Tragically, Hollywood’s Akira movie is still in production. A new interview with the much derived Johna Hex movie’s producer Andrew Lazar (above) reveals some new information. Whether or not the actionis still being shifted from Neo Tokyo to “New Manhattan”, or whether Leonardo DeCaprio is still pitching himself as the Tetsuo character is unclear, but we do learn the following:

“…they just hired a new writer and they’re conceptualizing it right now. Lots of pre-production right now. He also says WB management loves the property and the studio is very enthusiastic about the project. Confirms the first movie would be volumes 1-3 and a second movie would be 4-6.”

I have half a mind to put an Alan Moore style curse on this project, as I really and truly do not want it to happen. There is no way in hell that a Hollywood version of Akira will do anything other than sully the thing. NO WAY IN HELL. And to those who say, well, you don’t have to watch it… ballsacks! The trailers, posters, online spots etc will be unavoidable with a movie of this size! I would have to extricate myself from society for at least a decade and then I’d still be at risk of seeing some foul, bleached bastardisation of one of the most important pieces of my very being! Fuck outta here with that bullcrap!

— By Akira The Don on Sunday, June 20th, 2010