AKIRA: Taika Waititi's Adaptation Of The Classic Manga Gets A May 2021 Release Date

AKIRA: Taika Waititi's Adaptation Of The Classic Manga Gets A May 2021 Release Date

We recently learned that the long gestating Akira movie was officially back on at Warner Bros. with Thor: Ragnarok's Taika Waititi at the helm, and now the movie has scored an official 2021 release date...

News
By MarkCassidy - May 24, 2019 11:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Akira
Source: Deadline
KANEDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Taika Waititi's Akira will hit theaters on May 21, 2021, when it will go up against Keanu Reeves' lethal assassin in John Wick: Chapter 4.

A live-action take on arguably the most popular manga/anime of all time has been bouncing around Hollywood for years now, and after numerous false starts, it looks like Warner Bros. has finally succeeded in getting it off the ground.

Akira is a very complex story, but at its core it's about two biker friends (brothers in the Americanized script) named Kaneda and Tetsuo who find themselves becoming mortal enemies when the latter begins to develop apocalyptic psychic powers, and a God-complex to match.

The official logline of this latest incarnation sticks pretty close: A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath that only two teenagers and a group of psychics can stop.

The project is still being produced by Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way, but we're not sure if the script by Book of Eli writer Gary Whitta is still in play.
THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Director Taika Waititi's AKIRA Adaptation Is Reportedly Moving Forward
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THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Director Taika Waititi's AKIRA Adaptation Is Reportedly Moving Forward
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MrCamw1
MrCamw1 - 5/24/2019, 11:33 AM
So I was watching some clips of the What We Do In The Shadows series and was surprised how fun it was watching it. Looks like I got a new show to binge. As for Akira, I trust Taika but I am hesitant to see if he keeps the serious tone of the anime.
Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 5/24/2019, 11:39 AM
@MrCamw1 - If you watch one episode, make sure it's Episode 7.
MrCamw1
MrCamw1 - 5/24/2019, 12:07 PM
@Reeds2Much - if it's from the clip I saw with Tilda Swinton, Paul Reubens and .....Weskey Snipes?!, then I'm in. Also not sure if it's from the same ep but there was one with Bautista I thought it was funny.
HeavyMetal4Life
HeavyMetal4Life - 5/24/2019, 12:15 PM
@Reeds2Much - episode 7 is by far the best episode of the season. Didnt particularly care for this weeks episode, but the rest have been good.
Brave
Brave - 5/24/2019, 11:33 AM
Taika is about to KILL THIS. I'm not even ready. His offbeat yet ambitious yet emotionally moving sensibilities are gonna shine with Akira's story and characters. It's match made in heaven that you'd never expect but one that makes so much sense. It's gonna be a classic fam.
MexCowboyNation
MexCowboyNation - 5/24/2019, 12:03 PM
@Brave - His style doesn't fit with something like Akira. Not a lot of goofy moments in the series.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 5/24/2019, 4:14 PM
@Brave -
He's pretty much going to make it a generic comedy - as he did with Ragnarok.
Forthas
Forthas - 5/24/2019, 11:34 AM
I am sure it will be filled with all kinds of slapstick comedy!
knocturnalzen10
knocturnalzen10 - 5/24/2019, 11:35 AM
the concept and idea of this work is hard to grasp outside of Animation let alone film but we'll see where this goes..... i think Taika can definitely get the atmosphere , and tone done well.
Brave
Brave - 5/24/2019, 11:35 AM
Look I know Akira is super serious...but y'all also forget that Kaneda exists lol.
TheUnworthyThor
TheUnworthyThor - 5/24/2019, 11:37 AM
They know what John Wick 3 just did right? Why don’t they want this movie to succeed?
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 5/24/2019, 11:52 AM
@TheUnworthyThor

Counter programming.
TheUnworthyThor
TheUnworthyThor - 5/24/2019, 12:41 PM
@regularmovieguy - Two movies aiming for the exact same audience?
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 5/24/2019, 12:53 PM
@TheUnworthyThor

They’ll be very different movies I’m sure. Just because they’re aimed at adults doesn’t mean they’ll aiming at the same audience.
TheUnworthyThor
TheUnworthyThor - 5/24/2019, 1:08 PM
@regularmovieguy - Counter programming is when you release a romantic comedy or a musical on the same weekend as a big action blockbuster. Or when you release a PG kids movie and an adult drama. It’s not when you release two action oriented films. Of course they are going to eat into each other’s profits.
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 5/24/2019, 1:16 PM
@TheUnworthyThor

I just see a Taika Watiti movie being vastly different from a movie in the John Wick franchise. Maybe I’m wrong.

Anyway I don’t think Akira should be released in May. Would prolly do better before the summer blockbuster season.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 5/24/2019, 11:44 AM
He's usually comedic but I trust Taika here. Akira is light at times but mostly dark. He id a real fa of the anime. Wonder if this will lean into the manga at all.

He will at least bring the cyberpunk world roaring to life. He brought great style and liveliness to Sakaar.
MarkV
MarkV - 5/24/2019, 11:48 AM
MarkV
MarkV - 5/24/2019, 11:51 AM
They finally found the right director. Holy mother.
demery
demery - 5/24/2019, 12:49 PM
@MarkV - Now let's hope WB finally sticks with him and gets it rolling.
Lanza10
Lanza10 - 5/24/2019, 11:52 AM
Great he'll kill Akira just like Thor gagnarok
MarkV
MarkV - 5/24/2019, 11:58 AM
AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 5/24/2019, 12:02 PM
I’m down if he takes this serious and sticks with the source material.
MexCowboyNation
MexCowboyNation - 5/24/2019, 12:08 PM
He doesn't fit at all but here is hoping he pulls it off.
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