American remakes of foreign-language films are ten a penny these days, but it's not so usual to see the process work the other way. However, that's just what's set to happen with Unforgiven , with Ken Watanabe set to star in a Japanese remake of the classic Western.
Watanabe will play the lead role in Yurusarezaru Monu , which roughly translates as A Thing That Can't Be Forgiven . The film will be directed by Lee Sang-Il, with shooting set to begin later this year.
The Little Bill role, originally played by Gene Hackman, will go to Koichi Sato of The Magic Hour , while veteran star Akira Emoto will play Watanabe's old buddy, a role previously owned by Morgan Freeman.
The film will see Watanabe star as a former samurai with an extremely violent past, now living a peaceful life on the island of Hokkaido with his wife. However, it isn't long before his past comes knocking at the door and our hero is drawn back to his violent ways for one last job.
The original film scooped the Oscar for Best Picture, Best Director for Clint Eastwood and Best Supporting Actor for Gene Hackman, and it will be interesting to see whether the remake will trouble the Academy in the foreign-language section. Yurusarezaru Monu is expected to arrive in cinemas at some point in 2013.
