Warner Bros. Can't Decide On Akira's Second Lead Actor

Deadline reports another reason Warner Bros. has put Akira on hold is that they can't figure out who should play Tetsuo and the actors are free to walk from the project if they want to. The two actors in question are Michael Pitt (Boardwalk Empire, The Dreamers) and Dane DeHaan (In Treatment, True Blood, Chronicle) their testing options have expired so they are currently free to go after other projects.

The character is basically the meatiest role of the picture as Tetsuo goes from nerdy gangland biker to a psychotic villain with overwhelming superpowers. Yet, I'm unsure what bastardized version of Tetsuo we'll end up seeing in the film since Kaneda is now a bartender/bar owner instead of a punk biker. Out of the two I have to go with Pitt as he's been wonderful on the first two seasons of Boardwalk Empire. However, Dane DeHaan's upcoming superpower film Chronicle is gathering a lot of buzz.

Akira In Trouble, Script Issues And Budget Cuts

HeatVision reports that Warner Bros. is putting another project on ice until a new budget is worked out. Previously Aurthur And Lancelot had been on hold until a new budget was agreed upon. Akira is undergoing the same budget review. The project already had it's original budget (when director Albert Huges was attached) cut in half to a rather slim $90 million. Most tentpole comedies have a budget similar to that number. They report the studio wants that number trimmed to $60-70 I'm sure that is to cover marketing and advertising costs. Variety has it on good authority that the project-freeze is also because of Steve Kloves' (Harry Potter franchise) script which needs reworking and more development.

I can see where the studio is coming from Garrett Hundland is the only locked in actor and it's deviation from the source material has become volatile to the fanbase. I'm unsure Akira can be a success without support from fans of the manga/anime who are talking of boycotting the movie. Cutting the budget this aggressively gives the impression that the special effects budget of the film will be will likely suffer. I wouldn't be surprised to see this film look more contemporary and the science fiction elements also scaled back. Basically I assume this movie won't look anything like we understand to be from Akira.

Casting other roles has become another problem as names like Ken Watanabe, Kristen Stewart, Helena Bonham Carter have been mentioned but nobody has signed on. The biggest issue is that they haven't nailed down an actor for Testuo. Micheal Pitt (Boardwalk Empire), Toby Kebbell (RockNRolla), Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood) and Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus) were linked for testing for the part but nothing has come from it yet. There have been rounds and rounds of casting tests which haven't been that productive.

Ken Watanabe Offered Role In Akira

Twitch reports that Gary Oldman has turned down the role of the Colonel in Akira. Oldman had also been offered the Merlin role in Arthur And Lancelot. The studio has now offered the part to another Christopher Nolan regular Ken Watanabe (Inception, Batman Begins, Last Samurai). Garrett Hedlund and Kristen Stweart have been linked for the leads.

What's interesting about this move by Warner Bros. is that Ken is the first Japanese actor to ever be linked the to the project. Akira has been getting a lot of hate from fans that the casting has been mostly whitewashing. This hopefully could be the first step to casting more Japanese actors in the film.

WB Still Searching For Akira's Tetsuo, More Actors Linked

I swear that Akira has to be one of the messiest casting searches I've seen since Captain America. The studio seems to be scrambling to find their Tetsuo before Akira starts production early next year. We've heard names like James McAvoy, Andrew Garfield, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Robert Pattinson and Ezra Miller (We Need To Talk About Kevin) previously all linked for the role but nothing has come of it. Currently Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy) is in place for role of Kaneda. Other actors such as Gary Oldman, Kristen Stewart, Keira Knightley and Helena Bonham Carter have been mentioned being in the mix as well.

HeatVision has word another batch of actors will screentest for the part of Tetsuo. The new list includes Tobey Kebbell (Wrath of The Titans, RockNRolla), Michael Pitt (Dreamers, Boardwalk Empire), Richard Madden (Game of Thrones), Rami Malek (The Pacific), Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus), D.J. Controna (G.I. Joe 2) along with retests from Paul Dano (Cowboys And Aliens, There Will Be Blood) and Alden Ehrenreich. Out of this bunch I feel that Kebbell and Pitt have the best chances too pull off Tetsuo properly. While names like Malek and Madden shouldn't be overlooked as both are becoming excellent actors.

