You could say New Zealand-born director Taika Waititi decided to change careers midway through his directorial life. Once a comedian helmer behind satires like “What We Do In The Shadows” and sweet and cheeky coming of age dramas such as “Boy,” and “Hunt For The Wilderpeople,” Waititi seriously changed gears midstream and that’s evinced once more with the news the filmmaker may direct the long-in-the-works “Akira” adaptation.
Deadline reports that Warner Bros., the studio trying to get this movie off the ground for ages, is in negotiations with Waititi to direct the picture — a live action version of anime artist Katsuhiro Otomo’s 6-volume graphic novel. “Akira” was also a famous adult animated science fiction feature also directed by Otomo and released in 1998.
Set in a dystopian, cyberpunk-themed 2019, Akira tells the story of a secret military project that 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.
Warner Bros. has been trying to mount the live-action version of years. Filmmakers once attached or in the running to helm the film include Ruairi Robinson, The Hughes Brothers and Jaume Collet-Serra. After “Get Out,” rumors surfaced that Jordan Peele was interested, but obviously that did not come to pass. One version of the film was set to star Garrett Hedlund, Kristin Stewart, Ken Watanabe and Helena Bonham Carter. Uh, careful with your whitewashing casting, Hollywood. Fans will bite back like they did with “Hellboy” recently.
Waititi surprised fans and many in the film industry when he was tapped to direct “Thor: Ragnarok,” the third film in the Marvel Norse God sub-franchise. The choice was a bit of a headscratcher on the surface, but every trailer and piece of marketing has demonstrated an extremely unique, idiosyncratic spin on a Marvel movie. Waititi seems to have reinvented Thor and played a comedic riff on the character that many thought too dull and serious. But ‘Ragnaork’s cheeky sensibilities might make it the most anticipated super hero film of the year.
Waititi’s next film is “Jojo Rabbit,” a WWII dramedy that landed on the Black List back in 2012 The picture is set up at Fox Searchlight and should commence production in the spring. [Deadline]