In what will undoubtedly come as welcome news to many fans of the original manga and anime, Warner Bros.' troubled live-action adaptation of "Akira" has stalled, again.

Asked during an interview about "Run All Night" whether there's been any progress on the film, director Jaume Collet-Serra told Collider, "No, no. There’s nothing.” When the website wondered whether there was any hope for "Akira," the filmmaker replied, "It’s a Warner Bros. question.”

Based on Katsuhiro Otomo’s pioneering cyberpunk manga and anime, the Warner Bros. project has had a long, difficult road, going through two directors, one co-financier and at least five screenwriters since the studio acquired the rights in 2008. "Akira" was finally greenlit in late 2011, with Collet-Serra attached to direct and  "Tron: Legacy's" Garrett Hedlund set to star as Kaneda, but Warner Bros. abruptly pulled the plug less than three months later due to reported budget and casting concerns.

Yet, "Akira" seemed to spring back to life in August 2013, with Collet-Serra again at the helm. A little more than a year ago, the director still seemed hopeful, explaining how he planned to approach the source material and flesh out the characters. However, he no longer seems so optimistic.