It looks like “Unknown” and “Orphan” director Jaume Collet-Serra got his way. After it was revealed last month that Garrett Hedlund was the frontrunner for the developing “Akira” remake, Twitch report today he was the director’s first choice with Variety adding that formal talks are now underway.
It’s certainly a vote of confidence for the actor, who led “Tron: Legacy” to a box office haul that was below expectations. But this will give him another stab at the tentpole arena, though fanboy expectations are arguably much higher for this than with ‘Tron.’ The filmmakers are using Katsuhiro Otomo’s manga as the basis for the adaptation, which has a script by Steve Kloves—who has penned almost every “Harry Potter” film as well as the forthcoming “The Amazing Spider-Man”— that relocates the action to New Manhattan in a PG-13 film. It’s that last bit that is causing nerds to have heart palpitations. Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter have also been offered the roles as The Colonel and Lady Miyako respectively, but no word yet if there has been any more movement.
Who will take on the role of Tetsuo is still in question, but names are sure to crop up soon. The project is now moving fast to start lensing in early 2012, so like or it not, this one is definitely on the way.