Akira is turning into one of those films like the Watchmen. They have their fanbase, a niche market and rabid believers. But will it ever get made? Well Watchmen is well underway so if there is some mystical connection, this is good news.
We get an update via Variety:
Each feature will be based on three of the books in Otomo’s series. The story takes place in New Manhattan, a metropolis that was rebuilt after being destroyed 31 years earlier. Otomo will exec produce the films.
Graphic novel was first adapted for the bigscreen in 1988 as a popular animated film which Otomo directed.
The animated feature was a moving experience for me in my teens and therefore I am eager to see what they do with it as a live action feature. This could totally bomb and tear away any of the qualities that has its crazy followers so in love with it.
But I do think it is good news that they are making it into two films. This pretty much guarantees that more of the actual story is told. I just hope they don’t butcher it and make it “based on” instead of “actually is” the graphic novel story.
