We've all heard the rumors since spring/summer 2008, so it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that Fox is making a live-action film adaptation of anime classic Cowboy Bebop. However, the part that has caught a lot of people by surprise is the official casting of Keanu Reeves in the lead part of Spike Spiegel.

What's really interesting is that, despite the casting of Reeves (who doesn't have the most sparkling acting resume), most of the upper-level staff who worked on the original anime will be producers and consultants for the Hollywood film. Cowboy Bebop director Shinichiro Watanabe, Sunrise President Kenji Uchida, and original script supervisor Keiko Nobumoto are associate producers on the film, while animation studio Sunrise and their former producer Masahiko Minami will be production consultants.

While we all know the potential of Hollywood studios to ruin beloved franchises, the team selected to help with production seems like they can really steer the film in the right direction. Reeves is of course the most pressing problem for most anime fans, but his casting isn't a kiss of death on the film – after all, The Matrix was great, and Keanu was front and center for that one. If he is directed well, and the film is made with a love for the original anime intact, this can truly be a step in the right direction for Hollywood anime adaptations. That said, I remain cautiously optimistic about it. What do you guys think?

[via Anime News Network]

Remember a while back, when IMAGI announced that they would be creating a CG-animated remake of everybody's favorite super-powered kid: Tetsuwan Atomu, better known by Americans as Astro Boy? In the coming attractions before popular kids movie Madagascar 2, IMAGI showed off the first trailer for the upcoming film, displaying the first direct footage that we've seen so far. Moviefone's got the video, in shiny HD format as well as streaming video for anybody so inclined.

The CG in the film looks pretty competent, and the aesthetic style seems perfect to bring in a good family crowd, but I have some doubts about the accuracy of the movie. Primarily, the character designs have absolutely no resemblance to Tezuka's originals. I understand the goal of "Americanizing" the franchise to better sell it to a mainstream audience, but really? Tezuka? The "god of manga"? His character designs really don't need very much change. Still, I think that the plot (at least from Moviefone's summary) is looking to retain much of Tezuka's original message about humanity amongst all of the superficial changes made by the scriptwriter.

What do you think of the trailer? Sound off in the comments.

[via Anime News Network]

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]

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]

According to iFMagazine.com, Twentieth Century Fox has signed the rights for a live-action film adaptation of the 90's sci-fi anime classic Cowboy Bebop. Producer Erwin Stoff discussed his approach to the film, making sure to stress his "enormous admiration for [Bebop's] creators" and note that "our first and foremost concern is going to be a real degree of faithfulness to the tone of the movie."

In case you haven't been paying attention, that brings the tally of anime-turned-Hollywood-movies to six: Akira, Astro Boy, Cowboy Bebop, Dragonball, Ghost in the Shell, and Speed Racer. Think you can deal with Hollywood's take on all of these classic franchises? In my opinion, any new attention for our favorite anime is good attention, and for that reason, I'm glad to see a fantastic title like Bebop brought to the big screen. If the American moviegoing public is lucky, this one might even be good.

What do you think about another anime being brought to American movie screens? Sound off in the comments for this post.

[via Anime News Network]

It's not like anyone was expecting good things from the Dragonball movie. After all, basing a high-speed, action-packed Hollywood movie off of an anime about guys beating each other up is definitely not a surefire way to create a meaningful, award-winning film.

So, even though the newest poster for Dragonball looks just as disappointing as we would have expected, I'm still sure that everybody here at Ani-Gamers will be seeing it. On opening day.

[via Anime News Network]

Just months after announcements of such films as the live-action Akira, Dragonball, and CGI Astro Boy, and mere weeks before the release of the Wachowski Brothers' Speed Racer live-action film, Dreamworks and Steven Spielberg have revealed plans to helm a computer-generated film adaptation of Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell manga (not the 1995 anime film).

Plans are still vague, but the little that is known includes that Spielberg will have some sort of part in the film (direction or production is unspecified). The screenplay will be written by Jamie Moss (Street Kings, Last Man Home), and Ari Arad (Spiderman 1-3, X-Men, Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man), among others, will produce.

So, what's your opinion of this development? Do you think that Ghost in the Shell and Akira can establish themselves as serious contenders amongst such shallower films as Speed Racer, Dragonball Z, and Astro Boy? Could Spielberg possibly mess this up!?
[via Variety]