It seems to be the day for people bailing on high profile projects, as the planned live-action versions of Akira and Uncharted have both lost their directors. Variety has the Uncharted news, saying that while O’Russell signed onto the adaptation of the video game (after protracted negotiations) towards the end of last year, he’s now left over creative differences (which is what they always say in Hollywood and essentially means nothing). The split was apparently amicable.
To be honest this isn’t a big surprise, as while O’Russell has talked excitedly about the movie, it always seemed an odd fit for a man who’s generally stayed away from the mainstream with the likes of I Heart Huckabees and The Fighter. He also a bit of a history of dropping out of movies.
It’s not known if Mark Wahlberg, who’s attached to star in Uncharted, will leave too, although it did appear that O’Russell’s presence helped get him excited about the project. Sony is still keen to make the movie, and Thoman Dean Donnelly and Jashua Oppenheimer are busy working on the script, with the studio now looking for someone else to direct.
And Akira is looking for a new helmer too, as Deadline reports Book Of Eli helmers Albert Hughes has exited. Once again it’s said it’s all amicable and its due to creative differences (Hollywood really needs to get a new script when it comes to these thing), with Warner still keen to get Hughes working on something for them, even if it’s not Akira.
As for the anime adaptation, the studio apparently wants to keep it on the fast track and so will be looking for a new director as fast as they can. They’re also keen to cast the roles of Kaneda and Tetsuo soon. The original plan was to go for up and comers (the likes of Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake and Joaquin Phoenix were on Warner’s list), but then studio nerves made them try for more established stars, including a flirtation with Keanu Reeves that ended recently. Now they’re going back to the original plan, in the hope they can get a director and stars in time to make the movie either later this year or early next.