"I hope that I can bring strong characters. In the original source material, I don't think the main characters are the protagonists... That's part of the Japanese culture, they never have strong characters. They're used as a way to move the other philosophy forward."
Akira remake director: "The Japanese never have strong characters":
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-10/director-collet-serra-hopes-live-action-akira