Warner Brothers gather talent to remake Manga classic amid controversy
Warner Brothers has revealed details of its forthcoming live action remake of the Japanese Anime classic Akira, but despite initial gasps of horror in geekdom it may prove to be an interesting project.
The original Akira, which spearheaded Anime’s blitz into Western culture, is set in a neon-lit post-apocalyptic Tokyo overrun with bike gangs. One gang member, Tetsuo, is involved in an accident with an escaped government secret which subsequently unleashes some teenage angst style psychic ability, which he fuels to dangerous effect. His gang leader and friend, and the owner of the coolest bike in the world, Kaneda must then rescue his friend and prevent him destroying Tokyo.
Rather than a direct remake, Warner Brothers intend to develop two films from the original graphic novel, and controversially transfer the action from neo-Tokyo to a post apocalyptic Manhattan island.
We have reasons for concern.
Hollywood hasn’t got a great record when remaking Japanese movies, or even transferring Eastern promise to Western audiences. Dark Water and Ringu were poorer versions of their previous selves.
The Wachowski brothers managed to merge the two cultures well to great success on The Matrix only to ruin it on the sequels. They are currently looking to repeat the trick of the former with Speed Racer. Oh and of course Quentin Tarantino did it well with Kill Bill, but I can’t imagine anyone at Warner Brothers is as immersed in Anime as ‘The Chin’ is with Japanese samurai movies.
Even beyond the Far East international remakes are never Hollywood’s forte, The Vanishing and The Assassin ruined dark thrillers from Europe by including cheery endings, (for a more rewarding experience see Spoorloos and Nikita respectively). Currently the remake to get excited about is Michael Haneke’s Funny Games and that’s only because the man himself is more or less remaking it shot for shot in all its brutal glory.
So why should we get excited about Warner Brothers’ Akira?
Well, to start with, if it’s adapted from the epic six-volume graphic novel there is a wealth of new material that can be explored beyond the original film. This includes a post-Akira timeline desolated city run by Tetsuo and Kaneda.
Then there is the talent attached, which is promising. Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company, Appian Way, producing and according to certain rumours, the man himself is to play Kaneda… wait a second, isn’t Kaneda a 16 year old boy?
The central character of Tetsuo is apparently going to be played by the talented Joseph Gordon-Levitt who proved in Brick he can easily play multi-faceting angsty characters.
Writer Gary Whitta has written sci-fi previously with credits on Futurama and Star Trek: Voyager but his first feature film, The Book of Eli, currently expected in 2008, is still to be tested.
Director and all round cool person (check out his website) Ruairi Robinson is no stranger to sci-fi either, writing, storyboarding, directing, editing, and doing most the visual effects on his Oscar nominated short, Fifty Percent Grey, (which can be watched below).
Time will tell whether the Akira remake will inspire as much as the original. As always though IndieNational will be there to celebrate or commiserate as required.
Colin Scott – Heading down Neo-Tokyo for some ultra-violence.
Warner Brothers has revealed details of its forthcoming live action remake of the Japanese Anime classic Akira, but despite initial gasps of horror in geekdom it may prove to be an interesting project.
The original Akira, which spearheaded Anime’s blitz into Western culture, is set in a neon-lit post-apocalyptic Tokyo overrun with bike gangs. One gang member, Tetsuo, is involved in an accident with an escaped government secret which subsequently unleashes some teenage angst style psychic ability, which he fuels to dangerous effect. His gang leader and friend, and the owner of the coolest bike in the world, Kaneda must then rescue his friend and prevent him destroying Tokyo.
Rather than a direct remake, Warner Brothers intend to develop two films from the original graphic novel, and controversially transfer the action from neo-Tokyo to a post apocalyptic Manhattan island.
We have reasons for concern.
Hollywood hasn’t got a great record when remaking Japanese movies, or even transferring Eastern promise to Western audiences. Dark Water and Ringu were poorer versions of their previous selves.
The Wachowski brothers managed to merge the two cultures well to great success on The Matrix only to ruin it on the sequels. They are currently looking to repeat the trick of the former with Speed Racer. Oh and of course Quentin Tarantino did it well with Kill Bill, but I can’t imagine anyone at Warner Brothers is as immersed in Anime as ‘The Chin’ is with Japanese samurai movies.
Even beyond the Far East international remakes are never Hollywood’s forte, The Vanishing and The Assassin ruined dark thrillers from Europe by including cheery endings, (for a more rewarding experience see Spoorloos and Nikita respectively). Currently the remake to get excited about is Michael Haneke’s Funny Games and that’s only because the man himself is more or less remaking it shot for shot in all its brutal glory.
So why should we get excited about Warner Brothers’ Akira?
Well, to start with, if it’s adapted from the epic six-volume graphic novel there is a wealth of new material that can be explored beyond the original film. This includes a post-Akira timeline desolated city run by Tetsuo and Kaneda.
Then there is the talent attached, which is promising. Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company, Appian Way, producing and according to certain rumours, the man himself is to play Kaneda… wait a second, isn’t Kaneda a 16 year old boy?
The central character of Tetsuo is apparently going to be played by the talented Joseph Gordon-Levitt who proved in Brick he can easily play multi-faceting angsty characters.
Writer Gary Whitta has written sci-fi previously with credits on Futurama and Star Trek: Voyager but his first feature film, The Book of Eli, currently expected in 2008, is still to be tested.
Director and all round cool person (check out his website) Ruairi Robinson is no stranger to sci-fi either, writing, storyboarding, directing, editing, and doing most the visual effects on his Oscar nominated short, Fifty Percent Grey, (which can be watched below).
Time will tell whether the Akira remake will inspire as much as the original. As always though IndieNational will be there to celebrate or commiserate as required.
Colin Scott – Heading down Neo-Tokyo for some ultra-violence.
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