A live-action adaptation of Akira has been on and off seemingly since the classic animated movie arrived back in 1988. Well, it looks as if things are now back on once more.

The Hollywood Reporter has word that Warner Brothers is again taking a crack at getting a live-action Akira off the ground, and the studio have hired Marco J. Ramirez to put together a script for the film. Ramirez has recently landed himself the gig of co-showrunner for the second season of Marvel’s Netflix-exclusive Daredevil.

As mentioned, this isn’t the first time that a live-action Akira has been in development. Appian Way acquired the rights to the property back in 2008 and will be producing the film this time, and they were extremely close to shooting the film back in 2012. At that time, Jaume Collet-Serra was on board to direct, with Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Helena Bonham Carter and Ken Watanabe signed on to star. Whether any of those names end up involved if and when a live-action Akira does get off the ground, that remains to be seen.

Ever since the property has been with Appian Way, the live-action adaptation has had the below synopsis:

Set in a future city environment called New Manhattan, the sci-fi epic follows the leader of a bike gang who must save his best friend, who has been experimented on by the government causing him to develop dangerous and destructive psychokinetic powers.

The 1988 Akira was directed by Katsuhiro Otomo and was adapted from Otomo’s own manga of the same name.

This isn’t the first time that a live-action Akira has been in development, but maybe, just maybe, this will be the time that the film comes to be.

As ever, expect more on this as it develops.

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