We might not get to see the American live-action adaptation of Akira any time soon but artist Jeffrey Errico, who worked on the opening storyboards for the now shelved project, has given us a little something to remember it by. Although the project had a director and two lead actors (Garrett Hedlund and Kristen Stewart), budgeting issues caused it to be shut down.
Here is a synopsis of what could have been:
Kaneda is a bar owner in Neo-Manhattan who is stunned when his brother, Tetsuo, is abducted by government agents led by The Colonel. Desperate to get his brother back, Kaneda agrees to join with Ky Reed and her underground movement who are intent on revealing to the world what truly happened to New York City thirty years ago when it was destroyed. Kaneda believes their theories to be ludicrous but after finding his brother again, is shocked when he displays telekinetic powers.
Ky believes Tetsuo is headed to release a young boy, Akira, who has taken control of Tetsuo’s mind. Kaneda clashes with The Colonel’s troops on his way to stop Tetsuo from releasing Akira but arrives too late. Akira soon emerges from his prison courtesy of Tetsuo as Kaneda races in to save his brother before Akira once again destroys Manhattan island, as he did thirty years ago.
The question is, are you relieved or saddened by Warner’s inability to bring this film to life?
[Source: Comic Book Movie]