Keanu Reeves Passes on Akira. Will Development Continue?

News broke earlier this month that Keanu Reeves was talking with Warner Bros. to star in the live action adaptation of Akira. Warner Bros. has had a tough time locking a lead and it looks like they will have to keep on searching, because JoBlo has just confirmed that Keanu Reeves has officially passed on the role.

Regardless of the fact that Brad Pitt, James Franco, Ryan Gosling, Keanu Reeves, and other A-list actors have already passed on the project, Warner Bros. is still committed to moving forward. When asked about the project status after Akira's pre-visualization department was shut down, they provided the following official statement:

"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. 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."

Other actors mentioned in the past include Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield and James McAvoy for Tetsuo, and Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake and Joaquin Phoenix for Kaneda. Albert Hughes (Book of Eli) is already locked in to direct, with plans to shoot the film later this year.