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Directorless: Albert Hughes Off 'Akira', David O Russell Off 'Uncharted'

by Alex Billington
May 26, 2011
Source: Deadline

Briefly: Bad news. Two big Hollywood projects, two adaptations, have hit a big snag. Deadline reports that Albert Hughes, one half of the Hughes Brothers (Dead Presidents, From Hell, The Book of Eli), is walking away from directing Warner Bros' live-action Akira, based on the manga/anime. He'd been attached since last February, but is leaving due to "amicable creative differences" not long after Keanu Reeves passed on the lead; the project is still on a fast track. Deadline/ShowBlitz also reports that David O. Russell has left the Uncharted: Drake's Fortune video game adaptation at Sony, which he was writing/directing, also because of "creative differences." Maybe he saw IGN's video game movies chart and realized it was hopeless.

Filed under Development, Movie News

From around the web:

Xerxexx

Maybe this is a good thing.
lego

shame for Russel. but very good thing for Akira imo
Big Boss

This is a GREAT thing. You CANNOT "westernize" a classic.
- Xerxexx
  
  it is/was an adaptation for Americans...it wouldn't make sense if it wasn't Westernized.
  - Ryderup
    
    Depends on how you look at it.
    - Xerxexx
      
      indeed. If the Swedish were to do this it would be in Swedish with Swedish actors.
  - Big Boss
    
    Making an anime from the manga with English voices and subtitles are one thing, but given Hollywood's formula, it just wouldn't have worked out. You know it would've been ALL about "Kaneda's bike". lol
    - Xerxexx
      
      Which is why I'm happy this project is being shelved.
- http://www.facebook.com/gshauger Geoffrey Shauger
  
  O RLY?
happy camper

This is great news for Akira. just let it go!
Cracky

Great news. I'll drink to this. Or something.
Cody W.

Glad Russell left Uncharted, cause that means Marky Mark wont be playing Drake and we can finally get Nathan Fillion....DO IT HOLLYWOOD!
http://www.facebook.com/pandora.young Pandora Young

Thank god. Akira goes unraped another day.
stfugtfo

i fuckin hate ign they ruin everything
Lebowski

Maybe I'm misreading this, but doesn't the article imply that only one of the Hughes brothers has left the project? Meaning that one still remains to continue the rape? Fuck these idiots. Akira is a perfect and complete thing, and these b-movie chumps have neither the intelligence nor the creative vision to come close to it.
- jah p
  
  Why all the hate on the Hughes brothers Lebowski?Obviously they can't be too dumb if they're still in hollywood doing films!It's not their fault that the studio wanted them to do this film, your personal attack on these filmmakers is just incredibly stupid!!!
GlossGreen

I think this is great new for both, especially Uncharted. Mark Wahlberg was completely wrong to play Nathan Drake. Nathan Fillion is still my top choice for that role.
Cookiex

It's probably a good thing that David O. Russell left Uncharted. From all the interviews I've read he seemed to have no clue about the franchise and would have most likely screwed it all up.
Warren Carroll

Great news for the Uncharted movie, David O. Russell is a great director for sure, but the movie he was planning on making was not Uncharted and he really didn't seem like the best man for the job.
Andre

Yah! Now I can direct them!!!
Lamar

I always imagined Roland Emmerich as the director of a live action "Akira", that's just MY opinion. When the news came out the David Russel was leaving Uncharted, did anyone else literally shout and jump for joy? Or was I the only one?
- ff
  
  Roland Emmerich? Seriously? Him and the Hughes brothers should all change careers IMO.
lando

keep running into snags, Im all for it.
Rooneyman

Wooo Jensen Ackles for Drake all the way!!