Whether you like it or not, Warner Bros‘ “Akira” remake is now greenlit and moving ahead. With “Unknown” and “Orphan” director Jaume Collet-Serra set to direct and “Tron: Legacy” star Garrett Hedlund ahead of the pack to take on one of the lead roles, it seems the filmmakers are actively looking to cast up the film and are looking to get some big name talent on board. Though this shouldn’t be a surprise (more on that in a moment).
According to Twitch, Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter have received offers to play the The Colonel and Lady Miyako in the upcoming film. And if you think Oldman is “too good” for this material, guess again. He has a long relationship with the studio that has seen him star in their “Harry Potter” franchise as well as Christopher Nolan‘s Batman films, in addition to dreck like “Red Riding Hood” and “The Book Of Eli.” However, with Oscar beckoning for “Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy” perhaps his barometer for material will be raised slightly. As for Carter, she too is familiar face to the “Harry Potter” films and she wasn’t above taking a role in “Terminator Salvation” over at Fox. But again, these are just offers and more importantly, Collet-Serra is not a Nolan, David Yates, Catherine Hardwicke or Albert and Allen Hughes (though is better than McG) so there will have to be something compelling on the page (and perhaps in the paycheck) to woo these thesps.
As you might remember, way back last fall Morgan Freeman was said to be circling the role of the Colonel (this was also the same time that Zac Efron was rumored for one of part of Kaneda), so clearly, WB’s ambition to line up quality players to the film hasn’t diminished. The Colonel is the head of the government that first unleashes Akira’s power (and was feature in the anime) while Lady Miyako is a high priestess and ally of Kaneda.
Granted, this is an offer so who knows if these folks will get it, so if anything, just take it as a direction the studio wants to go in. Filming is being aimed for a February/March 2012 start.