Akira-rettighetene til live-action tilbake til Kodansha etter at Warner Bros. sluttet

The live-action adaptation of Akira has been stuck in Hollywood development hell for more than two decades. Now, Warner Bros. has officially let go of the movie rights, which have reverted back to Kodansha, the original Japanese manga publisher.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, multiple producers and creatives are already lining up to take a crack at bringing this legendary cyberpunk story to the screen. The property is being prepared for pitches to major studios and streaming platforms, but the road ahead remains uncertain.

Akira started as a manga by Katsuhiro Otomo in 1982 and quickly became a groundbreaking cultural milestone through its 1988 anime adaptation. The film is widely credited for popularizing adult animation and Japanese pop culture worldwide. Its influence still echoes in many aspects of sci-fi media today.

Warner Bros. first acquired the rights back in 2002. At that time, Stephen Norrington, known for Blade, was attached to direct, with Jon Peters producing. From that point, the project went through an endless carousel of writers, directors, and producers. Over the years, notable names like Gary Whitta, Mark Fergus, Jaume Collet-Serra, and the Hughes brothers came and went, each bringing new versions that never quite materialized.

Despite millions spent—reaching eight figures—the live-action Akira remained stuck in development purgatory. At one point, the setting was controversially changed from Neo-Tokyo to "New Manhattan," stirring accusations of whitewashing and cultural insensitivity. The project repeatedly stalled during pre-production phases.

In 2012, Warner Bros. paused the production and shut down their Vancouver offices, trying to rethink the direction. That version had a $90 million budget and attached talent like Garrett Hedlund, Kirsten Stewart, Helena Bonham-Carter, and Ken Watanabe in talks. But the momentum faded.

Taika Waititi joined the project in 2017 to co-write and direct, promising a fresh take. His involvement brought new hope as the project qualified for California tax credits and aimed for an all-Japanese cast. The movie even secured a release date for May 21, 2021. But Waititi’s other commitments—including Jojo Rabbit, The Mandalorian, and Thor: Love and Thunder—pulled him away. The schedule slipped, and the project eventually fell dormant again.

The story of Akira follows Tetsuo, a young member of a biker gang in post-apocalyptic Tokyo, who gains immense telekinetic powers. His childhood friend Kaneda, also the gang leader, is the only one who can stop him. This tale blends teenage rebellion with a high-stakes fight for the future of a shattered world.

Akira now joins a list of major properties whose screen rights have become available recently. Earlier this year, the rights for Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the Jason Bourne series also went back on the market after long studio tenures.

The Akira live-action rights returning to Kodansha opens the door for fresh visions to attempt what Warner Bros. could not. However, the challenge remains immense—capturing the spirit, tone, and cultural significance of the original while navigating Hollywood’s complex production landscape.

As the anime once said, “The future is not a straight line. It is filled with many crossroads. There must be a future that we can choose for ourselves.”

For now, Akira’s live-action fate is up in the air, waiting for the right team to take it on with respect and care.