Keanu Reeves Negotiating for Lead Role in Akira

[Deskimus Prime]

Disregarding the obvious stuff (mediocre actor, too old, too sad sitting on his bench eating a sandwich), Keanu apparently seems to love this stuff, and I'd be all for him to get a spot in this movie. Hell, he single-handedly toured Japan trying to drum up some support for him doing a live-action Cowboy Bebop; it didn't pan out, but he obviously cares enough about the subject matter to not butcher it horribly.

In short, I'd rather see a mediocre actor who's "one of us" give his all doing something he wants to do, than an A-list actor who couldn't give less of a fuck about it.

Besides, (I know Cracked isn't the best source of factual information out there, but here you go [http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-actual-live-action-akira-script-worse-than-you-think/]) apparently the script's been changed to have the leads be in their thirties, as opposed to teens. So there's the age thing out the window.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

An actual Asian guy playing the extremely Asian character in this extremely Asian movie.

Yes ... yes .... yes, yes, yes <.<

The sad thing is that this line of thought doesn't seem to be an immediate one when it comes to treatment of subject material.

I'm not saying that a Western version of Akira wouldn't work given that Akira doesn't exactly derive much of anything from specifically Japanese culture. There's drug abuse, secret government experiments, criminal motorcycle gangs and overpriced military organizations elsewhere other than japan.

But just to take the storyline in it's entirety, slap on the label of Akira, and have a Western cast in Japan ...?

I'm also not so sure it's a great idea having an non-asian actor, who looks like a westerner, who sounds like Westerner, causing an apocalyptic nuclear-esque cleansing of a major Japanese city... you know, just thinking <.<

Of course if they portrayed the character of Tetsuo as the lone non-western actor on the board ... well that could leave an equally bad taste in everybody's mouth.

I don't know ... maybe you could have the characters portray (and reflect) their name and story sakes maybe? Please ... Warner Bros..... please?

(Edit: That and I can't think of anybody who could play the role of Colonel Shikishima than Takeshi Kitano ... also it might be nice to have him in a film where he doesn't die by the end of the film. I know it's 'his thing' but I think it could be a nice swing from his usual roles)

 

[Super Duck]

Keanu would be shit in this role, because he's shit in most roles. Except for those calling for expressionless alien freaks. Those he does well.

But at least he'll be able to handle the dialogue:

Kaneda: Tetsuoooooo
Tetsuo: Kanedaaaaaa
Kaneda: Testsuooooo
Tetsuo: Kanedaaaaaa
Kaneda: Testsuooooo
Tetsuo: Kanedaaaaaa
Kaneda: Testsuooooo
Tetsuo: Kanedaaaaaa
Kaneda: Testsuooooo
[repeat ad infinitum]

How hard could it be?

Anyway, I think this is a big load of bollocky balls. They can't really be serious, surely? This must speculative rumour-nonsense, with a hefty dose of misinformation. And perhaps a joke at our expense.

No, no. This is Keanu Reeves we're talking about here. His line would be "Tetsu-whoa!"

 

[Verlander]

Must have taken the tagline "Without Akira, there would be no Matrix, it's that important" too literally

 

[chaplin]

Nuff said

Ok this just made my day

 

[Reed Spacer]

I could see that:

Tetsuo: KANEDAAAAAAAAAA!

Keanu: Tetsuo.

Tetsuo: KANEDAAAAAAAAAA!

Keanu: Hey. Tetsuo.

 

[Deskimus Prime]

Disregarding the obvious stuff (mediocre actor, too old, too sad sitting on his bench eating a sandwich), Keanu apparently seems to love this stuff, and I'd be all for him to get a spot in this movie. Hell, he single-handedly toured Japan trying to drum up some support for him doing a live-action Cowboy Bebop; it didn't pan out, but he obviously cares enough about the subject matter to not butcher it horribly.

In short, I'd rather see a mediocre actor who's "one of us" give his all doing something he wants to do, than an A-list actor who couldn't give less of a fuck about it.

Besides, (I know Cracked isn't the best source of factual information out there, but here you go [http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-actual-live-action-akira-script-worse-than-you-think/]) apparently the script's been changed to have the leads be in their thirties, as opposed to teens. So there's the age thing out the window.

Unfortunately along with the age bump they took a gigantic shit on the story.

Hollywood is fucking stupid. They seem to think video game movies won't work well if they leave it mostly alone. The fuck would they know they have never left one even vaguely recognizable before!?

Oh, I can pretty much guarantee it'll be shit anyway. I mean, they're Americanizing something that's so inherently Japanese it'd be like if Japan did a localized adaptation of Superman. They'll gut it of everything meaningful and interesting and the only thing left will be... fuck, I don't even know. They're changing the names, the places, the dates, the characters and will likely change the plot as well. The only reason to even call it "Akira" anymore is because original projects won't pull in as much interest.

 

[irani_che]

a white guy playing a japanese character...
and people had the cheek to hate on idris elba

 

[MaxwellEdison]

WHY DOES THIS NEED TO BE CREATED.
Hollywood, listen.
1. You are remaking Akira.
2. You are apparently deciding to dick it up.
3. EVERYONE who liked Akira does not want this movie to be made.
4. Those who know of it, but dislike it, will not see this film.
5. Thus, your audience can only be people who do not know what Akira is about.

YOU ARE FUCKING YOURSELVES OVER BY MAKING THIS MOVIE. WHY ARE YOU SUCH MORONS.

 

[shadyh8er]

Starting to get the feeling Keanu likes anime a little too much.

 

[Slick Samurai]

A lot of people don't seem to like Reeves as Spike, even though he's right in his wheelhouse. A laid back guy who doesn't talk much.

As for Akira, and anime fans acting like the end of the world is upon us, I wholeheartedly support this casting decision. Or you can have some random teen straight from acting school in your role.

 

[shadyh8er]

Behold! Keanu cant ruin what is already ruined!

http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-actual-live-action-akira-script-worse-than-you-think/

Seriously, it's not even akira, it just steals the name to sell and all that shit.

PS: It's supposedly from 2008, and have been "vastly improved" since then... Imo, putting tinfoil around shit doesnt make it delicious chocolate. Nomatter how much its rewritten, it cant be better. They gotta start from scratch to make it into Akira, else its just "actionmovie nr.17".

 

[RanD00M]

wait Keanu is around 30 (looks like in his early 20,s) but Kaneda is somewhere in his late teens look Keanu isn't a bad actor but he seems unfit for the role.

Keanu is actually 46.

OT: I don't really care. I would probably see the movie and enjoy it, but I haven't watched Akira so I don't care for the source material.

 

[daftalchemist]

So wait...they actually want the movie to fail?

 

[Vinticore]

And the Americanization train puffs along, choo chooo~

 

[Quellist]

He is going to be horrible, the film is going to be horrible, i am so not going to bother with this...

 

[Prof. Monkeypox]

Well, it's better than Robert Pattison...

 

[DevilWolf47]

We're talking about a post-apocalyptic movie where human evolution has reached an almost god-like level in rare individuals, and Keanu Reaves wants the role? Stupid fucking idea. For the lead role, we need someone who can emote.

 

[Low Key]

I think Joseph Gordon-Levitt would be a better fit for the lead role. He could pull of the look better than Keanu, and his acting would probably be better. But if they think they can get away with it...

Just try to imagine Reeves yelling: "Tetsuuooooooo!"

I think you mean 'Traviiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis!', as americanizing the characters' names and the story are some of the many ways this movie is being dumbed down.

If it were being westernized, the movie wouldn't be named "Akira", a very Japanese sounding title.