Warner Bros. Pictures is fast-tracking their live-action adaptation of anime classic AKIRA with the Oscar-nominated director of animated short FIFTY PERCENT GREY, Ruairi Robinson, at the helm, reports AIN'T IT COOL NEWS. No other details have been released.

The project was originally announced in 2003 with James Robinson (THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN) writing the script and Steven Norrington directing.

Based on Katsuhiro Otomo's cyberpunk manga, the story follows bike gang leader Kaneda whose friend Tetsuo gets wrapped up in a government plot to exploit supernatural powers. In the journey to save his friend, Kaneda teams with anti-government activists who wage an underground war against greedy politicians and scientists.