*** This film has been put on hold by Warner Bros. ***
The feature film "Akira" will film in Vancouver, BC.
AB Media Publishing, LLC
Leonardo DiCaprio's production company Appian Way, in association with Legendary Pictures and Mad Chance, is set to begin principal photography on the feature film "Akira" this coming spring in Vancouver, BC. Casting is heating up as screen testing is taking place for the lead roles, and the supporting roles will be cast soon. The extras, photo doubles, and stand-ins for the film's stars will be cast in Vancouver. The movie is set in a place called New Manhattan and follows two brothers, one the leader of a motorcycle gang, the other his younger brother, a young man with telekinetic abilities who becomes a dangerous weapon.
Garrett Hedlund has been cast as Kaneda, who is the main protagonist of "Akira". The beautiful and talented Kristen Stewart will play Ky, a powerful medium who cannot use psychic powers of her own, but can channel the powers of others through her body. Ken Watanabe portrays The Colonel, head of the secret government project conducting research on psychic test subjects. Helena Bonham Carter plays Lady Miyako.
Spanish filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra will direct "Akira" from an adapted screenplay written by Albert Torres, Steve Kloves, and David James. Collet-Serra most recently directed the 2011 Warner Bros. Pictures film "Unknown" starring Liam Neeson and January Jones. Other directorial credits include the 2005 remake of "House of Wax," "Orphan," and the TV series pilot "The River". He is set to direct another Appian Way film titled "Harker" in 2013.
This live action adaptation of anime artist Katsuhiro Otomo’s 6-volume graphic novel will be produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran of Appian Way, Andrew Lazar for Mad Chance, and Legendary Pictures' Jon Jashni. Katsuhiro Otomo will executive produce. Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute "Akira".
Minors and foreign talent must be legally eligible to work in Vancouver, BC and Canada.
The 2012 Vancouver Actors Resource Guide eBook includes the following information and documents for minors and foreign talent who would like to audition for "Akira" or work as an extra on the film:
• Guide to Child Labour Laws in Canada
• Canadian Work Permit Information Sheet for Foreigners
• Canadian Application for Temporary Resident VISA
• British Columbia Child Labor Guidelines
• British Columbia Work Permit Application for Foreigners
• British Columbia Newcomers Guide
• British Columbia Temporary Foreign Workers Factsheet
• British Columbia Employment of Young People in the Entertainment Industry
• British Columbia Trust Funds for Children working in the Entertainment Industry
• Using Groups for Background in the British Columbia Entertainment Industry
In addition to the following Vancouver Actors Resources:
• Audition Tips
• How To Make an Audition Video
• Casting Directors List
• General Talent Agent Information
• Talent Agents List
• Extras Agents List
• Acting Schools and Coaches List
• Headshot Photographers List
• Actors Unions
• Sample Actors Resume
• Sample Beginning Actors Resume
• Sample Cover Letters
• Entertainment Industry Terminology
• Miscellaneous Resources
• PDF Users Guides
The 2012 Vancouver Actors Resource Guide eBook is available here.
Principal Actor Casting
See the post titled Headshot and Resume Information regarding how to submit for acting roles.
Please submit photos and resumes by mail only.
No phone calls or personal drop-offs.
Los Angeles:
Ronna Kress
333 S. Beverly Drive
Suite 109
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Extras Casting
Vancouver:
Andrea Brown
Click Here for details about working on "Akira" as an extra in Vancouver, BC.
Production Companies:
Do NOT send photos and resumes to the production companies, as they will most likely end up being thrown away. They do not cast the films, rather they hire casting directors who sort through the thousands of submissions.
"Akira" Production Office
Lennox House Films
8035 Glenwood Drive
3rd Floor
Burnaby, BC V3N 5C8
Canada
Appian Way
9255 Sunset Blvd.
Suite 615
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Legendary Pictures
4000 Warner Blvd.
Building 76
Burbank, CA 91522
Mad Chance
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522
Warner Bros. Pictures
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522
Producers:
Leonardo DiCaprio
Andrew Lazar
Jon Jashni
Jennifer Davisson Killoran
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Starring:
Kristen Stewart - Ky
Garret Hedlund - Kaneda
Helena Bonham Carter - Lady Miyako
Ken Watanabe - The Colonel
Story:
Kaneda (Garret Hedlund) is a bar owner in Neo-Manhattan who is stunned when his brother, Tetsuo, is abducted by government agents led by The Colonel (Ken Watanabe). Desperate to get his brother back, Kaneda agrees to join with Ky Reed (Kristen Stewart) 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 bfore Akira once again destroys Manhattan island, as he did thirty years ago.
