Zac Efron Offered Lead In Akira?

BloodyDisgusting reports Warner Bros. and directors The Hughes Brothers (From Hell, Book of Eli) have offered the lead of Akira to Zac Efron. He'll be playing the role of Kaneda Shim who is the leader of a biker gang. While this seems disappointing when Leonardo DiCaprio and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were previously rumored for the leads. Since after watching them in Inception I felt the two need to be working together in more action fims, Akira being the perfect project.

On the other hand Efron has been slowly setting himself up as someone who could breakout in action films. He'll be producing and starring in the American remake of Snabba Cash. I'm nervous but he could pull it off and become the next action star. Hopefully Zac will play it a little more convincing than Shia Labeouf has in his films. Also these characters are high school aged so don't be surprised if more younger talent is linked to the film.