AKIRA: Jordan Peele In Running To Direct

Jordan Peele Considered As Director For Live-Action Akira Adaptation

Warner Bros. is said to have approached Get Out director Jordan Peele about helming the studio’s long-stalled remake of the manga epic Akira.

Just over a month ago, it would have been hard to imagine that Warner Bros. would consider Peele for its adaptation of the iconic property. As most observers know, Peele was primarily known for his work on Key & Peele, the critically-acclaimed comedy series that garnered him and co-star Michael Key Emmy Award nominations for writing. Now, however, he is renowned for his aforementioned feature film debut, which unexpectedly took theaters by storm.

However, Peele is hardly the first person the studio has eyed for the film. Stuck in development hell for years, Warner Bros. finally saw movement on the project and even considered Daniel Espinosa and David F. Sandberg for the director’s chair before Peele was floated as an option.

Per Superherohype, the source of this story:

The movie adaptation has carried this synopsis for years: Set in a future city environment called New Manhattan, the sci-fi epic follows the leader of a bike gang who must save his best friend, who has been experimented on by the government causing him to develop dangerous and destructive psychokinetic powers.

Andrew Lazar (American Sniper) and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way are producing the film, for which the studio acquired the rights back in 2008.

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