Ken Watanabe leads Japanese remake of Clint Eastwood western 'Unforgiven'

The west is forever remaking eastern cinema with high profile stars in the lead, but the tables have turned this time with 'The Last Samurai' Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe signing on for a remake of Clint Eastwood's classic western 'Unforgiven'.

'Unforgiven' scooped the Best Picture and Best Director Oscars following its 1992 release, with both awards going to Eastwood who also starred in the lead. Watanabe will be assuming Eastwood's role in the remake, taking on the retired gunslinger on one last mission for redemption.

'Yurusarezaru Mono' will be directed by Korean-Japanese filmmaker Lee Sang-Il of 'Villain' fame and produced by studio Warner Brothers Japan.

More "eastern" instead of "western", the setting shifts to Hokkaido, Japan and the cowboys become samurais but the time period of the 1880s remains.

Kōichi Satō ('When the Last Sword is Drawn') will take the villain role originally played by Gene Hackman to Oscar winning effect, with Akira Emoto ('Villain') filling Morgan Freeman's old shoes in the sidekick role.

Shooting begins this September-November for an autumn 2013 release. Given that Watanabe is one of the most recognised Japanese actors in the west since Toshiro Mifune thanks to roles in the likes of 'Batman Begins', 'Inception', 'Letters From Iwo Jima' and his Oscar nominated work in 'The Last Samurai', there's a strong chance it'll get a good release in the UK/US.

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