Harry Potter Screenwriter to Polish Akira Script

For the last little while, some news has been going around about Warner Bros. planned Akira remake. WB was hoping that Brad Pitt would play the Kaneda (he turned down the role) while the Hughes brothers wanted James Franco as Kaneda and Mila Kunis as Kei (both of them are now attached to an Oz prequel as the Wizard and the Wicked Witch of the West, respectively).

Gary Whitta, screenwriter for the Book of Eli was attached to write the script. Then Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (Iron Man and Children of Men) worked on it before WB hired Albert Torres (Henry Poole is Here). Well, according to Variety the studio has now hired Steve Kloves to put the finishing touches on the script. Kloves wrote seven out the eight Harry Potter.

Warner has setup Andrew Lazar from Mad Chance, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran from Appian Way to produce the film alongside the Hughes brothers, with Albert Hughes directing. No news on an actual cast or release date, but the studio hopes to go into production this summer.

– DeadMan