Ken Watanabe (Inception, Batman Begins) is taking the lead role in a Japanese remake of Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-winning Western Unforgiven. Backed by Time Warner Japan, the samurai film Yurusarezaru Monu (which translates as “A Thing That Can't Be Forgiven”) will be directed by Lee Sang-Il (Hula Girls, Villain).
Like the original, this version will be set in 1880, but the events have moved to Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. Watanabe will play a samurai with a violent past who is now living a peaceful life on the island with his wife. However, his past comes back to haunt him and he is drawn back for one last job.
Koichi Sato (The Magic Hour) will take the Little Bill role, which was played by Gene Hackman in the original film, while Akira Emoto (Villain) will play the main character’s old friend, like Morgan Freeman in Unforgiven. Yurusarezaru Monu is due to start shooting in Hokkaido this autumn and is expected to arrive in Japanese cinemas in late 2013.
