‘Book of Eli’ directors in talks for ‘Akira’

According to New York Magazine, Warner Bros. is currently in negotiations with Book of Eli directors Albert and Allen Hughes, to direct the live-action adaptation of Akira. Iron Man writers Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby will pen the script for the film.

Respecting the source’s complexity (or perhaps acquiescing to it), Warners won’t proceed with a single, live-action remake of the film, which trimmed away the last half of the 2,182-page graphic novel in order to weigh in at just over two hours. Instead, we hear that the studio is planning to make Akira in two parts, with the first three volumes of the six-volume manga making up the first film, due out next year.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran are producing the film along with Andrew Lazar. Katsuhiro Otomo will be an executive producer.