The live-action version of AKIRA has had a rocky road on its way to the big screen. Most recently, it lost its director, Albert Hughes, who left because of creative differences. This was after the departure of star Keanu Reeves, who had long been attached to the property. However, these hiccups, no matter how big, weren’t about to halt Warner Bros. from keeping the sci-fi epic on the fast track, and it appears as though they’ve settled on their new helmer.
Variety reports that Jaume Collet-Serra, who directed the modestly-budgeted hits UNKNOWN and ORPHAN for Warner Bros., is the studio’s choice to captain the AKIRA ship.
Evidently, the film has now been “reenvisioned as a $90 million tentpole.” I guess $90 million can be considered a rather thrifty budget for a film that has this size and scale.
The screenplay for AKIRA has been toiled over by many, including Gary Whitta, Albert Torres, IRON MAN scribes Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus, and, most recently, longtime HARRY POTTER screenwriter Steve Kloves. Hopefully one or two of these guys have nailed the damn thing.
Collet-Serra directed the pilot for ABC’s upcoming horror series “The River”. This after UNKNOWN was a success worldwide, gathering over $130 million off of a budget of approximately $30 mil. There’s no doubt the guy can do a lot with a little – so does that make him the ideal man for this job?
UNKNOWN star Diane Kruger
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