Fan Forum - View Single Post - News and Appearances #2: 'Cause we can never get too much of Leo.

xXxCaycexXx · 02-24-2008, 08:53 PM

Sorry to doube post but i have some news that i havent heard before. sorry if this has already been posted. Its quite new tho.

Leo Gets His Anime On
By Josh Grossberg
February 21 2008

Leonardo DiCaprio's going in for a 'toon up.

The Hollywood star has signed on to produce a live-action big-screen adaptation of the Japanese anime classic Akira for Warner Bros.

DiCaprio's Appian Way Productions will oversee development on Akira, which is being developed as a franchise, with the first of two planned movies slated to hit theaters in the summer of 2009.

Released in 1988 and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, Akira was based on the director's graphic novels, or manga. It became one of Japan's biggest anime hits and is considered a cult classic.

With eye-popping visuals, the landmark feature-length 'toon followed a band of bikers in postapocalyptic 21st century Tokyo, otherwise known as Neo Tokyo, and a young cyberpunk named Tetsuo. He becomes embroiled in a mysterious government project known as Akira that grants him psychic powers and disturbing hallucinations. It's up to Tetsuo's friends to stop him before his dormant power unleashes destruction on the city.

As of now, DiCaprio is not expected to star in the films.

Akira will be helmed by first-time filmmaker Ruairi Robinson and is being written by Gary Whitta.

Coproducing with DiCaprio is Andrew Lazar of Mad Chance Productions and Jennifer Davisson, president of Appian Way.

DiCaprio's company has long been trying to get Akira off the ground, initially acquiring the rights years ago and rotating through a string of producers , including Jon Peters, and directors like Stephen Norrington (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) and the singularly named Pitof (Catwoman).

The rights eventually lapsed and were snapped up by Warner Bros.

One major change is that the action will be set in New York City this time around, instead of Tokyo.

Robinson came to the attention of Hollywood executives after scoring an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Short for the sci-fi comedy Fifty Percent Grey.

DiCaprio, meanwhile, is gearing up to shoot Shutter Island, his fourth film with Oscar winner Martin Scorsese and a follow-up to last year's Best Picture Winner, The Departed.

The suspense thriller focuses on a U.S. Marshal (DiCaprio) probing the disappearance of a female killer from a maximum-security prison hospital on the isolated Shutter Island. At the same time, a major hurricane cuts off all access to the mainland.
It sounds great i cant wait!

Leo Bounces Lawsuit to Builder
By Natalie Finn
Febraru 7th

The other team has come up empty so far, but Leonardo DiCaprio wants yet another opponent to get in the game.

The 33-year-old actor has filed suit against the contractor who built the basketball court on his Hollywood Hills property which his neighbors have been claiming severely damaged their own patch of high-rent earth.

While Ronald and Joan Linclau were told last month that they would need to supplement their $250,000 lawsuit against DiCaprio with more facts before the court allows it to move forward, the Titanic star appears to be looking to cut his losses at the pass.

In the cross complaint filed Jan. 30 in Los Angeles Superior Court, DiCaprio and his cousin, Robert Hrtica, the property's legal owner, argue that contractors and landscapers who worked on the basketball court and a different contractor that built a retaining wall for the Linclaus should be held primarily liable for any damage to the couple's property.

The suit charges strict liability on the builders' behalf, negligence, breach of contract and indemnity.

The Linclaus sued DiCaprio May 10, alleging the workers who built the court in July 2004 undermined the land that stabilizes their backyard swimming pool and removed some plants without their knowledge. They also claim DiCaprio paid no mind to their demands to quit the project.

Because he commissioned the building, it's DiCaprio who should pay, the Linclaus claim.

In his response to the suit, the three-time Oscar nominee, who only rents the Oriole Way property, said that the Linclaus' retaining wall was taboo, as well.

"Seeking a scapegoat for the potential problems that they themselves created and the creation of a backyard for themselves free of charge, [the plaintiffs] filed this lawsuit in an apparent attempt to extort the cost of construction of a new retaining wall," DiCaprio's court documents state.

After twice being informed that their lawsuit, like their pool, apparently, didn't have sufficient ground to stand on, the Linclaus filed a third amended complaint Jan. 17 and a trial date has been tentatively scheduled for July 21.
I hope Leo comes out good with this case.