With two directors in mind, Warner Bros. is finally able to begin work on the anime-based film.
[dropcap size=small]F[/dropcap]or some time now things have been quiet regarding Warner Bros. effort to get the ball rolling on a live-action version of Akira. After Warner Bros. had purchased the rights to the film the Akira project passed through the hands of five directors who all subsequently quit due to differing complications. Finally, however, it seems that the studio will begin working on the live-action film sometime soon.
Jeff Sneider from Meet the Press has claimed that according to his own sources Warner Bros. is eyeing directors Daniel Espinosa (Life) and David Sandberd (Lights Out). According to Jeff Sneider, Daniel Espinosa is more likely to take the project than David Sandberd due to David Sandberd currently working on projects for Warner Bros.
Akira is a very interesting story that started as a manga back in 1982 that was developed by Katsuhiro Otomo. The manga was then brought to life as an animated film in 1988 with astounding success and it seems Warner Bros. aims to do the same with a live-action take on the manga. In order for the live-action film to do well and assuming Daniel Espinosa jumps at the chance to direct the film, the live-action version of Akira will have to follow the manga and anime closely, something Hollywood and Japan have struggled to do in the past.
