Akira Script To Get A Makeover, Brad Pitt Asked To Star As Kaneda?

how about hollywood leaves akira alone and makes another anime some thing that doesn't need changing e.g. hellsing but knowing hollywood and seeing what they did to priest they'll probably change that too

God-AWFUL. Didn't Brad Pitt do The Mexican? A caucasian doing The Mexican? And Tom Cruise did... The Last Samurai? Okay, so Hollywood is continuously displaying who they feel are superior to the rest of the world.. In the words of Paul Mooney, I ask what's next? The Last N*gga Alive starring Tom Hanks? White supremacy is absolute turdness. Akira should be Japanese. Make Rain star in the lead role, for f*ck sake. Why is everything so goddamn focused on the so-called white man? Jeezuz! I hate Hollywood with a passion. I hope they rot in Hell.

stick to the comics and cast all Japanese actors. Let them speak in Japanese and leave it like that!

@ jeremiah

so, does it bother you that Kingpin was played by a black person, or that Heimdall in Thor is going to be black?

Ohhh..THIS is going to go over well.

To be honest, I could get on board a Westernised version as long as they remained true to the story and characters. But this doesn't sound likely.

DO NOT WANT!!!!! GOD DAMN IT!!!! (fanboy fury rages over)

Brad Pitt?:/... I really really hope this movie doesnt happen!

Bryanferryfan@ couldnt agree more

@CorndogBurglar: The Kingpin thing kind of bothered me because I was used to seeing the one from the Spidey cartoon in the 90s. The Thor thing I had no idea about, so I couldn't quote. Ultimately, whether you agree or not, there ain't enough ethnic variety in Hollywood. So whenever they switch up a character for racial sake that doesn't stand out enough to be negative, I'm fine with it. I can deal with a black Kingpin any day. I just wish Hollywood wouldn't make other drastic racial decisions. Them turning Akira's lead into a caucasian is like spitting in the Japanese's face. It's unnecessary and disrespectful.

@KidZombie: Is it, now? Gimme a link; I wanna see. I'm not bashing that movie, by the way. I actually love it.. but if it was based off a true story, then I'll retract my statement in reference to it. O_o

@Jer3miah - While I mostly agree with your statements, I believe that the main problem still lies with the majority audience. "Hollywood" just wants to rake in as much profit from the movies as possible. Like it or not, movies with a "caucasian" lead role usually tend to do better financially than those without, particularly in North America and most of Europe. And as long as this trend continues, we probably won't be seeing too many changes any time soon. It's a sad statement to make, I know.

Ultimately, whether you agree or not, there ain't enough ethnic variety in Hollywood. So whenever they switch up a character for racial sake that doesn't stand out enough to be negative, I'm fine with it. I can deal with a black Kingpin any day. I just wish Hollywood wouldn't make other drastic racial decisions. Them turning Akira's lead into a caucasian is like spitting in the Japanese's face. It's unnecessary and disrespectful.

Exactly. Another thing to keep in mind is that, during the sixties and seventies when most of these characters were created, white people pretty controlled the biz. Thats why nearly all comic book characters created during that time where white. Spiderman, Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, all the X Men, all the Avengers... all white. Now if Stan Lee and Jack Kirby had the chance they probably would have included characters of other ethnicities and creeds, but as Protonite points out in a different example, their base, or so they thought, was white people so they made all the characters white. Segregation was still a reality so there was no chance a business enterprise like Marvel or DC would push the envelope by adding in other races... at first. Its sad, and definately racist, but it cannot be denied.

Thats why Black Panther and Storm and other similar characters were so important... they were the first time minorities really had characters they can call their own. Since race IS integreal to these characters changing them would be heresy, but nowhere in Kingpins story is his race really important. He wasn't an Irish or Italian immigrant, nor did he come from a powerful 'old money' family. And as for Heimdall... whatever. He's a god. He can look however the [frick] he wants to.

Now is different though. We live in a time where all people are equal (at least in theory). Anybody can become anything. We have a black president for gods sake. So, looking it it like that, if people were to suddenly develop powers through mutations or invent fantastic devices would it make sense that all these people are white? If the stories took place in, say Moscow or rural Iowa I can understand that, but most of them take place in New York, a place known for its ethnic diversity. I would like to think that anybody can become a hero. Changing some characters to reflect our society makes sense. Hell, I don't even mind if they change a main characters race as long as the spirit of the character is maintained. Superman is superman regardless of his skin color or eyeshape, BUT I can understand people have issues with that. Whatever, that's fine. As long as the characters remain the characters I can care less what race they are.

@Protonite: Yeah, you're right. A sad statement, indeed, but true and evident. It's fine, though. Every dog will have his day, lol. Most of the lead caucasian roles are to rake up currency and it's what everyone is conditioned to. You hold a valid point.

@Shadowelfz: You, too, hold a very valid point. The old era was more obvious in racism or even just what was prominent and less controversial. I wouldn't deem Stan Lee as racist or anything, the circumstances are understandable. Now things could change. I agree with what you said about who's what; and that it doesn't matter as long as the spirit of the character is intact. I agree so much that I've been orchestrating more ethnic characters into the comic book reality through fan films. A hard task it is, but it'll be done. Sure, reality has it's bullshit, but the bright sides to that are what should be focused upon.

@JacksonVegaIII: LoL, touche`.

I hope WB know realizes that if the character is still named Kaneda(which he was in the first two drafts of the script and I'm assuming he still is) that they'd get a lot of controversy and heat for casting a Caucasian name actor because of how blatantly racist it would be. "The Last Airbender" anyone? lol

Brad Pitt is too old and looks too much of a douche to play Kaneda . Who gives a shit about star power? Just get a person who looks the part and acts well.

Seriously, I hate when they reach for well known stars, somehow believing it's going to improve the film.

First, I really wish they'd stop trying to force the idea that they have to associate an established Hollywood name with this movie, even if it's just hearsay/rumor. Second, it's imperatvie that Kaneda is not, and I repeat, NOT an adult. Why? If they don't know that answer to that question then they have absolutely no business making this movie!

Lets keep this in mind guys. Just because its being made into an Americanized live action movie, doesn’t mean there going to make us burn our copies of the anime. For me, I like to watch anime because I like the artwork. No live action version will ever be as good or better than the anime version for that reason alone. I personally have little faith in this following Hollywood’s track record with "animes turned live action" but hey, statistically there bound to make a decent one eventually..........