Oldman Out, Watanabe In as Colonel in Akira

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgWarner Bros. has decided to offer the role of The Colonel to Ken Watanabe, reports Twitch [1]. The move comes as the studio couldn't close a deal with its first choice Gary Oldman, He would star opposite Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart and Helena Bonham Carter.

Based on Katsuhiro Otomo's seminal manga, the story follows a biker gang leader who tries to save his best friends from a government experiment designed to unleash people's psychic abilities.

Jaume Collet-Serra (UNKNOWN) will direct the $90 million production. Gary Whitta, Albert Torres and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby all took cracks at the script. HARRY POTTER's Steve Kloves penned the most recent draft.

Appian Way's Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran and Mad Chance's Andrew Lazar are the producers.

Production is scheduled to begin late February/early March.

Previously, Ruairi Robinson and Albert Hughes both flirted with directing the film, but dropped out over creative differences.