Taika Waititi has confirmed that he has been approached to direct a live-action adaption of Akira.
Speaking to IGN, Waititi said there were “talks” about the film. When asked if he was going to direct it, he said, “I am — that was more or less a rumor. There was, I mean, I was in talks to do that, for sure, and something that I was very passionate about — am passionate about.”
However, the Thor: Ragnarok director added that he would not make a remake of the film but would make an adaptation of the original manga.
“I actually love the books. Love the movie, but I would not do a remake of the movie. I would do an adaptation of the books,” he said. “And, yeah, so anyway there’s been some chats [about him directing it].”
When asked if he would cast Asian actors in the film, Waititi said he definitely would. “Asian teenagers would be the way to do it for me and probably no, not, like no name, I mean sort of unfound, untapped talent,” he said. “Yeah, I’d probably want to take it a bit back more towards the books.”
