Rumor of the Day: James Franco to star in live-action Akira

A live-action adaptation of the classic anime—itself an adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo's legendary manga—has been in the works for a long time, now. Keanu Reeves once flirted with starring in it, until saner minds prevailed. The latest name to think about booking a trip to Neo Tokyo is one of Hollywood's fastest-rising stars.

One thing could be said for sure: If James Franco is indeed in talks to star in director Albert Hughes' take on Akira (which is trading Neo Tokyo for Neo Manhattan), it wouldn't be the strangest thing he's done.
Franco, who's co-hosting the Oscars later this month—where he's also nominated for best actor—checked into General Hospital for an extended stay, is starring in Rise of the Apes, is heading to Broadway alongside Nicole Kidman and might take over for Robert Downey Jr. in Oz: The Great and Powerful, all while attending classes at Yale and planning to direct his first feature.

So, yeah, Akira would fit right in.
(via Just Jared)