Warner Bro. shuts down 'Akira' production

"Akira" is running into trouble...again.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. has shut down production on the live action adaptation of the popular anime film over "casting, script and budget issues."

The remake has run around again.

Deadline is reporting that the budget, which is currently estimated to be around $90 million under director Jaume Collet-Serra ("Unknown"), is not the major stumbling block at the moment. The film was sporting a $150 million budget under former director Albert Hughes, who left the project in May.

Instead, the script seems to be the big issue now and a new writer is expected to be brought in for another take. The most recent draft was from David James Kelly, and before him "Harry Potter" scribe Steve Kloves took a stab at the remake.

The original anime film, like the manga series it was based on, follows story follows Kaneda, the leader of a motorcycle gang in Neo-Tokyo, who tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a military experiment gone awry. Kloves' version of the script reportedly moved the action from Neo-Tokyo to New Manhattan.

"Akira," if it escapes this latest setback, is expected to star Garrett Hedlund ("TRON: Legacy") as Kaneda, with Kristen Stewart ("Twilight"), possibly Ken Watanabe ("Inception") and Helena Bonham Carter ("Alice in Wonderland") all rumored to be in talks as well.

According to Deadline, the production was targeting an early March start. That is most likely no longer in the cards.

'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.