Collet-Serra to direct US 'Akira' remake: report

Spanish Catalan director Jaume Collet-Serra has been tapped to direct a live-action remake of the Japanese animation hit "Akira," the Variety entertainment magazine has reported.

The Warner Brothers sci-fi film - based on the 1988 anime cult film - would be set in "New Manhattan" and follow the leader of a biker gang who must save his friend, found to have superhuman abilities, from medical examiners.

Katsuhiro Otomo, who created the original "Akira" graphic novel and wrote and directed the 1988 film, will executive produce the new version, Variety said in its report on Thursday.

Collet-Serra has previously directed this year's "Unknown," starring Liam Neeson, as well as horror thrillers "House of Wax" (2005) and "Orphan" (2009).