DiCaprio: Acting in Akira, Ninja Scroll? "No, not really."

Leonardo DiCaprio, producer of the upcoming two Akira and one Ninja Scroll Hollywood adaptations, told MTV's Splash Page that he was "not really" interested in acting in the two projects. There you have it: Say goodbye any rumors of a DiCaprio portrayal of Akira's main character Kaneda.

In addition, DiCaprio spoke briefly about his own anime fandom and plans for the films, telling MTV:

“We’re waiting for the final draft of the script [for Akira] I’m a big fan of Japanese anime — that and another project called Ninja Scroll we’re trying to get developed and made into a movie, and I know there a lot of loyal fans out there of the project and die-hard fans, so we’re going to try to do the best job we possibly can and we’re not going to make the movie until the script is in the right shape.”

I'm quite glad to hear that DiCaprio is an anime fan, so hopefully he's not just "in it for the money." (But let's face it, there's some mad money in making an Akira movie.) Still, I was really hoping for DiCaprio to play Kaneda. As long as Appian Way can pick up some other big name actors for the projects, they might be able to sell these potentially-otaku-only titles to a large, mainstream audience. Anybody else as crazy excited as I am over the prospect of these Akira movies?

[via MTV Splash Page]

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Warner Bros. to produce live action Ninja Scroll

ICv2 reports that Warner Bros. has purchased the rights to create a live action film based on Yoshiaki Kawajiri's 1993 anime film Ninja Scroll. The original movie was one of the very first anime seen by many modern fans of the medium. Alex Tse, writer of the Watchmen script, is slated to write the screenplay for the film. According to a report from Variety magazine via the Anime News Network, Appian Way, the production company owned by Leonardo DiCaprio, will be co-producing the feature with Warner Bros. DiCaprio will not be playing a role in the film.

For those paying attention, you will know that Appian Way and Leonardo DiCaprio are also the ones behind the upcoming two film adaptations of Katsuhiro Otomo's manga Akira. And, for those of you keeping count, that makes seven live action anime adaptations in the works or released. What's your opinion on this 90's classic getting the Hollywood treatment? Are these live action films expanding or diluting American anime fandom?

[via Anime News Network and ICv2]

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