Summary
Despite the fact thatAkirahas a dedicated fanbase, rebooting the franchise into a live-action adaptation is too risky, especially after this manga-to-movie bomb from 2017.Akirabegan as a 1982 manga written by Katsuhiro Otomo. However, its boost to fame didn’t really come until 1988, when Otomo adapted his manga into an anime movie. 1988’sAkirais considered one of thebest animated films of all time, with critics praising the stunning animation and fast-paced story. Since 2002, there have been talks about rebooting the story into a live-action film, but it seems to be stuck in development hell.
Although theAkiralive-action moviehas been in the works since the early 2000s, it has been stuck behind development issues. Mainly, the film has passed through the hands of several different directors and writers, with no one staying long enough to actually make the movie happen.The latest news was thatTaika Waititi would directAkira,yet his work onThor: Love and Thunderseemingly got in the way. In reality, these delays are probably for the best.Akiramay be beloved, but a live-action remake could seriously hurt the franchise.
10 Reasons Akira’s Live-Action Movie Is So Hard To Make
The live-action Akira movie has been in the works for over two decades. Here is why a live-action Akira remake is so difficult to make.
Ghost In The Shell (2017) Got Everything Wrong About The Anime Movie
Scarlett Johansson’s Casting Controversy Made It Worse
The lack of anAkiraremake is a good thing, and 2017’sGhost in the Shellis proof. LikeAkira, Ghost in the Shellis a beloved manga and anime. Therefore, when its live-action reboot was announced, it was exciting. However, 2017’sGhost in the Shellfailed to live up to its source material. Despite outstanding visuals, the movie lacked the depth of the original story. The film was criticized for having characters who were dull and uninteresting. Worst of all, Major never asks the burning existential questions that madeGhost in the Shellso popular in the first place.
2017’sGhost in the Shellwas not the first movie adaptation of the manga. There are also three animated movies: 1995’sGhost in the Shell,2004’sGhost in the Shell: Innocence,and 2015’sGhost in the Shell.
There is also the issue of Major’s casting. Many felt that 2017’sGhost in the Shellwent against its source material by casting Scarlett Johansson. Critics argued that the originalGhost in the Shellis deeply rooted in Asian culture, and therefore,Major should be of Asian descent.In this way, Johansson’s casting appeared to be a form of “whitewashing.” It didn’t help that, atthe end ofGhost in the Shell,it is revealed that Major used to be a young Asian girl, before she was Scarlet Johansson. These issues make anAkiraremake feel even more risky.
Ghost In The Shell & Akira Are Similar In Several Ways
Ghost In The Shell & Akira Could Be Messed Up In Similar Ways As Well
Ghost in the Shell’sfailures reflect the risk of making anAkirareboot because the stories are so similar. Written within years of each other, both mangas explore the dangers of technological advancement and controlling governments. They are both set in futuristic and dystopic versions of Japan. Furthermore, they center on characters with incredible powers who must decide whether to follow the rules of their society or free themselves from the burden of expectations.Ghost in the ShellandAkiraare both pillars of Japanese cyberpunk, making them inextricable from each other.
While it is important that anAkirareboot successfully recreates the visuals of the 1988 movie, it is more important that its themes shine through.
The similarities betweenGhost in the ShellandAkiraare exactly what makes anAkirareboot so dangerous.It would be easy for anAkiraremake to fall into the same trapsthatGhost in the Shelldid in 2017. The filmmakers could reproduce the amazing visuals ofAkira,but fail to bring justice to the story’s substance. While it is important that anAkirareboot successfully recreates the visuals of the 1988 movie, it is more important that its themes shine through. Based onGhost in the Shell’sremake, this seems like a dangerous gamble.
Akira’s Live-Action Movie Would Have To Avoid Ghost In The Shell’s Mistakes
Live-Action Akira Must Honor The Story’s Themes
In order to be successful,there are a few pitfalls that a live-actionAkiramust avoid. For one thing, the cast and crew will be important. Taika Waititi has been at the helm of some successful movies, but the question remains whether he can handle this particular genre. Furthermore,Akirawill have to avoid the controversies thatGhost in the Shellfell into. The way the live-action remake brings the anime to life is vital. The film must evoke theJapanese cyberpunk genreas much as possible.
The most important part of anAkirareboot is the story itself. 2017’sGhost in the Shellfocused so much on recreating the breathtaking world of the story that the actual plot was lost. If the live-actionAkirahappens, the filmmakers must be conscious of keeping Otomo’s original themes alive. While audiences certainly want to relive the visuals ofAkirain live-action, they must also be able to feel as deeply as they did with the original.
Cast
A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by a teenager, his gang of biker friends and a group of psychics.
