Akira’s Live-Action Movie Finally Gets a Positive Update

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Although it might seem as if the upcoming live-action Akira film has taken a backseat in Hollywood, there’s been a promising development recently. Known for directing Thor: Ragnarök and Love & Thunder, Taika Waititi has long been associated with the live-action adaptation, and Leonardo DiCaprio is on board as a producer. The concept of a live-action Akira movie has been in the works since its initial success in 1988, but over the past few years, the prospect of seeing this dream come to life has moved closer to reality than ever before.

Just like many who’ve attempted to bring the manga masterpiece “Akira” to life on the big screen, it appeared that this latest endeavor was destined for a similar outcome. However, despite an impressive cast involved, the project has been as quiet as the film’s haunting nuclear explosion scene. But now, during an interview with Moovy TV to discuss his upcoming movie “G20“, producer Andrew Lazar is shedding some light on the situation – or at least providing a timeline for when we might expect more substantial news about this long-awaited adaptation.

Akira’s Live-Action Movie Is Still In Development

The latest interview with Lazar didn’t provide the anticipated update on the Akira live-action movie, but it did keep hopes alive. When queried about the progress of the long-delayed adaptation, Lazar initially stated, “There’s no news.” However, while the future of the Akira live-action adaptation might seem as dismal as Neo-Tokyo’s underbelly, Lazar did offer some encouraging tidbits.

The producer indicated that they likely will unveil something within a few months or so, though it may not be the substantial improvement fans anticipated. However, Lazar’s response does assure us that the project is indeed ongoing.

Besides gems like “Ghost in the Shell” and “Spirited Away,” “Akira,” directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, is one of the most celebrated and impactful anime films ever made. This masterpiece is a compact rendition of Otomo’s famous sci-fi manga with the same title. It’s no wonder that Hollywood has expressed interest in turning this movie into a live-action version, given its dedicated fan base and the ongoing popularity of live-action adaptations. Nevertheless, considering the movie’s immense adoration among fans, some have pondered whether it’s necessary to reimagine the film as live-action.

A History of Akira’s Failed Live-Action Adaptations

For approximately 25 years now, there have been plans to create a live-action version of the popular anime titled “Akira.” Over this period, director Taika Waititi has become the most recent in a series of filmmakers associated with the project. Interestingly, despite the long history, Waititi seems determined not to let go of the opportunity. The association between Waititi and “Akira” dates back to 2017 when fans speculated that the movie would finally materialize, as it was given a release date in 2021.

Unfortunately, the unfavorable developments persisted, and the live-action version of Akira, initially slated for release by Warner Bros., was taken off their schedule in 2019. Fans had hoped that Taika Waititi would work on the film during the pandemic, but Akira ended up being put aside to make way for Thor: Love & Thunder instead (oh dear). To this day, there’s still no release date set for Taika Waititi’s Akira. However, with Lazar’s recent announcement, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that a release date will be announced soon.

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2025-04-14 19:40