Astro Boy Takes Flight: Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan Reportedly Developing Live-Action Adaptation
Astro Boy rockets back into development as Hollywood readies another live-action take, with Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan reportedly steering the adaptation of the iconic manga.
Astro Boy is back in Hollywood crosshairs again. The newest push to get a live-action take off the ground comes from the duo behind the recent Ghostbusters movies, and the pieces are starting to line up at a major studio.
So, what is actually happening?
Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan are developing a live-action Astro Boy movie at Sony Pictures. The project is early-days: the studio is meeting with writers to shape it into a family-friendly adventure that plays wide. Word is this one sits close to Reitman’s heart, though he is currently shepherding rather than directing. That could shift once a script lands.
Quick snapshot of where they are coming from: Reitman’s last film, Saturday Night, dramatizes the premiere of the first-ever Saturday Night Live episode. Kenan most recently directed Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, which he co-wrote with Reitman. Given their shared sensibility on big four-quadrant fare, them tag-teaming Astro Boy makes sense.
Why Astro Boy still matters
Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy launched in 1952 and became a foundational piece of modern manga and anime. The core story centers on a brilliant scientist who builds a powerful android in the image of his deceased son. When the reality of that loss proves heavier than any machine can fix, he callously sells the boy to a circus. Astro is eventually saved by Dr. Ochanomizu, a compassionate mentor who becomes a true father figure. Across the decades, the character has headlined multiple anime series and picked up a handful of video game adaptations.
The last big Hollywood swing
The most recent attempt to bring Astro Boy to mainstream audiences was animated, not live-action. In 2009, Imagi Animation Studios rolled out a CG feature loosely based on the manga and loaded it with recognizable voices:
- Freddie Highmore as Astro Boy
- Nicolas Cage as the creator-scientist
- Kristen Bell, Nathan Lane, Eugene Levy, Donald Sutherland, Charlize Theron, Elle Fanning, Bill Nighy, and Matt Lucas rounding out the cast
Despite the star power, the movie landed with mixed reviews and underperformed financially, grossing about $42 million worldwide against a $65 million budget. Imagi filed for bankruptcy a few months later. Tough break.
Where this could go
A Reitman/Kenan-guided, family-aimed Astro Boy at Sony feels like the most credible live-action shot the character has had in ages. The big variables now: who writes it, what tone they lock in, and whether Reitman ultimately steps behind the camera once the script is in fighting shape.