Akira's creator Katsuhiro Otomo is working on a new manga

Acclaimed manga creator and anime director Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira, Domu) revealed that he is preparing a new manga series for "a certain shōnen magazine." According to the interview published in the April issue of Shinchosha's art magazine Geijutsu Shincho on Saturday, this will be Otomo's first shōnen work — and his first long series since Akira.

Otomo began his career as a manga creator on such works as Domu, Kibun wa mō Sensō, and his most famous title internationally, Akira. He then branched into animation by directing part of the Robot Carnival omnibus and a feature film adaptation of his own Akira story.

Intriguing to say the least.

source: ANN, Comic Natalie

Live action Akira: actress Helena Bonham-Carter undecided whether to play Lady Miyako

Actress Helena Bonham-Carter (A Room with a View, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, The King's Speech) told MTV News on Wednesday that she has not decided whether to be in Warner's live-action film adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira manga. The actress spoke with MTV News on the red carpet at The 2011 Britannia Awards in Los Angeles.

The Twitch entertainment news site reported in October that she had been offered the role of Lady Miyako. Acting Auditions, an employment resource for actors, listed her in the role, but provided no source for the listing.

Akira movie: Gary Oldman declined role, Ken Watanabe for the Colonel?

The Twitch entertainment news site reported on Tuesday that Warner Brothers offered Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai, Batman Begins, Inception) the role of Colonel in the live-action film adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira manga. The site also reported that Warner and Gary Oldman, the previous actor approached for the role of Colonel, had been "unable to close the deal."

Akira developments: Kristen Stewart was offered the role of Kei; candidates for the role of Tetsuo

Oh, no O_O This is already looking 'ambitious', just like the Speed Racer adaptation by the Wachowski Brothers.

The Twitch website is reporting on Tuesday that actress Kristen Stewart (Twilight, The Runaways, Snow White and the Huntsman) has been offered the lead female role of Kei in Warner Brothers' live-action adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira manga.

 In Warner's film, Kei is described as "a young medium who becomes the love interest for [male co-lead] Kaneda." Whereas The Hollywood Reporter entertainment trade magazine reported earlier this month that Ezra Miller and Alden Ehrenreich are among the top contenders for the pivotal role of Tetsuo in this live-action film adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira manga. Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) is in talks for the other lead role of Kaneda, which The Hollywood Reporter described as Tetsuo's "older brother" in Warner's film.

The Twitch website and The Hollywood Reporter previously said that Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech), Gary Oldman (Dark Knight trilogy), and Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean films) have all been approached for roles. According to the magazine, Warner wants to cast the role before Thanksgiving, but after the actors undergo screen tests on Sunday and Monday. As in the manga, the magazine describes Tetsuo as "a young man with telekinetic abilities who becomes a dangerous weapon." Another actor, Ezra Miller (We Need To Talk About Kevin, The Perks of Being a Wallflower), told the Moviefone website that he will not play Tetsuo, although he praised the original work. Sources: ANN, AICN news, AnimeNation

Recent Developments on the Akira live action movie...

The live action project is alive again in Warner Bros. Studio after a new team decided to take on the project.

Lots of diffuse information right now, but Twitch entertainment news site has reported that Gary Oldman (Sid and Nancy, Harry Potter films, Dark Knight trilogy) and Helena Bonham-Carter (A Room with a View, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, The King's Speech) have been offered the roles of Colonel Shikishima  and Lady Miyako, respectively.

Also, Variety has reported that Garrett Hedlund, the star of last year's Tron: Legacy film, is a frontrunner for one of Akira's two male leads, although he has not been formally offered the role.

Production is set to begin in late February or early March 2012. According to the magazine, the film's current story goes as follows: "Set in New Manhattan, the cyberpunk sci-fi epic follows the leader of a biker gang who must save his friend, discovered with potentially destructive psychokinetic abilities, from government medical experiments."
The estimated budget has been projected as a “$90 million blockbuster.”
 >-<    Fan expectation is less than enthusiast regarding this project, given the failure of Dragon Ball and Speed Racer films.