The casting train for Warner Brothers live action version of the classic anime Akira keeps chugging along. We know that Garrett Hedlund is being considered for the lead and that Helena Bonham Carter and Gary Oldman have been offered roles. Now it is being reported that Kristen Stewart has been offered the lead role of Kei.
In addition to being the love interest of Kaneda (Hedlund), Kei is also leader of an underground movement that is rebelling against the military leadership of the futuristic city-state in which the story takes place.
Honestly, this is a terrible idea and one that smacks of Warners casting more for marquee value than for acting ability. Setting aside the Twilight films, which don’t really even deserve contemplation, Stewart hasn’t really delivered much of a performance in any of the films that I’ve seen her in. I had hoped that she would be able to step up her game for the upcoming Snow White And The Huntsman, but the trailer seems to indicate that it will be more of her usual standing there with her mouth slightly agape. If she is going to be part of this film here’s hoping that director Jaume Collet-Sera can drag a decent performance out of her.
Via Twitch.
