During the long period that the live action version of Akira has been in development, it’s become increasingly unclear exactly what direction the Hollywood version was taking and what changes there’d be compared to the manga and anime versions.

However now a casting call has emerged, via Geek Tyrant, which includes a plot synopsis that tells us a lot more about the Jaume Collet-Serra directed movie. Here it is: ‘Kaneda is a bar owner in Neo-Manhattan who is stunned when his brother, Tetsuo, is abducted by government agents led by The Colonel.

‘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.’

It’s largely similar to the original, although Kaneda is now a bar owner rather than teen biker, and he and Tetsuo are brothers rathers than friends. Garett Hedlund will play Kaneda, while the casting call lists Kristen Stewart as Ky, Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Miyako, and Ken Watanabe as The Colonel, although these haven’t bee 100% confirmed. Shooting is expected to start early in the new year.

General movie news courtesy of Movie Muser