Akira Movie Set for Summer 2009

We won’t have to wait long to think about how this will look as a live-action pic.

Variety is reporting that Akira, the six volume graphic novel by Katsuhiro Otomo, is coming to the big screen. There will be two movies to cover the epic–three volumes in each one. The first film’s been fast-tracked for a hopeful summer 2009 release.

Otomo directed his own animated version of the series in 1988, but the new films will be live action. Appian Way, Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company is producing, along with Andrew Lazar’s Mad Chance. No word on whether Leo will take part!

The script for the first movie is by Gary Whitta and will be directed by Ruairi Robinson. This will be the feature film debut for Robinson, who’s made his name in short films and commercials.

(Don’t know anything about Robinson? Well, here’s his Oscar-nominated short “Fifty Percent Gray”)