Akira Movie Shut Down (Again)

Warner Bros.' live-action retelling of Akira has reportedly been shut down -- for the fourth time in its long development history.

"The project, which has been through several incarnations, is being shut down in the face of casting and budgetary issues. The production offices in Vancouver are being closed, with below-the-line talent and crew told to stop working," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

THR says the producers and director Jaume Collet-Serra will convene for the next two weeks to "iron out the script," although it's unclear which screenwriter will be doing the doctoring for them. Variety's insiders say "that the budget is fine, and studio execs are dithering over the script."

The trade claims that if the issues can't be resolved then Akira will likely be killed entirely. But an insider told THR that Akira is "a very resilient movie. ... Warner Bros. just won't let it die."

The only cast member who was officially locked for the project was Tron: Legacy's Garrett Hedlund, who was cast as Kaneda. Deadline says Boardwalk Empire's Michael Pitt and Chronicle's Dane DeHaan were both up for the key role of Tetsuo Shima, but that Warners has let the test options deals they had for them expire. "Neither was chosen over the other, and since those option deals ended today, it remains an open question whether either will keep the slot open to see if this movie goes forward," the site reports. "The film was all but greenlit, with production slated to begin March 5."

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