Next summer, Warner Brothers will release a live-action film based on the Japanese manga Akira. The film is to be produced by Leonardo DiCaprio.

The manga began in 1982 as a monthly feature written and drawn by Katsuhiro Otomo and lasted for about 8 years. Set in 2019 “Neo-Tokyo,” after a nuclear explosion caused World War III and all kinds of chaos, the story centers around young members of a biker gang. One of their own was put through government experiments which revealed his extraordinary mental capabilities, which are his secret powers. Now, the leader of the gang must find a way to prevent the destruction he believes will ensue from this revelation.

In 1988, an animated film adaptation was produced, also titled Akira. With its ground-breaking animation technique and mature themes, Akira led the rise in popularity of anime in the West. The film is still considered to be a milestone in animation.

Today, it seems that manga is more popular than ever, so the live-action version of Akira is poised for success. It will likely be produced as a two-part project, with the first film being released next summer. Sources say that the setting will be moved from Neo-Tokyo to "New Manhattan".

Anime, manga, and movie fans everywhere certainly have something to look forward to!