Has Warner Bros canned Akira?

Despite suggestions the film has been canned, Warner Bros’ film adaptation of the manga classic “Akira” is still a go-project, says Deadline.

The film, which Garrett Hedlund and Kristen Stewart were set to star in, was set to go before the cameras in March. Today, however, the studio closed the film’s Vancouver production office and let the options lapse on Dane DeHaan and Michael Pitt, both of whom had been competing for the lead role of Tetsuo.

The outlet says “Akira” is one of many projects that WB is scrutinizing. “Akira, which was bought years ago and put on a fast track when Albert Hughes was going to direct it. While reports indicate Warner Bros has problems with budget, I’m told that’s not really the issue. The studio suddenly wanted changes made to the script, the most recent draft of which came from David James Kelly. They will quickly set a high-end writer to do a polish and then Warner Bros will have to a final decision to make. Director Jaume Collet-Serra’s version already came down from $150 million that Hughes planned to spent to about $90 million, so this is more about creative than budget, or it could be that the studio is getting cold feet about making a pricey movie with a young cast and not huge stars.”

Seems the studios are losing a lot of faith in these big-budget star-driven flicks. I expect we’re going to see a lot more modestly-priced concept-driven films like “Paranormal Activity” coming through the pipeline.