Two major genre films have undergone a bit of a creative shakeup today as Variety reports that David O. Russell will no longer direct Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune and Deadline says Albert Hughes will no longer helm Akira.
Uncharted, based on the popular video game series, is still in development at Columbia Pictures and was formerly working from a script by Russell, Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer. Creative differences have been cited as the reason for Russell’s departure and a new screenwriter is being sought. Though there is no specific word yet, it is very likely that Mark Wahlberg, who was previously attached to play the lead, is also no longer involved in the adaptation.
Akira, meanwhile has been having some trouble getting off the ground after recent reports that Keanu Reeves turned down the leading role of Kaneda.
Famously adapted as an anime in 1988, Akira will be based on the original manga by Katsuhiro Otomo, depicting a sci-fi cyberpunk dystopia. Deadline suggests that, once a new director is found, previous talent might be re-approached. Their list includes, in addition to Reeves, Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake and Joaquin Phoenix up for Kaneda with Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield and James McAvoy formerly up for the role of Tetsuo.
