Variety: Warner Brothers, DiCaprio To Make Akira Movies

The latest news on the manga movies front is courtesy of Variety, which reports that Warner Brothers has greenlit two live action films based on Katsuhiro Otomo's post-apocalyptic sci-fi magnum opus, Akira for release in 2009. Lots of juicy details in the short Variety blurb, including:

Studio has closed a seven-figure rights acquisition deal with manga publisher Kodansha and has set Ruairi Robinson to direct a script by Gary Whitta (Book of Eli). Andrew Lazar's Mad Chance will produce with Appian Way's Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson.

WB had the Akira rights several years ago only to let them lapse and then recapture them in a spirited bidding battle.

Movie blog /film is also speculating that DiCaprio is also tagged to star in these manga/anime-inspired live-action films, since his production company is working on this project. Ain't It Cool News also reports that Joseph Gordon Levitt (Brick, G.I. Joe) is set to play Tetsuo (or whatever they'll be naming him instead since the story will be set in "New Manhattan" vs. Neo-Tokyo in the original).

Given the recent success of movies inspired by graphic novels (300, Persepolis, and the various Marvel/DC superhero franchises, including the upcoming Dark Knight (Batman) and Iron Man flicks), it shouldn't be surprising that Hollywood is looking to manga for the next big thing. Already on tap for summer 2008 are big screen, live-action versions of Speed Racer and Dragon Ball -- and if either are successful, there's likely more to come.

Image credit: © 1984 MashRoom / Katsuhiro Otomo, Dark Horse Comics