A new synopsis sent out to casting agents has revealed that Jaume Collet-Serra‘s live-action, English-language “Akira” remake is, aside from the locale and nationality changes, going to be surprisingly similar to its Japanese animated originator. Geek Tyrant has posted the plot description, here’s a copy:
“Kaneda is a bar owner in Neo-Manhattan who is stunned when his brother, Tetsuo, is abducted by government agents led by The Colonel.
Desperate to get his brother back, Kaneda agrees to join with Ky Reed and her underground movement who are intent on revealing to the world what truly happened to New York City thirty years ago when it was destroyed. Kaneda believes their theories to be ludicrous but after finding his brother again, is shocked when he displays telekinetic powers.
Ky believes Tetsuo is headed to release a young boy, Akira, who has taken control of Tetsuo’s mind. Kaneda clashes with The Colonel’s troops on his way to stop Tetsuo from releasing Akira but arrives too late. Akira soon emerges from his prison courtesy of Tetsuo as Kaneda races in to save his brother before Akira once again destroys Manhattan island, as he did thirty years ago.”
Aside from Kaneda being a bar owner rather than a teen biker, it’s otherwise relatively familiar. Of course this is a short synopsis that skips on many details so it’ll still be a while before we get a full idea of the extent of the changes.
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