Kristen Stewart Could Play Kei In Akira

Warner Bros. has been having a really tough time nailing down it's male leads for their adaptation of Akira. Not much can be said for the few female roles as there haven't been too many names being mentioned. Now Twitch reports that Kristen Stewart is now in the mix for the role of female protagonist Kei. I'm still on the fence about Stewart in general with her terrible performances in Twilight but Huntsman could change my opinion.

A rumored offer has gone out to Helena Bonham Carter (Dark Shadows, Deathly Hollows, Fight Club) for the role of Lady and Keira Knightley (Pirates 1-3) had been linked for an unknown role. Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy, Troy) is up for the hero role of Kandea and Gary Oldman (Dark Kight) has been offered the role of the Colonel. While Ezra Miller (We Need To Talk About Kevin) and Alden Eherenreich are up for Tetsuo.

Ezra Miller & Alden Eherenreich Up For Tetsuo In Akira

HollywoodReporter says that Warner Bros. has two actors in mind to play Tetsuo in Akira. Previously there had been names mentioned like James McAvoy, Andrew Garfield, Robert Pattinson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Yet, two new actors are testing for the role they are Ezra Miller and Alden Eherenreich. Both are relatively unknown but are gathering quite an amount of cinema geek-cred. Miller is currently getting rave reviews for his performance in the thriller We Need To Talk About Kevin. Alden is best known for working with Francis Ford Coppola (Godfather) in films like Tetro and Twixt. He was also in the running to play the new Peter Park in Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man.

I think Ezra Miller might be the best of the two choices since his brooding Kevin is very similar to the latter stages of Tetsuo's descent into power-driven madness. Other names that have been circling the project include Garrett Hedlund, Gary Oldman, Helena Bonham Carter and Keira Knightley.

Four Possible Actors In The Running For Akira's Tetsuo

Now that Garrett Hedlund is likely taking the role of Kaneda in Akira there is the possibility we already know who might be up for the second lead of Tetsuo. Hedlund was apart of casting group for his part and there was a second smaller group testing for Tetsuo. That group included James McAvoy (Wanted, X-Men First Class), Andrew Garfield (Amazing Spider-Man, Social Network) and Robert Pattinson. Joseph Gordon-Levitt had been linked for the role when it was originally reported Warner Bros. was going to develop the project.

I wouldn't count Joseph out of the race until an actual name is attached. He's been quietly gathering steam at the studio starring in Christopher Nolan's Inception and The Dark Knight Rises. Not to mention working with DiCaprio (who is a producer) on two films including Quentin Tarantino's upcoming Django Unchained. James McAvoy might be a good fit but he has sequels on the horizon that include Wanted 2 and a X-Men First Class sequel. Andrew Garfield might have a little more leeway than James as he only has Amazing Spider-Man 2 coming up which might go into production until the first film's box office numbers come back. It's expected that Akira will be starting production soon. While I don't entirely count out Robert Pattinson he is going to turn off the male audiences who attribute him to the quality bankrupt Twilight franchise. Not a good idea since there is already enough hate on this project without terrible casting choices.

Keira Knightley Also Linked For Akira

HeatVision is confirming previous reports that both Gary Oldman (The Colonel) and Garrett Hedlund (Kaneda) are wanted by Warner Bros. for Akira. Twitch and HeatVision both report Helena Bonham Carter is involved, she's been rumored for Lady Miyako. There are still a bunch of large parts still up for grabs and a fourth actor is now in the mix.

Someone new mentioned is Keira Knightley who is likely in mind for the role of Kei. A revolutionary who ends up helping Kaneda when his friend and fellow biker gang member Tetsuo is mixed up with military medical experiments. Knightley is best known internationally for her role as Elizabeth Swan in the original Pirates of The Caribbean trilogy. She's been itching for a new blockbuster as she's been testing for films like The Dark Knight Rises and Captain America The First Avenger recently. Keira previously played a rough and fast-talking bounty hunter in Tony Scott's Domino, so she might fit well in this role.

