Director Albert Hughes Drops Out of Akira
Posted 05.27.11 by Ryan
While there are a variety of positions in a crew of a motion picture, the director is a pretty important one, and now Warner Bros. is lacking one.
Deadline reports that Albert Hughes has exited the adaptation of Akira, based on the Japanese Manga series of comics by Katsuhiro Otomo. The report cites "amicable creative differences" between the director and studio as the cause. Hughes and his brother and directing partner Allen have been attached to Akira since last February, with Albert directing and Allen producing.
In February, Harry Potter screenwriter Steve Kloves was brought in to perform a script polish on Akira, which prompted Warners to put together a shortlist of actors for the two lead roles of Tetsuo and Kaneda. However, the candidates — which included Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield, Garrett Hedlund, Chris Pine, James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender — weren't establish enough which is why the studio contacted Keanu Reeves about the role of Kaneda, but Reeves ultimately declined.
Warner may return to their shortlist to fill the roles and are expected to find a replacement for Hughes quickly.