Kristen Stewart Offered Female Lead in ‘Akira’ Remake
Warner Brothers’ live-action remake of Akira has been the subject of heated discussion from day 1 and the latest news is sure to keep the keep the flames of controversy burning intensely. Twitch reports that none other than Kristen Stewart has been offered the lead female role in Jaume Collet-Sera‘s adaptation of the beloved manga/anime.
For those unfamiliar with the story, the film will take place in a futuristic city named New Manhattan and will revolve around Kaneda (Garrett Hedlund), a biker gang leader who must save his friend Tetsuo, discovered with potentially destructive psychokinetic abilities, from government medical experiments. Stewart would reportedly take on the role of Kei, a member of an underground terrorist organization who becomes the love interest for Kaneda.
If Stewart accepts the role, she would certainly bring needed name recognition to this project although I’m sure the K Stew hate train will be out in full force before that. It certainly will be interesting to see what kind of career she will have after the Twilight phenomenon ends next year and this could be a part of it. The actress would also reunite with Hedlund with whom she previously co-starred in Walter Salles’ adaptation of On the Road. She is currently shooting Snow White and the Huntsman and will next be seen in theaters as the blank sheet named Bella Swan in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1.
Finally, it remains to be seen who will be cast as Tetsuo although Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield, and James McAvoy have previously been rumored for the role. Offers are also out to Gary Oldman to play Colonel and Helena Bonham Carter to take on the role of Lady Miyako. Production is set to begin next spring.
What do you think of this casting news? Are you a fan/hater of Stewart?
23 Comments
Meh, meh, just major meh. Aren’t there other young actresses in Hollywood?? I know she’s starred w/ Garrett Hedlund before, not that he’d have anything to do w/ casting.
Well I guess she is the most well-known and would bring some needed attention on this movie due to her involvement?
What did we do to deserve this? Worst casting ever.
Ahaha who do you have in mind then?
This is where the Michael Jackson eating popcorn GIF comes in handy… Castor?
Sitting back and enjoying the imminent angry explosion of people who are fans of the original story.
While she wouldn’t have been my choice for the lead, i can’t say i hate the casting decision as much as other people primarily because i find to to be ok in things other than twilight
I don’t hate K Stew but I don’t like the casting decisions so far which seems to point to another emo teen flick.
I’m mostly indifferent to Kristen but I’m looking for her to get beyond the apathetic way of acting she’s been perfecting in Twilight and everything else she’s done so far
Yea she looks like she has no fun whatsoever acting.
This movie is going to be all emo and aimed at the twilight audience, just you watch. This is a sad, sad day
I don’t really care if they cast oprah for the role. My heart’s already torn by the existence of a remake.
I can’t get my hands on the animation classic on Netflix. So annoying…
Somewhere in Hollywood, an Asian actress dramatically crushes a cigarette butt with her heels.
Although caveat that I actually will defend Kristen Stewart and her acting chops but not with my life.
I am off to self harm now…
Ahaaha that’s a bit extreme…
Akira/Kei = Kristen Stewart? I guess I am missing something. Oh well.
Doesn’t she look like a terrorist to you?
I have no clue about the character background and who she is, but if this role allows us to see Stewart act in a range completely different from the emo, sappy, broody teenage girl, I’m all for it. That will finally tell us whether or not she is more than just another good looking but replaceable actress.
Kei doesn’t do much in the source material, so I can only imagine this means her role is being beefed up for the live action adaptation.
Which isn’t good news for this project. It looks like WB’s really committed to making as many bad casting choices as possible with this one.
Or maybe, thankfully, she will have a small role… One can always hope
Haven’t seen the original (I know I should), I get people loved Akira. but seeing her before in her roles seems…like a waste. Don’t know what to expect.
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