Zac Efron in action his next movie: Rumor has it that Zac Efron could soon play the lead role in the new live action adaptation of the popular Japanese manga comic AKIRA. The film would finally put Zefron in an action role and let him prove what he can (or can't) do with a meatier character. Slash Film reports that Efron has been offered the role of Shotaro Kaneda but is still in the negotiation process. The film will be directed by The Book of Eli director Albert Hughes.

The AKIRA manga follows Shotaro Kaneda, a rebellious teenager who leads a motorcycle gang. The story takes place in Neo-Tokyo amidst a raging World War III, but the Hollywood version will take place in America. Shotaro is friends with Tetsuo Shima, another troubled teenager who has psychic powers. Rumors have also linked actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt to this role. Other rumors on the AKIRA casting circuit include the possibility of Morgan Freeman to star as the antagonist of the manga, The Colonel, the head of a secret government operation.

Adaptaing an epic manga like AKIRA into a live action film poses a huge risk for studios, even with a built in audience. With so many other graphic novel and comic book adaptations in the works, the film will need some big name stars to stand out at the box office. Will Efron be the leading man to give it a shot? And more importantly, can you see him as a motorcycle riding action hero?