What does Taken have that would justify a higher cost? Liam Neeson? 0 special effects?
Red had high priced talent but not many special effects, at least not on the scale of a movie like Akira or Transformers.

Stewart did get paid a lot for Twilight but she accepts smaller roles for less pay for indie movies. Akira will not be an indie movie.

The NZ comment is spot on because they will have to film in NY or a soundstage set up to appear like NY, either of which is expensive. They could film in some cheaper locale, but it would need high-rise buildings and streets so it would be more expensive than the rocks and mountain vistas like in LOTR.