Warner Bros. Wants Gary Oldman For Akira And Arthur

Deadline reports that Warner Bros. is pursuing Gary Oldman for two roles in upcoming tentpoles. They confirm the previous report that Gary is wanted for the role of the Colonel in Jaume Collet-Serra's  Akira alongside front-runner Garrett Hedlund. The studio is also pursing him for the role of Merlin in David Dobkin's Arthur And Lancelot in which Joel Kinnaman is a favorite for Lancelot. There is a strong chance that Oldman could end up with an Oscar nomination for his performance in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. So it seems like a smart move on the part of Warner Bros. to lock him up for a bunch of projects. 

Garrett Hedlund Now In Official Talks For Akira

Variety reports that front-runner Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy, Troy) has been offered the role of Kaneda in Akira and is now in talks with Warner Bros. Hedlund had been in the running since the original group of actors were revealed. Twitch previously mentioned that Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter could be up for roles as well. It will be directed by Jaume Collet-Serra with a script from Steve Kloves (Amazing Spider-Man) who is best known for writing a majority of the Harry Potter screenplays.

Gary Oldman & Helena Bonham Carter Offered Roles For Akira?

Twitch is reporting that Warner Bros. have offered another two roles for Akira. This time is it's Gary Oldman for the role of the Colonel and Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Miyako. Neither are strangers to genre based projects and are darlings at the studio. Oldman and Carter previously worked together in the Harry Potter franchise. It's not out of the question that these heavy weight actors will end up in the film but it's simiply a rumor at this point. Morgan Freeman had long been rumored for the role that Oldman is being offered. Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy) apparently is the front-runner for one of the leads.

Akira Gets The Greenlight, Garrett Hedlund Front-Runner

Variety reports Warner Bros. have decided to move forward with the adaptation of Akira with a new budget of $90 million. It's a big change from the projected $200 million when Albert Hughes was involved. Jaume Collet-Serra the Spanish director best known for Unknown will be helming the project with Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy, Troy) as the front-runner.

Jaume Collet-Serra doesn't instill excitement but Garrett could be interesting. Otherwise my expectations for Akira have dropped tenfold. The only good thing seems like the digital effects will be very limited with a budget like this which could mean they'll go more practical. Let's just hope they end up pursing solid actors to fill out other roles.

Warner Bros. To Decide On The Fate Of Akira Soon

ShowBlitz reports that the studio is going to be making to decision to greenlight their Akira adaptation or not. The project has had a long history of problems loosing two of it's directors and testing many actors but nothing came from it. Names like Michael Fassbender (First Class, Prometheus, 300), James McAvoy (First Class, Wanted), Andrew Garfield (Amazing Spider-Man, Social Network), Keanu Reeves (Matrix Trilogy, Point Break, Speed), Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy), Chris Pine (Star Trek 1-2, This Means War), Justin Timberlake (Social Network) and Joaquin Phoenix have been linked for testing.

Fans had been angry over the whitewash casting along with moving the location from Tokyo to Manhattan. It's budget was also too large likely since the whole movie is a gamble at this point. The studio wouldn't want to spend too much money if the fanbase isn't there. Last summer they gambled with high-concept Green Lantern which turned out to be a critical and financial blunder.

Actors Start Testing For Bourne Legacy

Deadline reports that Tony Gilroy's Bourne Legacy is heating up as the first group of actors to test have been revealed. They include Joel Edgerton (The Thing, Animal Kingdom, Warrior, King Aurthur), Luke Evans (Three Musketeers, The Raven, Immortals), Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy, Troy) and Dominic Cooper (Captain America, An Education).

Joel and Luke are my favorites of this group. Cooper doesn't seem a good fit for the Bourne franchise. Garrett has been linked to other films like Akira and Daredevil so I'm not sure how interest he would be.

Short-List Of Actors For Akira Revealed

Warner Bros. had previously hit some bumps when James Franco and Mila Kunis passed on Akira to make Oz, The Great & Powerful. They the hired Steve Kloves (Amazing Spider-Man, Harry Potter) screenwriter to rework the script and now have a short list of actors for the two leads. Deadline reports that the new script has been given to Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake and Joaquin Phoenix for the role of Kaneda. Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield and James McAvoy are up for the role of Tetsuo.

Garrett Hedlund and Andrew Garfield are my favorites for the leads. Hedlund recently stepped into the world of blockbuster leads with Tron Legacy which he turned down Captain America for. Andrew Garfield is another great name to have involved as part of the best movie of last year (Social Network) and becoming the new Spider-Man his star is quickly rising.

