Jordan Peele broke down his decision to recreate the iconic Akira moment featured in Nope. Peele's latest film was released earlier this year on July 18, marking his third directorial work after 2019's Us. Like in its predecessors, Peele combines a mix of genres: this time, horror, science-fiction, and even Western.
Set in present-day Agua Dulce, CA, siblings "OJ" Haywood, Jr. (Daniel Kaluuya) and "Em" Haywood (Keke Palmer) train and handle horses for film and television productions while maintaining their ranch. After discovering a UFO responsible for their fluctuations in electricity and the vanishing of their horses, the Haywoods are determined to document its existence in hopes of profit. Palmer's "Em" is doing just that when she takes a paparazzo's motorcycle and slides down in a cloud of dust to a slow-motion, side-on, posturing halt. Nope's ambitious themes, performances, and cinematography were met with critical acclaim.
In an interview with Empire for their Review Of The Year issue, Peele explained his decision to recreate the Akira-inspired slide and how the shot was done. Peele cited his Special Effects Coordinator Scott R. Fisher and Stunt Coordinator Mark Vanselow for its success. With the use of a rig, 20-foot long track, and some VFX, he revealed that it took actress Keke Palmer only a few takes.
“There are so many ways you can stop a motorcycle. And it was just like, ‘You know what? I could do it a different way, or we could build this rig and do a practical fucking Akira slide."
Will the Live-Action Akira Movie Ever Happen?
The remake has been stuck in development limbo, with numerous directors — including David F. Sandberg and Daniel Espinosa — rumored to be in the running. Peele was a strong candidate for the live-action Akira Hollywood remake in 2017 after the box office and the critical success of Get Out. Calling Akira "one of the best works of all time," he had considered taking on the endeavor of remaking the groundbreaking anime film. However, he ended up deciding against it.
“Ultimately, I felt like if I was going to put that much energy into trying to honor one of the best works of all time, why not put that energy into something of my own?”
As of yet, there is still no sign of development. The disappointments in revenue and public backlash from Hollywood remakes of anime like Ghost in the Shell are likely to have deterred any progress in production. Yet if anyone can avoid these pitfalls, it's Jordan Peele. His sharp social commentary, appeal to mainstream audiences, and original filmmaking style make him an obvious choice. Peele is also adept at paying tribute to iconic films (Get Out's reference to The Stepford Wives) and no stranger to respectful remakes either, as his well-received Twilight Zone two-season reboot showed. Whether or not the live-action movie will ever come to fruition remains a mystery; perhaps now that Nope, his latest project, is over, Peele will have time to reconsider.
Source: Empire