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Live-Action Akira Is Not Next Movie for Ezra Miller

Actor Ezra Miller (We Need To Talk About Kevin, The Perks of Being a Wallflower) told the Moviefone website that he will not play role of Tetsuo in Warner Brothers' live-action film adaptation of Katsuhiro Ōtomo's Akira manga. He said in a phone interview with the site, "It's not true. That, I can assure you, will not be a reality." He added, "It's a beautiful Japanese epic and I think it'll be a very entertaining, fun film, but no, it's not my next move."

The Hollywood Reporter entertainment trade magazine reported on November 4 that Miller and Alden Ehrenreich are among the top contenders for the pivotal role of Tetsuo. As in the manga, the magazine describes Tetsuo as "a young man with telekinetic abilities who becomes a dangerous weapon."

The Twitch website reported on Tuesday that actress Kristen Stewart (Twilight, The Runaways, Snow White and the Huntsman) has been offered the lead female role of Kei. The Hollywood Reporter trade magzine's Heat Vision blog said later that day the role was renamed Ky Reed, "a woman who is part of an underground movement to expose the government for turning orphans into living weapons."

Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) is in talks for the other lead role of Kaneda, which The Hollywood Reporter described as Tetsuo's "older brother" in Warner's film. The Twitch website and The Hollywood Reporter previously said that Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech), Gary Oldman (Dark Knight trilogy), and Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean films) have all been approached for roles.

Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news tip.

[Via CityonFire, ComicBookMovie]

Images via IMDb

Update More background information added.