Akira is undoubtedly one of the most influential anime/cyberpunk films of all time, so it’s no surprise that a Hollywood adaptation is in the works. While the announcement of Taika Waititi (Thor Ragnarok) as the director allayed some of our fears with Akira’s shift to live action, we have mixed feelings regarding the film’s recently released storyline.
The synopsis for the movie was recently released by Production Weekly, and it revealed that the film will be set in ‘Neo-Manhattan‘ instead of the original movie’s ‘Neo-Tokyo’ setting. Other differences include Kaneda who is no longer part of a biker gang at the start of the film, as well as Tetsuo being Kaneda’s brother instead of just being his best friend.
Read the plot details of the Akira live action movie here:
“When a young man’s telekinesis is discovered by the military, he is taken in to be turned into a super weapon and his brother must race to save him before Manhattan is destroyed by his powers. Kaneda is a bar owner in Neo-Manhattan who is stunned when his brother Tetsuo is abducted by Government agents lead by the Colonel. Desperate to get his brother back, Kaneda agrees to join Ky Reed and her underground movement who are intent on revealing to the world what truly happened to New York City 30 years ago when it was destroyed.
Kaneda believes their theories to be ludicrous, but after facing 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 to save his brother before Akira once again destroys Manhattan island as he did thirty years ago.”
What do you think of the changes in the live-action Akira movie? Let us know in the comments!