Keanu Reeves will not play Kaneda in the live-action remake of Japanese manga Akira .
The actor was previously in negotiations with Warner Bros to take on the part, but has decided against playing bike-riding world-saver Kaneda.
Despite the negotiations coming to an abrupt end, Warner Bros are keen to stress that the remake isn’t dead.
“Production on Akira has not halted or been shut down, as the film has not yet been greenlit and is still very much in the development stage,” they say.
“The exploratory process is crucial to a project of this magnitude, and we will continue to sculpt our approach to making the best possible film.”
With Albert Hughes still attached to direct Akira from a script by Harry Potter adapter Steve Kloves, who'll bag the crucial role of Kaneda?
Previous shortlists featured the names of Andrew Garfield, Chris Evans and Robert Pattinson, but with the WB admitting that they're taking an "exploratory" approach to the adap, their final decision really could be anybody.
Buy Akira on DVD and Blu-ray : Akira - Collector's Edition Steelbook [Blu-ray + DVD] [1988] | Akira [Blu-ray] | Akira [DVD] | Akira - The Ultimate Collection [1991] [DVD] | Akira (Limited Edition) [DVD]
