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As reported in Variety and Hollywood Reporter, Warner Brothers and Appian Way, Leonardo DiCaprio's production company, will adapt the Katsuhiro Otomo classic manga to a live-action version. In Warner's version, Akira will be set in "New Manhattan" rather than "Neo-Tokyo" (which is how it is written in the manga & anime). And New Manhattan is a city that is rebuilt by Japanese money.

This is the second anime/manga property Warner Brothers has announced. The previous was the Robotech movie w/Tobey Maguire attached to produce. Warner's aggressive approach to the anime and manga market should pose as good news to a beleagured sector undergoing massive shifts and market consolidation. Akira anime was released on DVD in the US by now defunct Geneon/Pioneer. It is highly likely we will see that title re-issued under a different US distributor (just in time for the live-action movie). I kinda know who will most likely do it and all I can say is, may they please release a re-mastered version in Blu-Ray.

Jump here to read the news from Anime News Network.

And then jump here to read the news from The Hollywood Reporter.