The much-anticipated Taika Waititi Akira movie update has taken a disappointing turn, as Warner Bros. Discovery has officially let go of the live-action project. According to a new report, the rights to Akira have reverted to manga publisher Kodansha, ending nearly two decades of effort to bring the story to the big screen.
Warner Bros. Loses Akira Film Rights After Years of Development
The live-action adaptation of Akira suffered another setback, with Warner Bros. Discovery stepping away from the project. The studio, which first acquired the rights to the iconic manga in 2002, decided not to move forward, making the rights available once more to Kodansha. Katsuhiro Otomo’s groundbreaking graphic novel, famous for its dystopian vision, has long been seen as a challenging but rewarding adaptation prospect.
For two decades, this film was engulfed in what many have called development hell. Notable directors and writers, including Stephen Norrington of “Blade,” Garry Whitta, Mark Fergus, Hawk Otsby, Steve Kloves, and others, were all attached to the project at different points. However, the film remained stuck, with creative teams changing and no clear path to production.
Taika Waititi’s Vision for Akira Never Materialized
In 2017, Taika Waititi’s involvement offered new hope, as he was set to write and direct a movie inspired by Otomo’s work. Reports at the time indicated that casting had already started, and a 2021 release window was targeted. Despite the momentum, Waititi’s growing list of commitments caused delays, and he never returned to shepherd the film through production.
With Warner Bros. no longer involved, producers and new talent are now reportedly looking for opportunities to pitch their own interpretations of Akira. The long wait leaves fans frustrated, as the project seems unlikely to move forward anytime soon.
The Enduring Influence of Akira in Pop Culture
Akira, written by Katsuhiro Otomo and first published in 1982, unfolds in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo. Its story revolves around Shotaro Kaneda, the leader of a biker gang, along with the determined revolutionary Kei and others. In 1988, the tale was adapted into an acclaimed animated film, which, despite diverging from the original manga in several ways, achieved lasting legendary status and played a significant role in spreading anime into mainstream pop culture worldwide.
The shifting fate of the live-action project highlights both the high expectations and the difficulties faced when adapting beloved classics. With the rights now back at Kodansha, the future of an Akira film remains uncertain, but the story’s strong legacy ensures that interest from writers, directors, producers, and other talent is far from over. Many will be closely watching to see which vision, if any, finally makes it to the screen and how the tale of Neo-Tokyo and Shotaro Kaneda might one day be revisited in a new form.
