Warner Bros. is in talks with New Zealand director Taika Waititi for the long-planned Akira live-action movie. Waititi has a track record of excellence, his films include modern classics like Boy, What We Do In The Shadows and Hunt For The Wilderpeople.
Deadline is reporting this development which is timely as Waititi readies for the release of his big blockbuster break Thor: Ragnarok. Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have attempted to bring an Akira film out of development hell multiple times. Current producers include Jennifer Davisson and Leonardo DiCaprio. Jordan Peele was rumoured to be in the running to direct Akira, however, he has decided to focus on his original stories, and recently signed an exclusive picture deal with Universal.
First of all, making this film could be extremely dangerous for Warner Bros, as the Manga and original film are beloved. Most treacherous of all is the issue of whitewashing, which has been a huge problem ever since Ghost In The Shell’s infamous episode. As a result, even Disney is experiencing a similar backlash with Guy Ritchie’s Aladdin. Considering Hollywood has tanked movies like Ghost In The Shell and Dragon Ball, Waititi can certainly lend his credibility. A potential spanner in the works is the fact that he has already picked his next film, Jojo Rebbit, a World War 2 dramedy which he has written and intends to direct.
Stay tuned for how this one pans out, but what do you think of Waititi as a choice? Let us know in the comments, or on our Facebook page!