Taika Waititi has waded into the world of blockbuster, Hollywood moviemaking with ease. Previously known for his quirky indie comedies from the other side of the globe, he’s going mainstream with “Thor: Ragnarok,” and the early word is that it’s very good. The next challenge on his plate is “Akira,” Warner Bros. long developing adaptation of the beloved manga/anime that has come close to going into production but never quite made it.
One of the central concerns facing the project has been the casting, with a previous iterations given the characters a whitewash, with Garret Hedlund, Kristen Stewart and Helena Bonham Carter among the lead roles. However, Waititi promises there will be no such controversy with his picture.
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“I actually love the books. Love the movie, but I would not do a remake of the movie. I would do an adaptation of the books,” he told IGN, adding, “…actually [casting] Asian teenagers would be the way to do it for me and probably no, not, like no name, I mean sort of unfound, untapped talent. Yeah, I’d probably want to take it a bit back more towards the books.”
It’s the kind of no-brainer approach that seems revolutionary only because it’s the kind of thing Hollywood generally doesn’t go for, and we’ll see if WB lets him have his way. But given the success that’s about to meet “Thor: Ragnarok,” he’ll likely be given some leeway.
Check out a new clip from the movie, featuring a motion-captured Waititi himself as Korg.