (I actually hated the Twilight movies because of the glittery vampires and Robert P - bugs the hell out of me with his stoner looks)
Anyway hopefully this is just speculation casting and they might change it up, but because of all the publicity Kristen Stewart is getting its doubtful they'll find someone better to cast and we fans who hate her will have to hope she'll find something else to get stuck between her gap like teeth. If anything at least this will encourage book stores to stock up on the manga and perhaps even America to release a Special Edition of Akira (the anime of course).
Thats all the ranting I feel like doing, peace out.
The only thing I am really disappointed in is; Kristen Stewart. She's not pretty, not talented, and that has nothing to do with me not liking the Twilight movies, I didn't like her before either. (I actually hated the Twilight movies because of the glittery vampires and Robert P - bugs the hell out of me with his stoner looks)
Anyway hopefully this is just speculation casting and they might change it up, but because of all the publicity Kristen Stewart is getting its doubtful they'll find someone better to cast and we fans who hate her will have to hope she'll find something else to get stuck between her gap like teeth. If anything at least this will encourage book stores to stock up on the manga and perhaps even America to release a Special Edition of Akira (the anime of course).
Thats all the ranting I feel like doing, peace out.
11/30/11 by IchigoPikaPika
"Robert P - bugs the hell out of me with his stoner looks"
HEY! Take that back! He doesn't look like a stoner at all! He looks like he has to take a poop! >:(
HEY! Take that back! He doesn't look like a stoner at all! He looks like he has to take a poop! >:(
11/30/11 by IchigoPikaPika
So.... Are they keeping the Japanese names.... using American actors... setting it in America... and pretending that's not weird at all?
11/30/11 by animecrazy14
WTF is with that plot? Are you people mad?! It will NEVER work!!!!!!!!
11/30/11 by Leon_Evolon
"Kaneda is a bar owner" ... I laughed. It was a loud, high-pitched laugh saturated in sadness and confusion. Surely this will be modified before the production begins.
Bar owner? New York?? What the hell?
We may have a live-action adaptation that is worse than The Last Airbender in the making here!
We may have a live-action adaptation that is worse than The Last Airbender in the making here!
...he's...a bar owner...? No...gang? I fail to see how they can screw it up that bad...does this mean its going to be disney or something that they dont like giving the main character or sidekicks a bad, even anti-hero, or evil reputation...owell...probobly will have to wait to see...but it looks bad from the first sentence there.
Oh no, if that were the case he wouldn't even own a bar; thar be boozes there! :U Bad people go to bars! *waggles finger* Mother doesn't approve.
That's why they probably cast Stewart - to pull in her fan-base.
They're not counting on the actual fans of the original works. If they really wanted to make a "good" film they could just re-imagine it like what they did with "Star Trek".
I really like how they mention nothing about the whole social dystrophy and anarchy going on. Guess they're gonna ignore that Ky was seen as a domestic terrorist as well.
They're not counting on the actual fans of the original works. If they really wanted to make a "good" film they could just re-imagine it like what they did with "Star Trek".
I really like how they mention nothing about the whole social dystrophy and anarchy going on. Guess they're gonna ignore that Ky was seen as a domestic terrorist as well.
i read somewhere that warner bros wants AKIRA to be a ''TENT POLE'' film to replace the void left by
the end of the harry potter franchise., if your wondering what a tent pole movie is, aparently it's a big
buget action movie that not only turn a profit,but will make enough money to support the studio while
thay develop movie they want to make.
the end of the harry potter franchise., if your wondering what a tent pole movie is, aparently it's a big
buget action movie that not only turn a profit,but will make enough money to support the studio while
thay develop movie they want to make.
Never have I so fervently wished for a plague of THE UNDEAD to rise from their graves and end this madness!
Not even Helen Bonham-Carter can save this tragedy in the making.
Not even Helen Bonham-Carter can save this tragedy in the making.
*sigh* I don't want to live on this planet anymore.....
i thought ok their going more with the manga version, thats ok. who the main guy? that guy not bad. whos the main girl?.....*WAAAaGHHHHHHBLEEEEH* why!!!! why is it always her now!? *sigh* ill see how she does but im definatley not happy about it. >:l
Well, hollywood just doesn't get it. And the biggest insult of them all was to use a Twlight actress in this movie.
Twlight fans are not the same as anime fans. Another anime property riuned, another setback for anime acceptance in the mainstream.
Twlight fans are not the same as anime fans. Another anime property riuned, another setback for anime acceptance in the mainstream.
12/1/11 by panzerveps
Smells big fail a long way..
Man, I hate hollywood reproductions..
Pathfinder was a good example of how a remake should not be done.
Man, I hate hollywood reproductions..
Pathfinder was a good example of how a remake should not be done.
12/3/11 by DarthPieStalker
Ok, so Neo-Tokyo is now Neo-Manhattan. But what's with the names remaining the same? That's just race bending.
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