'Book of Eli' director departs 'Akira'

Book of Eli director Albert Hughes has abandoned Warner Brothers' production of Akira.

His decision is down to "creative differences" with the studio, according to Deadline.

Warner has had difficulties picking leads for the film, which has undergone a rewrite setting it in "New Manhattan".

Plans to cast two young actors for the roles of Tetsuo and Kaneda from a list including Michael Fassbender, Robert Pattinson and Andrew Garfield were then discarded in favour of an established lead.

Hughes' departure follows that of Keanu Reeves, who was reportedly locked in to play Kaneda after the studio changed strategy.

A spokesperson for Warner Brothers also denied press speculation that the film was in trouble, saying that the project had not been officially greenlit and was "still very much in the development stage".

According to the site, the hunt may be back on for a younger cast for the adaptation of the 1988 cyberpunk comic.