Well, since we told you back in October that Warner Bros. Pictures flipped on the greenlight for the big-screen adaptation of Akira, there’s been no shortage of casting announcements, negotiations and rumors for the long-awaited big-screen adaptation of the popular Manga series.

Earlier this month we reported that Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) was in final negotiations for the role of Kaneda, Ezra Miller (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) and Alden Ehrenreich (Running Wild, Tetro) are both reportedly reading for the part of Tetsuo, and we brought you the as yet unconfirmed rumor that Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight Rises) and Helena Bonham Carter (Dark Shadows) were being offered the roles of Colonel Shikishima aka The Colonel and Lady Miyako respectively.

Now, Deadline reports that Kristen Stewart (Snow White and the Huntsman) is officially in negotiations to take on the lead female role of Kei in the Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown) directed live-action adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo‘s graphic novel Akira.

Otomo’s novel was first adapted as an animated feature, also titled Akira, in 1988. The film earned $84m at the US box office in less than a month. Otomo will act as executive producer on this live action adaptation.

Akira is slated to hit theaters in 2013.