Another week, another live-action AKIRA development. Now that the movie’s moving ahead, for sure, with Jaume Collet-Sera at the helm, the casting rumor mill’s started a’grinding a'gain. Twitch Film says that Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter are up to play Colonel Shikishima and Lady Miyako, respectively (though the names will likely be different in this particular spin on the story.)
Both of these actors are real chameleons with long and diverse filmographies, but you lunatics will probably best known Oldman as Commissioner Gordon from the latest BATMAN movies and Carter as Bellatrix LeStrange from the HARRY POTTER flicks. Even if they are chameleons, should this casting go through, the parts will obviously be re-worked to fit their types instead of the other way around.
The debate about the appropriateness of this remake will persist until long after the Blu-Ray’s been released, I figure. Whether you think this movie’s warranted or not, you’d be hard pressed to find better actors to fill out these supporting roles around Garrett Hedlund. Again, if these rumors prove true, it’ll demonstrate some seriousness about the casting, at the least - - and that should give some comfort, right?
Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE. Order them on Amazon here & here. Follow him on Twitter: @tompinchuk
ugh. UGH.
@SeriouslyNow said:
I totally agree. Award winning actors like Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter who have a combined total of 50+ nominations and 40+ wins are totally going to ruin thi... oh wait.
@Tom
I'm pretty sure you linked to the wrong Kei unless I've been gravely mistaken and this is actually a live-action Akira x Dirty Pair film. Additionally, Carter is being considered for the role of Lady Miyako, not Kei.
Note to Akira film producers:
See the story currently on the front page about live-action Ranma 1/2. Compare their casting of the characters to yours and note how you're doing it so very hellishly wrong.
Helena Bonham Carter as Kei? Really? What in the hell is wrong with people?
wow that's pretty cool... i'm still pretty anxious about the whole thing, but I guess we'll see in due time.
You know, if they can keep to the basic sci-fi plot of the movie, there might be something to salvage here. The core sci-fi story of humanity experimenting to push beyond the physical realm, and having the whole damn thing explode in their face is solid enough. We'll lose the great Japanese youth biker gang vs stuffy Japanese government undertones probably, but I think there is still a decent action / sci-fi film to be salvaged here. The choice of direct gives me pause, as his filmography seems pretty weak. I'd say he was chosen based on availability and low paycheck, which is never a good sign.
Every bit of news I have heard about this live action Akira has made me think its going to be gawd awful... until right now. This actually is fantastic casting, I think the two of them fit very well. If this story turns out to be true, then it will give me something to be optimistic about it.
Phew, I feared the worst when I read "vampire" in the preview text. Both those actors are awesome; I'd love for them to be in this.
lol
This casting seems really nice. I just hope they get lesser known actors for Kaneda, Tetsuo and Kei. It makes sense to have huge names for Miyako and Shikishime as their characters are well known figures in the fiction (specifically Miyako is a huge religious figure). So it would make sense that the viewer would recognize the actors. But Kaneda and the gang are sort of nobodies.
Also, the animated version of Akira really didn't play up Miyako at all, which is in stark contrast to the manga. It'll be interesting to see how they balance the story here. Does anybody know if Otomo is part of this project in any capacity at all?
Well... OK, those are two of my favourite actors, so that's good to hear. Still though, Garrett Hedlund. Ah what the hell, it's not like Kaneda was some intensly deep character anyways. Tetsuo's probably the most important casting choice.
So many damn rumours though, it'd be nice to get some goddamn confirmation about something.
Don't really care for this anime, but who cares, because the movie won't resemble it right? Great actors, it's amazing to see them get attached(?) or atleast talked about with this, but well...does it even need a live action release or should it be left alone. As a non fan I don't know.
Wait, so this movie is actually happening, and wasn't a rumour? Add me to the group that's worried...
The casting does, like others have said, look good so far though.
This casting sounds... EXCELLENT!. They are both good character actors and can most definitely pull off the Colonel and Miyako with no problem. Hell, have them switch roles and they would still pull it off to manga standards. I wish we could get a look at the initial script, see where the story is going and how it has changed being Americanized. Waiting to see who will play Tetsuo and Yamagata.