Hollywood Abandons Plans for 'Akira' Redo; Film Industry Persists in Pursuit of Adaptation
After a two-decade-long journey fraught with development hurdles, Warner Bros. has returned the movie rights for the iconic manga *Akira* back to its original publisher, Kodansha [1][2][3][4]. The studio, which initially acquired the rights in 2002, had gone through multiple directors, writers, and producers, including Blade director Stephen Norrington and most recently Taika Waititi, before deciding to abandon the project [1][3][5].
Now, with the rights back in Kodansha's hands, there's a new opportunity for an Akira movie on the big screen. Reports suggest that **several producers and creative talents are lining up to attach themselves to the property**, preparing to pitch a new adaptation to studios and streaming platforms [1][2][3][4]. This competitive interest indicates a strong desire to revive the project, but as of now, no detailed identities or confirmed attachments have been publicly disclosed.
The Akira anime series, developed by Sunrise, is currently in development, offering a separate avenue for the beloved story to reach audiences [6]. However, the status of this anime series remains uncertain, as it is still in development hell.
Meanwhile, the future of Doctor Who, the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, and the DC Universe on film and TV are all awaited with anticipation. As for Akira, while no new plans for an adaptation have been announced since the cancellation of the previous remake, the return of the rights to Kodansha opens up possibilities for a new creative team to bring this classic story to life.
Sources: [1] https://www.polygon.com/2021/6/22/22541592/akira-manga-rights-revert-back-to-kodansha-after-20-years [2] https://www.ign.com/articles/akira-manga-rights-revert-back-to-kodansha [3] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/akira-manga-rights-revert-kodansha-1234939625/ [4] https://www.gamespot.com/articles/akira-manga-rights-revert-back-to-kodansha-after-20-years/1100-6492836/ [5] https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/22/22541607/akira-manga-rights-revert-back-to-kodansha-after-20-years-warner-bros-abandons-remake [6] https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-akira-anime-series-is-still-in-development-hell-1847711348
- Various producers and creative talents are enthusiastically positioning themselves to work on a new Akira movie, eager to pitch their adaptation ideas to studios and streaming platforms.
- The Akira anime series, currently in development by Sunrise, offers a different opportunity for the beloved story to reach audiences, but its future remains unclear due to ongoing development challenges.
- Despite no new plans announced for an Akira adaptation since the cancellation of the previous remake, the return of the rights to Kodansha could pave the way for a new creative team to breathe life into this classic manga.
Sources (in the same order as provided): [1], [2], [6]
