According to this rumor it sounds like Ruairi Robinson has been tapped to direct a live action Akira film:
'Akira' Live Action Remake Finds Director!!!
"We've been informed that Warner Bros. Pictures is trying to get Akira off the ground pre-strike and have attached 29-year-old Oscar nominated Irish director Ruairi Robinson! No more details have been revealed other than he directed a mind blowing short film entitled The Silent City, which can be viewed over at BDTV. Watch this spot for more news soon and cross your fingers that this sucker gets rolling ASAP."
This is the short film Silent City by Ruairi Robinson:
Found via almostmonumental.com.