'White Akira' Pours One for America's Dreaded Live Action Movie [Art]

I'm sorry but people are talking about the demographics, and what will and wont sell to the American people, but why would anyone give a **** about seeing a live action remake of Akira, that wasn't true to it's origins?

I care about Akira, because the storyline still makes sense in today's world. Especially with the uncertainty of the Fukushima Nuclear Plant, and this being generation RX, not because it stars well known/hated Hollywood actors and actresses.

When production companies use these big names to sell their movies, it's usually because the script is crap, but they've been handed a golden storyline. I can't list the times I've seen a movie only to wish that they had used an unknown in the starring role.

We're all worried about the ethnicity of one character? How about the fact that they changed an entire race of people, because we can't handle the truth. I've watched the original over 20 times now, and it wasn't because the actors were a paticular race, it's because it was a compelling storyline, in a 2+ hour movie that followed a 6 volume graphic novel as well as it could. I just wish Hollywood, would learn a lesson from the story they're re-working.

For everyone saying that Asian males can't sell tickets and this is just The Market At Work, please, I'd love to see your definitive evidence for this, since it's apparently a settled point of fact.

Or, just maybe, it's this empty line you heard somewhere once that reinforces your own prejudices.

People have weird ideas of how decisions are made in the entertainment business. It's not by statisticians, that's for sure. In fact, it's often by urban legend, petty rumor, and fear of shaking up conservative trends no matter what the results might be.

I think all of those apply to the goofy rule of thumb that Asian leads can't sell tickets.

Interesting how there is plenty of "outrage" over white people cast as Akira... which by the way I whole heartily agree with, but than when someone points out certain people of other races play a certain character you are called "racist" and told to a variety of asinine things/insults.

I am not crying, I expect it, just interesting is all.

Also to add, just re-read the first mention of this and found out Leonardo DeCaprio's production company is fielding this.

Folks, Leonardo DeCaprio has a bad rep in Asia. He doesn't really care about people or even the environment. He may not be as badly seen as Steven Seagal over there, but...

Yeah, knowing this, the casting and the re-imagining make *total sense* to me. DeCaprio has no respect for the source material. He can be pretty much "a player" in Hollywood.

Although this could be a response to Josh or anyone, I am gonna have to disagree about this being "alright".

I mean, it has been done before and movies do change. There are allowances and they work.

But people are really missing the "point" here. Asian actors have always had a hard time in Hollywood and only less than a handful have gotten any real cred within the business. This has been a long-standing problem going back to the end of the silent era.

In some ways, there are good reasons to put a certain spin on a remake, but I feel it just keeps people in their own culture and not receptive to another country.

We are all "People/Men/Women". I remember watching the original Ultraman with it's all Asian cast and not caring about "race" in the least. In fact, I learned alot about Japan, another country, through that show. I grew more "worldly" and gained experience that people in another country are not that different from me. Move forward and we have "Power Rangers" coming over and being cast in a White-Bred town and not Japan.

While other countries could and do accept such movies, do we really need to? I remember when the original "La Femme Nikita" came out and many people were blown away and loved it. Sure, the american remake was good, but something was missing. It was not the same. I also remember seeing the movie, "Shall we Dance?" form Japan and it fits perfectly in the context of a straight-up salaryman, but did this carry over into the American version with Richard Gere as well? I think not.

Such castings marginalize the source country and casting. What if Africa were to remake, "To Kill a Mockingbird?" Okay, outlandish example IS outlandish but such a story does not fit well within the context of Africa; it is a story about the problems set in America.

There was a time when people embraced and chased movies from other countries, especially those movie watchers dissatisfied with the typical Hollywood system. There was a time other countries made movies of the same or better caliber than Hollywood (then, World War 2 began....). It's strange that at those earlier times, people were more accepting of leading men and just watching a movie from a foriegn country than they do seem today; entertainment is entertainment, no matter where it comes from.

Movies are typically not true to their source material. Even the manga and anime of Akira differ. At some point you have to just let people use their artistic license and tell the story their way.
To say that this is not the Akira movie you wanted is fair, but criticizing race is getting old and hypocritical.
Remember how petty the Heimdall fiasco was? Prince of Persia without any Persians? Last time I checked Ras al Ghul was Arabian and Bane has a Spanish origin. Should we crucify Chris Nolan?
The list can go on. Why? Because casting is based on audience demographics. White male leads do better in the box office. This can still be a great movie in the spirit of Akira, but not a direct translation. Otherwise we need to get pissed that the movie isn't in Japanese with subtitles too.

Up Next: The Earthwashing of Dejah Thoris in John Carter of Mars.

How funny would it be if it were actually called "White Akira" ?
"Whiiiitte Tetsuuuuooooooo!!!!!!!"

Dear clueless ones, this movie is:

Star Wars without being set in space.

Buffy starring a ripped dude nicknamed Buff.

Doctor Who without a TARDIS who prefers cheeseburgers to jammy dodgers.

Shaft starring Don Knotts and being about a crime in an elevator.

Batman being set in Topeka, wearing a baseball jersey, and driving around solving farm crimes in his Chevy van.

....Akira didn't take place in 1980s Tokyo...-_-, Akira Takes place in 2019 Tokyo.

Just curious - everyone hyperventilating over the "whitewashing" of Akira, were you as offended by the American remakes of movies like The Ring, The Grudge, One Missed Call, etc? Are you as offended by the American remake of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, a movie based on a Swedish novel that seems to in fact star no Swedes in major roles? There have been SCORES of foreign books & films adapted for American audiences - why is it anime/manga need to remain so true to the source, in terms of the race of the characters?