Warner Bros. has set a May 21, 2021, release date for Taika Waititi’s live-action remake of Akira.
Over thirty years after Katsuhiro Otomo animated feature adaptation of Akira was released, Warner Bros. is set to release a live-action remake of the film with Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waiti at the helm. While the project has been in development since Warner Bros. first acquired the option to produce a live-action remake of Akira in 2002 and passed through many potential filmmakers before Taika Waiti signed on the helm the film, the studio is finally moving forward with the movie and set the aforementioned May 21, 2021, release date.
Taika Waititi has previously stated he plans to adapt the six books in the manga series written and illustrated by Katsuhiro Otomo, as opposed to solely remaking the 1988 animated Akira film.
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“When a young man’s telekinesis is discovered by the military, he is taken in to be turned into a super weapon and his brother nuts race to save him before Manhattan is destroyed by his powers. Kaneda is a bar owner in Neo-Manhattan who is stunned when his brother Tetsuo is abducted by Government agents lead by the Colonel. Desperate to get his brother back, Kaneda agrees to join Ky Reed and her underground movement who are intent on revealing to the world what truly happened to New York City 30 years ago when it was destroyed. Kaneda believes their theories to be ludicrous, but after facing 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 to save his brother before Akira once again destroys Manhattan island as he did thirty years ago.”
Directed by Taika Waititi, Akira is being produced by Leonardo DiCaprio through his Appian Way Productions alongside Jennifer Davisson.
Akira will be released in theaters on May 21, 2021.
Source: The Wrap
