If Warner Bros. is really serious about this "Akira" remake, at least they're turning to a guy who's proven he can do it on time and on budget: Jaume Collet-Serra, the Spanish director who turned "Orphan" and "Unknown" into profitable surprises for the studio, is set to direct the live-action version of the anime cult classic, Variety's Jeff Sneider exclusively reports. Ruairi Robinson and Albert Hughes were previously attached to direct the adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo’s graphic novel, but Hughes exited the project amicably in May as a result of creative differences. Steve Kloves, WB’s go-to scribe for its “Harry Potter” franchise, wrote the latest draft. Insiders tell Variety that the pic is being reenvisioned as a $90 million tentpole. Otomo, who wrote and directed the popular 1988 Japanese anime pic of the same name, will exec produce. Collet-Serra has a reputation for delivering successful films on time and on budget, and his track record at the box office has been improving with each try: His feature directorial debut “House of Wax” took in $68 million worldwide in 2005, while 2009’s surprise hit “Orphan” grossed more than $76 million worldwide. Earlier this year, Liam Neeson-starrer “Unknown” opened in the top spot and has grossed over $130 million worldwide on a reported production budget of only $30 million.
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