Would-Be Akira Actor Kebbell Expresses His Misgivings

posted on 2012-03-26 21:45 EDT

Toby Kebbell speaks about frustrations with adaptation, love of original manga

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In a recent interview with IFC Fix, actor Toby Kebbell (RocknRolla, War Horse, The Conspirator's John Wilkes Booth) not only confirmed the report that he was named as a candidate to play Tetsuo in the currently halted live-action adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira manga, but also gave his thoughts on the series, explaining how he disagreed with creative choices made with regards to the adaptation process.

In the interview, Kebbell states that when he was approached with the role, he mentioned that he had read the entire manga in the past, and suggested that the manga's six volumes be adapted into as many as three films, so that "my [Kebbell's] character, Tetsuo, is not the lead [...] He's not the second lead, and he's not the third or the fourth lead, because there are eight major characters there. You've got great young actors, and you could get them in there. That's the way to do it if you want to do sequels."

He also noted that the studio's reaction to his suggestion was not particularly positive, which caused him to reply that if their plans were to create a live-action remake of the anime, he was not interested, because "[the anime adaptation] is perfect and you're not going to do it dark enough — so therefore, I don't want to do it."

Kebbell also expressed his anger at some of the other creative choices that were to be made in the adaptation, such as the decision to make two of the lead characters of the film, Tetsuo and Kanada, into brothers. He said that his reaction to hearing this was to tell the producers, "The point is that Tetsuo can't comprehend how someone who isn't his brother could love him so much — and that's where his wrath and his rage come from. Do you not see that? Why have you made them brothers? What the [f--k] are you doing?"

Though the live-action Akira project has now stalled, Kebbell says in the interview that he hopes that if it does get made, they will adapt the full manga, though he also says that he does not expect the film's producers to be interested in working with him again.

Actor Paul Dano Confirms Reading for Live-Action Akira

posted on 2012-08-21 01:46 EDT

Actor Paul Dano confirmed with Indiewire's The Playlist blog that he read for the (renamed) part of Tetsuo in the planned live-action Akira film. He acknowledged going through an audition with the director, as well as meeting with different filmmakers. He added, "The only way that movie would be worthwhile would be if someone like Rian Johnson did it or something, that's the version they should make." Danno worked with Johnson in the director's Looper film.

Warner Brothers shut down pre-production on the film adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira manga while the script is being reworked.

Live-Action Akira Film's Opening Storyboards Posted

posted on 2012-09-10 14:45 EDT

Storyboard artist Jeffrey Errico posts opening title sequence for Warner Bros.' planned film

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Jeffrey Errico, a storyboard artist who worked on the live-action film adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira manga, has posted his storyboards for the opening title sequence for the planned film.

In January, the entertainment trade magazine Variety and the film news website Deadline both reported that Warner Bros.' adaptation of the manga is not finished, even though the film's pre-production has been shut down.

Variety had added in January that Warner Bros. wants the current script draft, which was written by David James Kelly, to be reworked.

Warner Bros. officially green-lit the film for production last October with director Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown, Orphan, House of Wax). When the project was originally announced in 2008, it was intended to be the directorial debut for Ireland's Ruairi Robinson. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio (Titanic, The Aviator) is producing through his Appian Way production company.

More Live-Action Akira Film Storyboards Posted

posted on 2012-09-13 16:00 EDT

New storyboards from artist Chris Weston feature Tetsuo

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Chris Weston, a storyboard artist who worked on the live-action film adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira manga, posted some of his storyboards for the planned film on Wednesday. These new storyboards feature Tetsuo and the cryogenic chamber. Chris Weston commented on the storyboards on his blog, noting that "hopefully they reveal just how much love we had for the source material and how faithful we were going to be to it."

Storyboard artist Jeffrey Errico previously posted storyboards for the opening title sequence of the film.

In January, the entertainment trade magazine Variety and the film news website Deadline both reported that Warner Bros.' adaptation of the manga is not finished, even though the film's pre-production has been shut down.

Variety had added in January that Warner Bros. wants the current script draft, which was written by David James Kelly, to be reworked.

Warner Bros. officially green-lit the film for production last October with director Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown, Orphan, House of Wax). When the project was originally announced in 2008, it was intended to be the directorial debut for Ireland's Ruairi Robinson. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio (Titanic, The Aviator) is producing through his Appian Way production company.

A Look at Unused Live-Action "Akira" Concept Art

Three cityscapes and Kaneda costume design from Rodolfo Dimaggio

More art for the shelved Hollywood live-action Akira has cropped up online. Movie/comic artist Rodolfo Dimaggio (Hulk, Iron Man, Green Lantern, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) has posted a trio of cityscape concept pieces, as well as a look at its rather non-teenage version of Kaneda.