'Unknown' director Jaume Collet-Serra to take on 'Akira'

The live-action adaptation of "Akira" has a new director: Jaume Collet-Serra.

The director of "Unknown" and "Orphan," Collet-Serra replaces Albert Hughes ("The Book of Eli"), who left the project in May over "amicable creative differences."

Jaume Collet-Serr

Based on the Japanese manga series, the film is said to be moving the action from Neo-Tokyo to New Manhattan based on a script most recently polished by "Harry Potter" screenwriter Steve Kloves. The story follows Kaneda, the leader of a motorcycle gang who tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a military experiment gone awry.

The film project sparked controversy in March when a reportedly shortlist of actors under consideration for the leads was entirely white despite the source material's Japanese origin (an issue I have repeatedly downplayed). Keanu Reeves was offered the role of Kaneda but he ultimately turned it down.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is among the film's producers.