Back in 2017, Taika Waititi expressed serious interest in directing Akira and confirmed that he had been approached about directing the film. This weekend at Star Wars Celebration 2023, we received an update where we also learned Waititi would be directing a Star Wars movie. When asked when Waititi would direct his Star Wars movie, Justin Kroll, senior reporter at Deadline, spoke up.

“Since everyone is wondering where his STAR WARS film is, if I were a betting man my guess is Taika’s next movie is his AKIRA movie at WB, which he put on shelf to do L&T,” Kroll said. “He never left the film and word is script should be into studio soon. Again nothing set in stone as the film would go through regular process before greenlight including figuring out a budget but sounds like all his focus is on that project.” (Via ComicBook.com).

Waititi said this of directing the Cyberpunk post-apocalyptic project:

“I actually love the books. Love the movie, but I would not do a remake of the movie. I would do an adaptation of the books.”

He also expressed concerns about whitewashing characters and assured fans he would cast Asian leads.

“Yeah. actually, Asian teenagers would be the way to do it for me, and probably no, not, like no name, I mean sort of unfound, untapped talent. Yeah, I’d probably want to take it a bit back more towards the books.” (Via IGN)