Interest
Hollywood Reporter: Keanu Reeves in Akira Film Talks (Updated)
posted on by Gia Manry
The Hollywood Reporter trade magazine's Heat Vision blog reported on Friday that the film studio Warner Bros. is considering casting actor Keanu Reeves in its live-action adaptation of Katsuhiro Ōtomo's manga and anime film Akira. The site reports that Warner Bros. has had talks with Reeves regarding the role of the series' protagonist, Kaneda, although he does not yet have an offer for the role.
The company revealed in 2008 that it would partner with Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way studio to produce the film. In March, an alleged short list of possible cast members, including Justin Timberlake and Robert Pattinson, was posted by movie news site Deadline. While Pattinson himself downplayed the report, Star Trek television actor George Takei promoted petitions against the alleged "white-washing" (casting of only caucasian actors) of the series, whose original characters are Japanese.
Reeves is already attached to produce and star in a live-action adaptation of the Sunrise anime series Cowboy Bebop, although in his most-recent comment on the project he was uncertain whether it would move forward.
Warner Bros. had not responded to ANN's request for comment at press time.
Josh Dickey, the film editor for the rival entertainment industry magazine Variety, posted a cautionary note on Twitter on Friday, telling readers not to believe everything they read and that "there's very good reason why Variety hasn't written anything today about Keanu Reeves."
[Josh Dickey's commentary via Liz Ohanesian]
Update: Comment from Variety editor added.
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history