Akira Replica Gun on Sale!

Eddie Paul Industries is advertising a replica of a laser gun from Katsuhiro Otomo's anime film Akira on the online classifieds services Craigslist. The company is offering the non-firing replica gun for US$1,000.

Last month, Eddie Paul Industries offered a replica of the motorcycle from Akira for sale. The motorcycle had been used in Kanye West's music video "Stronger," which included several scenes inspired by the anime film. However, the gun currently for sale does not appear in the video, nor does the advertisement state that the gun was used in the filming of the video.

Source: Ani.me via Anime News Network

Takei: No Caucasian Actors on Akira Movie

Star Trek actor George Takei, has taken a stand against the practice of casting Causasian actors on live action adaptations of popular novels, manga and anime series, especially on the upcoming Akira live action movie.

Takei, an American actor with Japanese decent, has publicly asked Warner Brothers execs to re-consider before any official decisions are made. In the film industry, it's become pretty much common practice for big-screen adaptations to be what's known as "whitewashed," which means the studios casting white actors in roles that are meant for other ethnicities!

Here's an excerpt from the said interview courtesy of The Advocate:

Why do you think there seems to be a reluctance to cast Asian-American actors in leading roles?

I don’t think it’s a reluctance, they just don’t know better. They have the experience of Shyamalan’s project, and I would think any savvy production company would learn from that. So I’m really baffled by the lack of learning from experience. Hollywood doesn’t like failures, and there’s a string of failures in the past. With this effort, I’m trying to warn them of what is likely to happen with this Akira project.

What would you ideally like to see happen with the Akira adaptation?

Well, ideally, they should do it properly and get Asian-American actors cast in those roles. In the adaptation they would of course be speaking in English and understandable to a popular American audience. That’s the whole point. They bought a project that is popular and enormously loved by its fans, and if they want the fan following to support the film, that’s the way you do it.

It has been rumored before that the scripts for Tetsuo, a guy who was abducted by the government due to a research, were sent to Robert Pattinson (which he later cleared up), Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man 2012) and James McAvoy (X-Men: First Class), while the scripts for the bike gang leader Kaneda, were send to Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy), Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class), Chris Pine (Star Trek), Justin Timberlake (The Social Network) and Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line).

The story of of the original Akira anime film takes place in the rebuilt Neo Tokyo where a leader of a biker gang saves his friend from a medical experiment. Akira has been one of Warner Bros' high priority projects since the studio with Legendary Pictures acquired it for a 7-figure sum 2 years ago from manga publisher Kodansha. The intention has been to make 2 films, each covering 3 books in the series.

Source: JEFusion

Kanye West's Custom Akira Motorcycle, For Sale

MTV's Geek News blog reports that Kanye West's replica of Kaneda's famous motorcycle of Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira was put on sale on Craiglist for US$ 4,000! As of press time, the ad for this replica is now expired and it is not sure what is the fate of the this motorcycle, but whoever bought this replica must be one happy fan!

E.P. Industries' automotive division, Customs by Eddie Paul, built the motorcycle replica for rapper Kanye West's music video, Stronger (above) which has a lot a of scenes inspired by Otomo's film and was filmed in Japan. Even if the nonoperational replica didn't appear in the video, West and the video's producer signed it.

Sources: MTV Geek News, SlashFilm via AICN Anime via Anime News Network

Robert Pattison, Not Aware on Akira Casting

Last time, we have reported that Twilight's Robert Pattinson was reported that he might play the lead role for the upcoming Akira live-action film, Tetsuo. Just recently, MTV reports that he was not aware about the casting news!

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

In the interview, Pattinson told MTV's Josh Horowitz, "I love the movie, but I mean, I don't know. I've just seen the same things as anybody else has, really." He added with a laugh with Horowitz, "I mean, I like motorbikes." Other candidates who are said to be short listed to play as Tetsuo asides from Pattinson are, Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man 2012 film) and James McAvoy (X-Men: First Class).

Source: Anime News Network

Akira Live-Action Movie Casts Short Listed!

Deadline has just recently reported that the Hollywood live-action adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira is now shaping out to start filming this August as the newly revised script done by Steve Kloves (Harry Potter films) has just been sent to a short list of actors!

Accordingly, the scripts for Tetsuo, Kaneda's friend who was abducted by the government due to a research were sent to Robert Pattinson (Twilight Series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man 2012 film) and James McAvoy (X-Men: First Class).