James McAvoy could also fit the role of Tetsuo nicely. Chris Pine and Michael Fassbender are likely busy with Star Trek 2 and Prometheus. While Robert Pattinson and Justin Timberlake will give an instant cringe factor to the fanbase. Joaquin Phoenix seems too creditable and a little too old for the film.

Bradley Cooper Rumored Frontrunner For Daredevil, Garrett Hedlund Also Interested

This sounds more promising than the previous rumor that Robert Pattinson would take up the red jumpsuit in the Daredevil reboot. Two seperate new rumors suggest that Bradley Cooper (Hangover, Limitless) is the frontrunner and Garrett Hedlund (Troy, Tron Legacy) is also in the mix for the lead.

Garrett had been in the running for Captain America but dropped out early to commit to Tron Legacy and it's sequel. As the Captain America role we be a commitment to six films not leaving much room for Tron 3. Cooper also tested for a superhero role when he was almost locked in as Green Lantern until Ryan Reynolds swooped in and took the role. Bradley is becoming a bigger name but has yet to jump in role of an action lead. Besides his supporting role in the underwhelming A-Team which was a 20th Century Fox film. He's been linked for The Flash but seems like he had a bad experience testing for Green Lantern and won't be doing any DC films anytime soon. A Marvel film might suit Bradley better as I thought he'd make an excellent Hawkeye before Jeremy Renner landed the role. I'd be happy with either of them yet it's still in early stages of development so these won't be the only names attached to the reboot.

Cillian Murphy & David Warner To Be Villains In Tron 3?

AICN reports some details on the possible Tron 3 teaser trailer footage which includes three scenes. I don't consider these spoilers since it's only from a trailer and could end up being false. One of the scenes involve Qurra (Olivia Wilde) arriving at ENCOM to announce to the press she has spoken with Kevin Flynn. Another involves interaction between Alan (Bruce Boxleitner) and Ram (Dan Shor). The last could reveal the film's villains with Ed Dillinger (David Warner) plotting with son Ed Dillinger Jr. (Cillian Murphy).

RUMOR: Tron 3 Greenlit & Teaser Trailer On Blu Ray?

Tron fansite Tron-Sector reports that Tron 3 is moving forward and the Blu Ray release of Tron Legacy will include a teaser trailer for it. I would dismiss this type of rumor but it does make sense when director Joseph Kosinski is involved. The one reason it's possible is that Disney moved forward with hiring screenwriters to work on the second film during post-production of Legacy. Kosinski famously shot his own test footage which ended up being shown at Comic-Con before the film had even start it's production. It also isn't out of the question that Disney commissioned bridge scenes that never made the final film. The studio only said they would commit to another sequel if the returns were good. Legacy has just made over $300 Million worldwide so it's been profitable. Not including it's video game, merchandise and DVD/Blu Ray sales.

Joseph Kosinski Teases The Return of Cillian Murphy In Tron 3

Tron Legacy director Joseph Kosinski was dropping hints on what could possibly go on in Tron 3 (via SpinoffOnline). While I'll avoid spoiling the film one character he mentions spends all of two minutes in the movie. Ed Dillinger Jr., the son of the first film's villain shows up in a very brief cameo played by Cillian Murphy (Inception). You don't get a great read on the character knowing if he's good or bad but I'd like to see him return none the less.

It's unknown at this point when we could see Tron 3 go into production since it's currently at the scripting stage and has yet to be greenlit by Disney. Tron Legacy writers have been put onto working the sequel and could very well have something for the studio soon. Disney has been vocal of rounding out a trilogy. Tron very well could be the studios' science fiction version of Pirates of Carribean and develop into a decent franchise. It's expected Disney could be waiting on the final worldwide box office returns before moving forward with a sequel.

Disney has two other projects lined up for director Joseph Kosinski. The first one is a remake of the classic Disney science fiction movie Black Hole. That one is still in the scripting phase with Travis Beacham (Clash of The Titans, Pacific Rim) working on it. The other is an original concept from Kosinski titled Oblivion. The studio has hired Oscar winning writer William Monahan (Departed, Kingdom of Heaven) to handle the script. The film revolves around a repairman named Jak who finds himself on a life-altering adventure after he discovers a mysterious woman in a crashed pod