The live action movie version of Katsuhiro Otomo's groundbreaking comic and animated feature film Akira has been on and off for many years, but now that Warner Bros. is rolling forward with Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown) directing the script by "Harry Potter" screenwriter Steve Kloves, there have been many rumors about who might star in it, with Keanu Reeves' name being attached almost from the beginning.

According to Variety, Warner Bros. are currently speaking with TRON: Legacy star Garrett Hedlund to play the role of Kaneda, the leader of a biker gang who has to save the friend who has been given psychokinetic abilities in a government experiment.

Otomo's manga story was originally turned into a popular animated feature film in 1988, although the story will be transplanted from "Neo-Tokyo" to "New Manhattan" for the upcoming movie.