Albert Torres writes for Book of Eli helmer Albert Hughes; visual artists in pre-production

The Collider.com movie news website interviewed producer Andrew Lazar ( Jonah Hex , Space Cowboys, Get Smart) on the planned live-action Akira films, and Lazar revealed that his Akira team hired a new writer named Albert Torres to work with director Albert Hughes (Menace II Society, From Hell, The Book of Eli) . Lazar said that Hughes is "off conceptualizing the movie with a bunch of visual artists" in pre-production development. When asked about the challenges of getting the project made as a big-budgeted, high-profile studio release, Lazar responded:

Akira happens to be something that Warner Brothers management loves. They see the value in the title. They see the value in the franchise, and what the underlying property meant. It's a pretty seminal piece. And so they think that, with a guy who is a visionary director like Albert Hughes, it's not pushing a boulder up the hill for Akira because, quite frankly, the studio is really enthusiastic about it.

Lazar also confirmed that the first film will cover Katsuhiro Otomo's first three Akira manga volumes, and the next three volumes will be covered "hopefully, if we're fortunate enough to do a second one."

Screenwriter Gary Whitta was previously attached to the project, which actor Leonardo DiCaprio (Titanic, The Aviator) is producing through his Appian Way production company. According to ComingSoon.net, Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby also worked on the films' scripts before Torres was hired.

Thanks to Codename V for the news tip.