The Akira movie is certainly in gear now that they’ve secured a director and given the film a green light so it’s only natural that remaining roles will begin casting. Today’s announcement is that Kristen Stewart’s name is in the hat for one of those roles.

Source: Coming Soon

The live-action take on Katsuhiro Otomo’s classic manga moving forward, Akira may have found its Kei. Twitch reports that The Twilight Saga star Kristen Stewart is in talks to play the female lead. Stewart joins a bevy of talent said to be up for roles, including Garrett Hedlund in the leading role of Kaneda, Gary Oldman as the Colonel and both Helena Bonham Carter and Keira Knightley for undisclosed roles (Potentially Knightley could up for Kei as well). The Kei character is the romantic interest of Kaneda, a member of a biker gang in a cyberpunk dystopia. Jaume Collet-Serra ( Unknown ) is set to direct with a script from “Harry Potter” screenwriter Steve Kloves.

If you have to choose between Kristen Stewart and Keira Knightly then why is this even in discussion? It’s clear decision to make as far as I’m concerned. Kristen Stewart single handedly killed any and all interest I’ve ever had in the Twilight franchise and is my biggest apprehension with Snow White and the Huntsman. Sure she works with the Twilight crowd and they love her “sleep walk” performances but she’s awful and would be one of the final nails in the coffin that of fans’ hope for this movie. I hope this turns out to be untrue…