Japanese remake of "Unforgiven" to star Ken Watanabe

[AKA23]

I really didn't see this coming.

http://japandailypress.com/ken-watanabe-to-star-in-samurai-remake-of-clint-eastwoods-unforgiven-209574

[KC]

^ From the above link:

It’s interesting that it’s taken this long for a U.S.-made western movie to be remade with samurai in Japan, as it was Akira Kurosawa’s classic Yojimbo that was remade into A Fistful of Dollars, starring none other than Eastwood (and helping to launch his career), as well as Seven Samurai (also by Kurosawa) that became The Magnificent Seven. 

I'm sure the story will have to be changed so much that it won't really be a "remake," but a new work using some of the same story elements. Fistful is really quite different from Yojimbo, after all.

Ken Watanabe should be an excellent choice to play the lead.

[higashimori]

 ^^Japanese side;

 http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20120820-00000001-eiga-movi

Eastwood has made a declaration on the occasion of the production of the Japanese version of  " Unforgiven" ( Yurusarezaru Mono) ' I'm very honored to learn that my good friend Mr. Ken Watanabe who did a good job in " Letters from Iwo Jima "  teamed up with director Lee Sang.

Japanese story seems very interesting.  But I would be very happy if it will only Clint takes the megaphone himself!! 

[Christopher]

That sounds cool. Watanabe is a good actor--I'd watch the movie.

[dane with no name]

I trust the japanese to show how a cultural remake is handled.  
(What Hollywood have in stock for a western style remake of some of the japanese classics (most notably Akira) doesn't exactly fill me with high expectations... )

That sounds cool. Thumbs Up Watanabe is a good actor--I'd watch the movie.

.
I agree. Also, taking on the Ainu angle seems a pretty bold move as welll.
I'm not all that familliar with the Ainu, except that they seem to have been given the short end of the stick on numerous occasions by the japanese goverment back in the days.

I hope this could turn into a trend, with several other western movies being remade with a japanese setting. The outlaw Josey Wales is practically begging to receive the "samurai treatment" 

[MC]

Sounds like it could be cool. Any room for a Clint cameo in this one? 

[Dan Dassow]

Sounds like it could be cool. Any room for a Clint cameo in this one? 

I could almost see Mr. Eastwood playing an aging samurai who with the help of his estranged daugher forstalls being forcibly retired. 

[Christopher]

I could almost see Mr. Eastwood playing an aging samurai who with the help of his estranged daugher forstalls being forcibly retired. 

I think I can see it too!

[KC]

Clint will play the only non-Japanese passenger on the train bearing the notorious killer "Hong Kong Bob" to a rendezvous with the vengeance-thirsty geishas in the town of Big Sake!

(And I know that geishas are not prostitutes ... I did say they would have to change the story a bit, didn't i? )

[higashimori]

 " Clint Eastwood's Oscar-Winning Motion Picture Unforgiven to Be Reborn in Japan with Director Lee Sang-il's Yurusarezarumono "

 Business Wire
 Press Release: Warner Bros. Picture

 http://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/clint-eastwoods-oscar-winning-motion-180200955.html

 

TOKYO--(BUSINESSWIRE)-- For the first time in Japanese cinema history, an American-made film is being remade and released in Japan with award-winning director Lee Sang-il's Japanese-language motion picture Yurusarezarumono, inspired by the Oscar-winning classic Unforgiven, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Released in the U.S. in 1992, Unforgiven was nominated for nine Academy Awards in 1993 and won four, including Best Picture. The announcement was made today by Richard Fox, Executive Vice President, International, Warner Bros. Entertainment, and William J. Ireton, President & Representative Director, Warner Entertainment Japan Inc.

Inspired by the Eastwood classic, writer/director Lee Sang-il (the Japan Academy Prize-winning film Villain, Hula Girls) shifts the setting to Japan in retelling the epic, adapting the Unforgiven screenplay by David Webb Peoples. The film stars an ensemble including some of Japan's most acclaimed actors, led by Ken Watanabe (Letters from Iwo Jima, The Last Samurai) as Jubei Kamata, reinterpreting the role played by Clint Eastwood in the original, with Akira Emoto (Villain, Dr. Akagi) taking on the part played by Morgan Freeman, and Koichi Sato (Crest of Betrayal, What the Snow Brings) reprising Gene Hackman’s part.

[Hemlock]

Not a huge fan of remakes but this could be something good/intresting.Definitely want to see this one.

[ceinjapan]

a picture of main town set of Japanese version of "Unforgiven"
http://m.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2012/10/25/jpeg/G20121025004403770_view.jpg

Ken Watanabe is playing Japanese William Munny
The man with mustache is playing Gene Hackmans' role.
http://image.eiga.k-img.com/images/buzz/34782/1.jpg?1351078006

[higashimori]

^^

 

 

 

  http://eiga.com/news/20121025/1/2/3/

[AKA23]

Here's a look at the teaser for this film, which has just been released. Since it's in Japanese, and there are no subtitles, you really can't tell much about the film, but atmospherically, I can see parallels between this and "Unforgiven."

http://www.slashfilm.com/japanese-unforgiven-teaser-ken-watanabe-takes-over-a-clint-eastwood-signature-role/

[Christopher]

That's definitely one I'll try to check out when it's available in the US. Watanabe is a good actor.

[KC]

The teaser looks great. Having just seen Unforgiven again on the big screen, I'm eager to see how this version will compare.

[exit00]

Like most here, I really want to see this. But i'm sure it will be very limited...only in major markets.

[higashimori]

           
           

In this first poster, japanese old ｂraided hat is missing!! 　I think with that this poster will be much better !! 

You will discover another good actor who call Koichi Sato (role played by Gene Hackman) in this remake. 

 http://eiga.com/news/20121205/2/

[KC]

To do a complete job of ripping off the Unforgiven teaser poster, he needs to be concealing a large, heavy weapon behind his back!

What does the title mean literally, Higashimori? Is it the same title that they used for Unforgiven in Japan?

[Lin Sunderland]

Looks like a sword on his left hand side.