Akira?

Ok, they are looking for white, male actors to star in a Japanese/anime comic live action film. Oh dear.

http://www.deadline.com/2011/03/akira-focuses-on-short-list-of-actors-after-getting-steve-kloves-rewrite/

'Akira' Focuses On Short List Of Actors After Getting Steve Kloves Rewrite
By MIKE FLEMING | Monday March 21, 2011 @ 11:04pm EDT

EXCLUSIVE: The script for the Warner Bros/Legendary Pictures live action adaptation of anime artist Katsuhiro Otomo’s 6-volume graphic novel Akira has been sent to a short list of actors. The picture is finally taking shape for an August start, following the delivery of a rewrite by Steve Kloves that has director Albert Hughes and the studio brass excited. The story takes place in the rebuilt New Manhattan where a leader of a biker gang saves his friend from a medical experiment. There are two major roles, and I'm told that for Tetsuo, Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield and James McAvoy have been given the new script. For the role of Kaneda, the script has been given to Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake and Joaquin Phoenix. The two leads are expected to come from that group of actors.

Andrew Lazar is producing with Appian Way’s Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran. Akira has been one of Warner Bros' high priority projects since the studio with Legendary Pictures acquired it for a 7-figure sum 2 years ago from manga publisher Kodansha. The intention has been to make 2 films, each covering 3 books in the series. Akira was first adapted for the screen in 1988.

http://celluloidandcigaretteburns.blogspot.com/2011/03/short-list-of-actors-for-akira-revealed.html

y, March 22, 2011
Short-List Of Actors For Akira Revealed
Warner Bros. had previously hit some bumps when James Franco and Mila Kunis passed on Akira to make Oz, The Great & Powerful. They the hired Steve Kloves (Amazing Spider-Man, Harry Potter) screenwriter to rework the script and now have a short list of actors for the two leads. Deadline reports that the new script has been given to Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake and Joaquin Phoenix for the role of Kaneda. Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield and James McAvoy are up for the role of Tetsuo.

Garrett Hedlund and Andrew Garfield are my favorites for the leads. Hedlund recently stepped into the world of blockbuster leads with Tron Legacy which he turned down Captain America for. Andrew Garfield is another great name to have involved as part of the best movie of last year (Social Network) and becoming the new Spider-Man his star is quickly rising.

James McAvoy could also fit the role of Tetsuo nicely. Chris Pine and Michael Fassbender are likely busy with Star Trek 2 and Prometheus. While Robert Pattinson and Justin Timberlake will give an instant cringe factor to the fanbase. Joaquin Phoenix seems too creditable and a little too old for the film.
at 12:18 AM