Jonathan Nolan Might Rewrite Akira Script

Variety has expanded on their original tweet involving Warner Bros. looking to rewrite Steve Kloves' (Harry Potter films) script for Akira. They mention that the studio is currently looking at Jonathan Nolan and Michael Green for the rewriting job. Nolan is the younger brother of Christopher Nolan and is responsible for helping him write films like Memento, The Prestige, The Dark Knight and the upcoming Dark Knight Rises. The former of which earned the screenwriter an Oscar nomination. Michael on the other hand is mostly known for television work and last summer's biggest flop Green Lantern. He apparently was hired to write a sequel to Green Lantern (why?) and for an adaptation of The Flash. The Nolan name could bring some much needed pedigree to the ailing project. Which in turn could attract better known and established actors to the cast.

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.

Warner Bros. Looking For Writers To Script Man Of Steel Sequel?

ThinkMcFlyThink reports that Warner Bros. is moving forward with a sequel to Man of Steel the Superman reboot from director Zack Snyder (Watchmen, 300). The studio is currently looking at writers to pen a script for the sequel.

The writers in question include Steve Kloves (Akira, Amazing Spider-Man, Harry Potter Series), Travis Beacham (Pacific Rim, Clash of The Titans) and Lawrence Kasdan (Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of The Lost Ark, Paradise Lost).

While I don't know all the legality of the Superman rights dispute the studio could lose the film rights if they don't keep making films. I'm sure they are happy with what Snyder and the excellent cast are delivering but I feel this could be just a way for the studio to keep their lawyers happy. That's of course this is even true as this very well could be just a rumor.

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.

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.