'Akira' Put On Hold, Considers 'Boardwalk Empire' Actor For Tetsuo

by Jeremy Gordon

The "Akira" remake is on hold, and we understand. It's hard to do a live-action Americanized version of an animated Japanese film that was done perfectly the first time around, no matter how much Keanu was rumored to be involved at one point.

But according to Deadline, the whole thing isn't dead. Warner Bros. is still technically reassessing the budget, although it doesn't look pretty; it was already cut from $ 150 million to $ 90 million, and really, an "Akira" movie deserves to look good.

More notably, Deadline reports that Warner had a test option deal with Dane DeHaan and Michael Pitt, both competing for the role of Tetsuo.

Pitt or DeHaan, whoever had been selected, would have been starring alongside Garrett Hedlund's Kaneda. Kristen Stewart, Ken Watanabe, and Helena Bonham Carter were also potentially attached, but apparently that wasn't enough. Pitt would be a perfect pick for the chilly/insane Tetsuo, as evidenced by his work on "Boardwalk Empire" and "Funny Games." We don't know much about DeHaan, but he's obviously in good company.

Warner appears to be putting the clampdown on all of their expensive projects -- in a throwaway line, Deadline notes that the "300" prequel "Xerxes" is even going through tough times, even though that would probably have a more guaranteed audience than "Akira." If these relatively established concepts can't get money, what chance do original concepts have? Very little, we worry, unless an auteur like Christopher Nolan steps in and throws his muscle around.

What do you think of the "Akira" and "Xerxes" news? Tell us in the comments and on Twitter!