Over the last two decades, anime fans worldwide have been on the fence about Warner Bros.' idea of creating a live-action adaptation of the beloved filmAkira. The original 1988 film is one of the most celebrated anime ever, so the idea of a Hollywood adaptation was never the most appealing to fans of Katsuhiro Otomo’s epic manga.
Nonetheless, while opinions were divided, several viewers awaited the film’s release excitedly before judging it, hoping it would surpass their expectations.
Lamentably, this might no longer be the case, as a report fromThe Hollywood Reporterindicates that Warner Bros. has relinquished the rights to theAkiramovie. On the bright side, with the rights to the film left for grabs, a new team could work on creating an adaptation that a majority of the fandom will enjoy.
A Live-Action Adaptation Is No Longer Being Produced
Considered by many fans to beone of the best anime movies ever released,Akirais a dystopic sci-fi adventure that has captured the hearts and minds of millions of viewers for decades. In 2002, Warner Bros. acquired the rights to produce and distribute a live-action adaptation of the amazing film.
While some were cautiously optimistic about the Hollywood adaptation, many were concerned. Over the years, live-action anime adaptations have garnered mostly negative fame, withonly a few live-action adaptations truly respecting the source material. Regardless of how fans felt, though, it seems the movie is no longer in Hollywood’s hands.
Recently, it was revealed that Warner has returned the rights of the film to Kodansha,one of Shonen Jump’s biggest rivalsand publishers of the original manga. This decision came as a shock, given that the film was recently reported as being currently produced without issues. As of June 2025,Akira’sfilm rights have been placed on the market once again.
Why Was the Project Canceled?
The Adaptation Faced Many Issues During Its Creation
Over the last few years, numerous news reports about the Akira live-action adaptation have been made public. These announcements were often released to let fans know about the many issues that the project was facing. The problems ranged from changes to the original story that did not sit well with audiences to directors abandoning the project before it was concluded.
It was not until 2017 that the future of the film began looking brighter when the famed director ofworld-famous and hilarious films such asJojo RabbitandThor: Love and Thunder, Taika Waititi, joined the project. This version of the film looked promising, with great advances being made in a couple of months.
However, Waititi found himself with less time to work on the project, making it harder for the film to progress. These issues were likely what caused Warner to relinquish the rights to the film, as their losses over the years had become unsustainable. This would massively disappoint many fans, who wanted to see what Waititi’s vision for the film would have been.
Kodansha Is Currently Looking for a New Buyer
Akira’s Live-Action Could Still Become a Reality
Although the future of Akira’s live-action has become more uncertain than ever, there is still hope that the movie will be released in the future. After receiving the rights to the film back, Kodansha announced that they would be looking for a new buyer willing to work on the project. While there have not been offers made to acquire the rights, offers are likely to be made at the moment.
Akira is by farone of the most influential manga of all time, and its film adaptation has become legendary among anime fans. A well-produced and loyal live-action film has the opportunity to become one of the most successful projects of the last couple of decades. Even though the future of theAkiraadaptation looks grim, fans should not lose hope in the movie being released in the coming years.
