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Gary Oldman Discusses Offer for Akira Role

MTV News posted an interview with Gary Oldman (Dark Knight trilogy) on Monday that included a few questions about Oldman's offer for a role in Warner Brothers' live-action film adaptation of Katsuhiro Ōtomo's Akira manga. Oldman said in the interview that he did know know yet whether he was going to act in the film. When asked if he thought the script was interesting, Oldman said "Yeah, but, we'll see, I'm open at the moment." The Twitch entertainment news site had reported last month that Oldman had been offered the role of Colonel in the film.

On Friday, The Hollywood Reporter entertainment trade magazine listed the actors who are screen-testing for the role of Tetsuo in the film. According to the magazine, Warner wants to cast the role before Thanksgiving, but after the actors undergo screen tests on Sunday and Monday.

The Twitch website reported last 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), Oldman, and Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean films) have all been approached for roles.

Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news tip.

[Via Aint it Cool News]