Like an unkillable, unstoppable, unwanted monster in a direct-to-video horror movie sequel, the potential “Akira” remake just keeps on coming. The original Katsuhiro Otomo film is now nearly thirty years old, and it sometimes feels like Hollywood has been attempting to remake it for as much time as that (though Warner Bros. have only had the rights since 2002).
Writers including Gary Whitta of “Rogue One” and “Edge Of Tomorrow” scribe Dante Harper have worked on the script, and directors including Jaume Collet-Serra have been attached. The project even got some way down the casting route, with Garret Hedlund, Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham-Carter all strongly linked before the studio pulled the plug on the movie at the last minute.
But despite there being no evidence that anyone really wants it, the movie still lumbers on, and after a new writer was hired last year (“Daredevil” showrunner Marco Ramirez) Jeff Sneider on Meet The Movie Press (via Comic Book Movie) reports the rumor that Justin Lin, director of the third-through-sixth movies of the “Fast & Furious” franchise, and of the upcoming “Star Trek Beyond,” is the man that the studio is now eying to direct that.
Lin is Taiwanese-American, so one could perhaps surmise that this is Warner Bros’ early attempt to head off the charges of cultural appropriation that have haunted the currently-shooting anime adaptation “Ghost In The Shell” (though, given that he’s Taiwanese rather than Japanese, it’s not a very effective one). And this could, of course, be a rumor; Lin’s in demand, and has lots of projects on his slate including, potentially, “Space Jam 2.”
But at the same time, someone has to direct this thing if Warners are going to insist on losing millions and millions of dollars on it, so better him than, say, the guy who did “Battle Los Angeles” or something. Stay tuned for news on when and if this thing ever happens.