Behind the Scenes: Unveiling the Turbulent Production Journey of the Live-Action Akira Movie

Article Overview

Albert Hughes reveals the struggles faced during the production of the live-action Akira movie, including the studio's fear and hesitation to make the film.

After the success of The Book of Eli, Warner Brothers presented Hughes with various projects to choose from. However, he specifically opted for Akira, yet he had reservations about the studio's readiness to handle the film adequately. Hughes placed great emphasis on maintaining the authenticity of the original source material and believed that the intellectual property of Akira held more significance than any specific actor involved.

Albert Hughes discussed the challenges faced during the production of the live-action Akira film. The original 1988 Akira, which was based on the manga of the same name, follows the story of Kaneda, a biker who attempts to rescue his friend Tetsuo from government experimentation in Tokyo, decades after a nuclear bomb was detonated by the Japanese government. A live-action adaptation of Akira has been in development since the 1990s, and at one point, both Albert and his brother, Allen Hughes, who directed films such as Menace II Society, From Hell, and The Book of Eli, were attached to the project.

During a recent episode of Happy Sad Confused, host Josh Horowitz interviewed Albert Hughes, where they discussed various topics, including the live-action Akira movie.

The production of the movie had a "dirty little secret" as revealed by Hughes. Despite investing $12 million, the studio was hiding behind their intention to cast a famous actor for the project. Hughes observed that "they were scared to make it, and you could smell it after a while." His complete quote can be found below:

Akira's Different Creative Teams Explained

I delved deep into the project. The hidden truth is that they attempted it numerous times before. By the time I joined, they had already invested $9 million. I brought an additional $3 million to the table, bringing the total cost up to $12 million. We had a dedicated production designer, an entire office, and pre-visualization. However, everything boiled down to these nonsensical matters in town, such as finding the "right casting." It's frustrating because Akira is their name and intellectual property, yet they were afraid to take the leap. The apprehension became palpable over time. I couldn't help but question why they had involved me in the first place. This conversation took place after Warner Bros. had unleashed the vault following the success of Book of Eli, and they asked me, "What do you want?" I replied, "I want Akira." I dedicated almost a year to this project, only to realize that they weren't truly prepared to bring it to life. They used the excuse of casting, but I call it nonsense. Then the issue of whitewashing entered the equation: should we hire Asian actors or white actors? Personally, I don't want to get entangled in all of that. I believe in staying true to the original vision, as the IP itself is bigger than any individual actor.

According to Hughes, he wasn't the first director to work on the unfinished Akira film. In fact, before Warner Bros., Sony Pictures held the rights to adapt the manga back in the 1990s. However, when Warner Bros. acquired the rights in 2002, the movie went through a revolving door of creative teams. This included more than a dozen different writers and directors, as well as numerous stars.

Director Stephen Norrington and writer James Robinson were initially attached to The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen before the film's release in 2003, which ultimately received negative reviews. Then, Ruairi Robinson (known for The Last Days on Mars) and Gary Whitta (credited for The Book of Eli) took over their positions. Subsequently, Robinson was substituted by The Hughes Brothers, but both Allen and Albert departed from the project. Jaume Collet-Serra (responsible for Black Adam) became attached to the film but subsequently left. Following his departure, the project was considered by Mad Max's George Miller, Fast & Furious' Justin Lin, and Get Out's Jordan Peele. Below is a list of actors who were contemplated for various Akira characters:

The live-action Akira movie, directed by Taika Waititi (known for Thor: Ragnarok), was announced as the latest iteration. Waititi was also supposed to co-write the movie alongside Michael Golamco (writer of Always Be My Maybe). However, the project faced delays due to the sequel Thor: Love and Thunder, and could potentially face further delays due to Waititi's upcoming Star Wars movie. This situation continues the troubled production history that Hughes himself experienced more than a decade ago when this article was written.

Editor's P/S

As a fan of the original Akira manga and anime, I was excited to hear about the potential for a live-action adaptation. However, after reading this article, I am deeply concerned about the production process and the studio's handling of the project.

It is clear that the studio has been hesitant and fearful of making the film, and this has led to numerous problems. The constant revolving door of creative teams and actors has created an unstable and uncertain environment, which is not conducive to making a successful film. Additionally, the studio's focus on casting a famous actor rather than staying true to the original source material is a red flag. It seems that the studio is more interested in making a quick buck than in creating a faithful adaptation of the beloved manga and anime.

I am also concerned about the potential for whitewashing in the casting of the film. The original Akira is set in Japan, and the characters are Japanese. It is important to stay true to the source material and cast Asian actors in these roles. Whitewashing would be a disservice to the fans and would undermine the integrity of the story.

Overall, I am very disappointed with the way that the live-action Akira movie has been handled. I hope that the studio will reconsider its approach and commit to making a faithful adaptation of the original work. If not, I fear that the film will be a disappointment to fans and critics alike.