Live-Action Remake of ‘Akira’ Starts Filming in July

Warner Bros.’ live-action remake of the beloved anime/manga Akira has been confirmed to start production in July.

The highly-anticipated film, which has been in development since 2002, is now officially in full swing with the recent announcement of Leonardo DiCaprio being attached as a producer.

“Thor: Ragnarok” director Taika Waititi, who has been tasked to helm the film, will start filming on July 15 in Los Angeles, reports Discussing Film. Waititi will also share screenwriting duties with “Always Be My Maybe” writer Michael Golamco.

The project immediately sparked accusations of potential whitewashing or racebending if White actors were cast in lieu of Japanese ones.

While the filmmaker assured critics that the movie’s casting would not be whitewashed, he has stated that the film will be shot entirely in California, deviating from the original manga and anime which were both set in dystopian Tokyo.

Waititi previously pointed out that he would rather adapt the original six-volume graphic novel source material instead of remaking the 1988 classic anime movie.

“I would not do a remake of the movie. I would do an adaption of the books,” Waititi told IGN in 2017.

Warner Bros., which is now actively casting for the film, stated that it is “thrilled” about the opportunity to shoot “Akira” in California.

“The availability of top-notch crew members, plus the wide variety of location choices and predictable weather are second to none,” Warner Bros.’ Ravi Mehta was quoted by Deadline as saying.

Featured Image via Comicbook (Left), Instagram / taikawaititi (Right)

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