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Keanu Says No to Kaneda, and All Is Right with the World


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?From Anime News Network:

According to the entertainment news website JoBlo.com, actor has passed on playing the role of Kaneda in Warner Bros.’ planned live-action adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo’s manga Akira. The Hollywood Reporter trade magazine’s Heat Vision blog had reported on May 6 that Warner Bros. was in talks with the actor, although the rival Variety magazine’s film editor Josh Dickey downplayed the report.

The website also reported that soon after Reeves turned down the role, Warner Bros. “shut down Akira’s
[previsualization]department and most of the staff that was working on
the film was let go,” although the website noted that it was told the
two events were not related. Warner Bros. gave the website the following statement:

Production on Akira has not
halted or been shut down, as the film has not yet been green-lit and is
still very much in the development stage. The exploratory process is
crucial to a project of this magnitude, and we will continue to sculpt
our approach to making the best possible film.

Now that is news worth waking up for. Looks like it’s Happy Scotch for breakfast!