Keanu Reeves Negotiating for Lead Role in Akira

[samsonguy920]

It's ironic that up until he says I want room service, I could see this being an actual scene of the US Akira. I like Keanu but this is really going to be a train wreck.

I am inclined to agree. However, that being said, I fall back on a look of parallel. In Las Vegas the odds are in favor of the casinos. In Hollywood the odds are in favor of a movie stinking. But once in a while, we come out with a winner. I don't see a little harm in us being surprised that something good comes out of this.
[sub]That also being said, for it to be good most of the original script would have to be thrown out the window for that to happen, methinks.[/sub]

 

[Dango]

Well, Keanu is about the right age for the role. What's that? Kaneda is supposed to be a teenager? Oh you poor, naive, lucky souls.

The new Akira is set in a ruined New York and is being used as symbolism for 9/11 because that's what American filmmakers do these days. Seriously, Tetsuo and Kaneda's mom actually says, "Don't ever forget," during the big disaster scene at the beginning. Gogo Gadget Subtlety. And yes, I said Tetsuo and Kaneda's mom. They're brothers now. And they're both middle aged. And neither is a member of a motorcycle gang. Also, Akira is now a stereotypical "creepy" child who walks around humming a nursery rhyme. You should look up which rhyme they've chosen.

So they're remaking Akira but changing the setting, plot, characters, themes and symbolism. How could casting Keanu make that any worse?

This is the most soul-crushingly sad post I've ever read.

 

[samsonguy920]

See, these guys aren't bad at what they do, but I don't think "Kaneda" when I hear their names. Maybe the guy who played Kirk in the 2009 Star Trek movie, I think he'd do pretty nicely at it, but you know what'd be even better? An actual Asian guy playing the extremely Asian character in this extremely Asian movie.

Keanu Reeves' father is half chinese, half Hawaiian (Polynesians are considered to be asian).

I'm reminded of when people complained that Jake Gyllenhaal wasn't middle eastern when he is half jewish.

Or that Ben Kingsley is mostly asian himself. I didn't see anyone complain back in the day when he played Gandhi and subsequently got an Oscar for it. This makes me think there seems to be an attitude growing amongst a lot of Americans, an attitude that shouldn't be there. And that scares me.

 

[Fursnake]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooooo...

That would single-handedly ruin the movie before it is even made.

 

[The Hungry Samurai]

It's ironic that up until he says I want room service, I could see this being an actual scene of the US Akira. I like Keanu but this is really going to be a train wreck.

I am inclined to agree. However, that being said, I fall back on a look of parallel. In Las Vegas the odds are in favor of the casinos. In Hollywood the odds are in favor of a movie stinking. But once in a while, we come out with a winner. I don't see a little harm in us being surprised that something good comes out of this.
[sub]That also being said, for it to be good most of the original script would have to be thrown out the window for that to happen, methinks.[/sub]

At least this might be better than the original plan of Justin Timberlake/Robert Patinson for Kaneda/Tetsuo

 

[theApoc]

See, these guys aren't bad at what they do, but I don't think "Kaneda" when I hear their names. Maybe the guy who played Kirk in the 2009 Star Trek movie, I think he'd do pretty nicely at it, but you know what'd be even better? An actual Asian guy playing the extremely Asian character in this extremely Asian movie.

Nonsense. Akira is a science fiction story. there is nothing inherently "asian" about it. Hell half the characters in the original look "western". The only problem with Keaanu is that he is too old for the part, period. There is nothing in the story that ties it to the cultures or traditions of any geographical region. Next you be saying Ghost is the Shell is "asian".

Seriously grow up.

 

[Outright Villainy]

but he's so sad

Maybe this will cheer him up! If letting him have his fun cheers him up then let him do it I'd say!

 

[KeyMaster45]

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?! DO YOU LAUGH AT ME GOD?! DO YOU LAUGH AT MY PAIN?!

This is the internet, you god cannot help you here! *villainous laugh*

OT: Yeah cracked actually got a copy of one of the early drafts of the script; it's looking to be pretty fricking bad. Before you call foul saying it's cracked and they are not to be believed they make it abundantly clear throughout the article that they didn't make this shit up for comedy. It already has all the marking of a horrific Hollywood adaptation.

http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-actual-live-action-akira-script-worse-than-you-think/

 

[sheah1]

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?! DO YOU LAUGH AT ME GOD?! DO YOU LAUGH AT MY PAIN?!

This is the internet, you god cannot help you here! *villainous laugh*

OT: Yeah cracked actually got a copy of one of the early drafts of the script; it's looking to be pretty fricking bad. Before you call foul saying it's cracked and they are not to be believed they make it abundantly clear throughout the article that they didn't make this shit up for comedy. It already has all the marking of a horrific Hollywood adaptation.

http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-actual-live-action-akira-script-worse-than-you-think/

Don't worry good sir, I would never doubt the words of our fine young Brockway (yes I read and love Cracked, I'm currently working through AoC for like the third time). Thank you for posting this, was tempted to do so myself but wanted to avoid the inevitable "IS FAKE!!!!!! YOU LIEEEEEE!!!!!!", you have balls sir.

 

[The Random One]

Just try to imagine Reeves yelling: "Tetsuuooooooo!"

I think you mean 'Traviiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis!', as americanizing the characters' names and the story are some of the many ways this movie is being dumbed down.

 

[Antwerp Caveman]

Kaneda almoast always looks PISSED OFF.
Keanu Reeves can't make facial expressions.

 

[Antwerp Caveman]

Just try to imagine Reeves yelling: "Tetsuuooooooo!"

I think you mean 'Traviiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis!', as americanizing the characters' names and the story are some of the many ways this movie is being dumbed down.

Oh god no!! Please no.
Even Michael Bay didn't change Optimus Prime into Awesome McUSA

 

[blind_dead_mcjones]

lol at people who had high hopes for this.

lol at the people who actually thought that those who liked the original film are hollywoods target audience, or that hollywood cares what they think.

 

[Arsen]

Just hire some bloody hell ACTUAL JAPANESE KIDS! You can't tell me there isn't a good Asian population in Hollywood/LA that could easily fill this role. I mean really, star power is one thing but they need to understand the need to put OTHER ethnicities in these roles which makes it central to the plot.

Seriously, these people are missing the chance to give two potentially good young, Asian-American actors some starting credibility.

 

[MetalGenocide]

So they are making it into a comedy?
Ugh, I can't shake the feeling it's going to suck, in a non "it's so bad it's good" way.
Hope I'm wrong.

 

[gunner1905]

I don't know what akira is but reading anime, live action, and Keanu Reeves just makes me laugh