As for Tetsuo's friend, the bike gang leader Kaneda, the scripts were send to Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy), Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class), Chris Pine (Star Trek), Justin Timberlake (The Social Network) and Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line). The two leads are expected to come from that group of actors.

The story takes place in the rebuilt New Manhattan where a leader of a biker gang saves his friend from a medical experiment. Akira has been one of Warner Bros' high priority projects since the studio with Legendary Pictures acquired it for a 7-figure sum 2 years ago from manga publisher Kodansha. The intention has been to make 2 films, each covering 3 books in the series.

Harry Potter Screenwriter to Polish Akira Script!

Variety recently reported that Steve Kloves, best known as the screenwriter of all eight Harry Potter films less the fifth one (Order of the Phoenix) was hired by Warner Brothers to polish the Hollywood live-action adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo's popular manga (later adapted into an anime film), Akira!

The latest version of the script was penned by Albert Torres, with earlier drafts by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby and Gary Whitta. The original director of the cult classic 1988 anime film and author of the manga, Katsuhiro Otomo is the executive producer of this film through a signed deal three years ago with Kodansha, the original publisher of the manga.

Albert Hughes (Menace II Society, From Hell, The Book of Eli) is directing the film. While Andrew Lazar's Mad Chance with Appian Way's Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Hughes and his brother, Allen Hughes will also produce the film.

As of press time, Warner Brothers hasn't release a specific release date of the said film.

Source: Anime News Network

Efron: Not Starring in Akira (YEEEAHH!)

As we have reported last time, it was rumored that Zac Efron is said to play the lead role of the planned live-action adaptation of the popular anime film, Akira. Just like the rumored that he will play Light in a Death Note live-action, we learn that it is just a rumor.

According to a recent article from GossipCop, that a representative for the Hughes Brothers, who are attached to direct a live-action adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira, has stated that recent rumors that the rumors that said actor is rumored to be offered the lead role in the film are "not true."

Aside from that, ANN has tried contacting Warner Brothers about a rumor that states that Morgan Freeman (The Dark Knight) is said to play the role of a has been offered the role of "the Colenol" (Colonel Shikishima) in the same film. As of press time, Warner Bros. has not yet commented on the said rumor.

So for Akira fans out there, it is safe to say that you can celebrate. I don't mind Morgan Freeman being part of the film since I love him performance in the films that he appeared.

Zac Efron in Live-Action Akira?

Rumors starting to circulate online that Zac Efron of High School Musical fame was offered to play the motorcycle riding lead, Shotaro Kaneda of the Hollywood remake of the classic cyberpunk anime film, Akira.

Akira is based on a six-volume manga created by Katsuhiro Otomo which was later adapted into an anime flick. In Akira, set n the futuristic post-war city of Neo Tokyo, year 2019, Shotaro Kaneda is the leader of a delinquent teenage motorcycle gang, and the protagonist of the film. His second-in-command, Tetsuo, encounters a wizened old child during the middle of a deadly fight, and acquires extraordinary psychic abilities. Over time, his mental state deteriorates as his power grows, and Shotaro is forced to stop his friend from destroying Neo Tokyo.

Earlier screenplay of the said film was set to take place on New Manhattan and will still feature the film's iconic red motorcycle. Not much has been disclosed about the production, since it is still at its developing stages, but interestingly, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception) was rumored to play Tetsuo. However, his agency quickly denied the actor’s involvement.

As for the casting of the said film, here's an excerpt of from a previous posting by Russ Fischer:

No cast has ever publicly revealed to be attached. The involvement of Appian Way led many to suspect that DiCaprio would star as the teen biker Kaneda, despite being demonstrably too old for the part, but the actor publicly denied any involvement beyond producing duties. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was rumored to be in mind for Tetsuo, the friend of Kaneda whose psychic powers are awakened, setting of a cataclysmic chain of destructive events in Neo-Tokyo. He also denied any attachment.

Source: /Film, Tokyohive

For starters, I haven't watched the original Akira film since I do not know a site where I can watch it. For the casting of Zac as Shotaro, knowing his musical roles, I am not sure if he fits the bill. I mean come on, back then he was rumored to play as Light Yagami for a Death Note live-action Hollywood remake! If I would based it on history, John Travolta was on a musical yet his roles in action flicks are good. Let's just hope and pray that Zac is not Shotaro... but if HE IS Shotaro, then let's just hope that he will not screw up fan expectations. Dragonball Evolution, anyone?