This $169 Million Box Office Bomb From 7 Years Ago Shows Why Akira’s Live-Action Movie Should Never Happen

Summary Rebooting Akira into live action is risky due to past manga-to-movie failures, like 2017's Ghost in the Shell.

Ghost in the Shell failed to live up to its source material due to a lack of original themes and controversial casting.

If Akira happens, it needs to avoid the problems Ghost in the Shell fell into.

Despite the fact that Akira has a dedicated fanbase, rebooting the franchise into a live-action adaptation is too risky, especially after this manga-to-movie bomb from 2017. Akira began as a 1982 manga written by Katsuhiro Otomo. However, its boost to fame didn't really come until 1988, when Otomo adapted his manga into an anime movie. 1988's Akira is considered one of the best animated films of all time, with critics praising the stunning animation and fast-paced story. Since 2002, there have been talks about rebooting the story into a live-action film, but it seems to be stuck in development hell.

Although the Akira live-action movie has been in the works since the early 2000s, it has been stuck behind development issues. Mainly, the film has passed through the hands of several different directors and writers, with no one staying long enough to actually make the movie happen. The latest news was that Taika Waititi would direct Akira, yet his work on Thor: Love and Thunder seemingly got in the way. In reality, these delays are probably for the best. Akira may be beloved, but a live-action remake could seriously hurt the franchise.

Related 10 Reasons Akira's Live-Action Movie Is So Hard To Make The live-action Akira movie has been in the works for over two decades. Here is why a live-action Akira remake is so difficult to make.

Ghost In The Shell (2017) Got Everything Wrong About The Anime Movie

Scarlett Johansson's Casting Controversy Made It Worse

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The lack of an Akira remake is a good thing, and 2017's Ghost in the Shell is proof. Like Akira, Ghost in the Shell is a beloved manga and anime. Therefore, when its live-action reboot was announced, it was exciting. However, 2017's Ghost in the Shell failed to live up to its source material. Despite outstanding visuals, the movie lacked the depth of the original story. The film was criticized for having characters who were dull and uninteresting. Worst of all, Major never asks the burning existential questions that made Ghost in the Shell so popular in the first place.

2017's Ghost in the Shell was not the first movie adaptation of the manga. There are also three animated movies: 1995's Ghost in the Shell, 2004's Ghost in the Shell: Innocence, and 2015's Ghost in the Shell.

There is also the issue of Major's casting. Many felt that 2017's Ghost in the Shell went against its source material by casting Scarlett Johansson. Critics argued that the original Ghost in the Shell is deeply rooted in Asian culture, and therefore, Major should be of Asian descent. In this way, Johansson's casting appeared to be a form of "whitewashing." It didn't help that, at the end of Ghost in the Shell, it is revealed that Major used to be a young Asian girl, before she was Scarlet Johansson. These issues make an Akira remake feel even more risky.

Ghost In The Shell & Akira Are Similar In Several Ways

Ghost In The Shell & Akira Could Be Messed Up In Similar Ways As Well

Ghost in the Shell's failures reflect the risk of making an Akira reboot because the stories are so similar. Written within years of each other, both mangas explore the dangers of technological advancement and controlling governments. They are both set in futuristic and dystopic versions of Japan. Furthermore, they center on characters with incredible powers who must decide whether to follow the rules of their society or free themselves from the burden of expectations. Ghost in the Shell and Akira are both pillars of Japanese cyberpunk, making them inextricable from each other.

While it is important that an Akira reboot successfully recreates the visuals of the 1988 movie, it is more important that its themes shine through.

The similarities between Ghost in the Shell and Akira are exactly what makes an Akira reboot so dangerous. It would be easy for an Akira remake to fall into the same traps that Ghost in the Shell did in 2017. The filmmakers could reproduce the amazing visuals of Akira, but fail to bring justice to the story's substance. While it is important that an Akira reboot successfully recreates the visuals of the 1988 movie, it is more important that its themes shine through. Based on Ghost in the Shell's remake, this seems like a dangerous gamble.

Akira’s Live-Action Movie Would Have To Avoid Ghost In The Shell’s Mistakes

Live-Action Akira Must Honor The Story's Themes

In order to be successful, there are a few pitfalls that a live-action Akira must avoid. For one thing, the cast and crew will be important. Taika Waititi has been at the helm of some successful movies, but the question remains whether he can handle this particular genre. Furthermore, Akira will have to avoid the controversies that Ghost in the Shell fell into. The way the live-action remake brings the anime to life is vital. The film must evoke the Japanese cyberpunk genre as much as possible.

The most important part of an Akira reboot is the story itself. 2017's Ghost in the Shell focused so much on recreating the breathtaking world of the story that the actual plot was lost. If the live-action Akira happens, the filmmakers must be conscious of keeping Otomo's original themes alive. While audiences certainly want to relive the visuals of Akira in live-action, they must also be able to feel as deeply as they did with the original.