Akira synopsis leaked online?

A supposed synopsis of the Akira remake has arrived online, outlining what we might be able to expect from events in Neo-Manhattan.

The synopsis was posted on the Acting Auditions site, alongside “confirmed” cast members Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Ken Watanabe and Helena Bonham Carter. Now as far as we were aware, casting on the project has yet to be nailed down, which casts a certain amount of doubt on the legitimacy of the synopsis. However, it still makes for pretty interesting reading…

“Kaneda is a bar owner in Neo-Manhattan who is stunned when his brother, Tetsuo, is abducted by government agents led by The Colonel,” begins the breakdown.

“Desperate to get his brother back, Kaneda agrees to join with Ky Reed and her underground movement who are intent on revealing to the world what truly happened to New York City thirty years ago when it was destroyed. Kaneda believes their theories to be ludicrous but after finding his brother again, is shocked when he displays telekinetic powers.”

“Ky believes Tetsuo is headed to release a young boy, Akira, who has taken control of Tetsuo’s mind. Kaneda clashes with The Colonel’s troops on his way to stop Tetsuo from releasing Akira but arrives too late. Akira soon emerges from his prison courtesy of Tetsuo as Kaneda races in to save his brother before Akira once again destroys Manhattan Island, as he did thirty years ago.”

So there you have it. It certainly hangs together well enough to be the official plot, and more or less follows the plot of the original Akira. However, the decision to make Kaneda a bar-owner rather than a biker seems somewhat needless, as does the change that makes he and Tetsuo brothers, rather than friends. Let the fanboy ranting begin!

George Wales

George was once GamesRadar's resident movie news person, based out of London. He understands that all men must die, but he'd rather not think about it. But now he's working at Stylist Magazine.