Scarlett Johansson to star in Ghost in the Shell

Dreamworks' live action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell has found its leading lady. Action alum Scarlett Johansson has signed onto the film. It is a live adaptation of the popular Japanese Anime that follows a member of a covert ops group that specializes in tech-based crime.

Snow White and the Huntsman director, Rupert Sanders, is on board to direct and the script has been written by Bill Wheeler. There is no set date on exactly when this is going to get rolling, but Paramount is apparently exploring options to co-finance the project. With Johansson confirmed I don't think they will have a problem.

Warner Bros. ditching Akira for Bleach

Warner Bros. might still get Manga to a theater near you. The studio announced that with the live adaptation of Akira on hold, possibly for good, they will move forward with trying to bring a live adaptation of Bleach to life. Dan Mazeau and Peter Segal have already been pegged to adapt the Manga and possibly produce/direct it as well.

I'm not a Manga fan and am the first to say I really don't know much of anything about it, but I have friends that are into it and love this shit. My boyfriend has a case full of Anime figurines and whatnot so I might as well start paying attention... ffs.


http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/with-akira-on-hold-warner-bros-will-try-adapting-the-manga-bleach-instead-peter-segal-to-produce-possibly-direct

Warner Bros. adaptation of Akira put on hold (again)

Despite being approved by the studio like 3 months ago all pre-production for a new adaptation of Akira has been stopped for the fourth time. Apparently there are still kinks in the film's budget that they are trying to work out. If they can't solve the issues by the end of January the project could very well be axed completely.
So far Garrett Hedlund (aka, Sam in Tron: Legacy) is the only confirmed actor. Kristen Stewart was offered the role of Kei, with no acceptance or denial as far as I know, and Ken Wattanabe has been in talks to replace Gary Oldman as The Colonel, but that is all rumored. There is no official confirmation on anything except Hedlund being cast as Shotaro Kaneda. Personally I think casting non-Asians in a film like this is a bit odd and fans might find it offensive. But then again, there are a lot of Anime and Manga freaks out there that aren't Asian so I guess you never know.

http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/169151-live-action-akira-put-on-hold-

Even if these issues get worked out and pre-production is given the green light again, I highly doubt we will see this film until mid to late 2013 if not 2014. Not unless they rushed the hell out of production if it is given the go ahead.