Remaking the Oscar-winning Clint Eastwood movie of the same name, Warner Bros.’ Japanese arm will be releasing Unforgiven (Yurusarezaru mono / ??????) into theatres later this year.
We first heard about the remake last summer, when it was announced that Ken Watanabe, Japan’s internationally best-known actor, would be taking the lead role played by Eastwood just over two decades ago.
With the film’s September release date on the horizon, the studio have debuted a new poster, following on from the promising first teaser trailer which surfaced late last year.
Like the original, the remake is set in 1880, relocating the setting to Hokkaido, Japan, at time when Japanese settlers were displacing the local Ainu people.
Watanabe stars a samurai with a fearsome reputation living in retirement with his Ainu wife, brought out of retirement for one last job.
Watanabe stars alongside K?ichi Sat? (When the Last Sword is Drawn) and Akira Emoto (Villain), who take the roles originally played by Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman, respectively.
Sang-il Lee (Villain) is behind the camera, directing from his own script, based on the original movie penned by David Webb Peoples.
Watanabe was most recently seen on our shores back in 2010 in Christopher Nolan’s Inception, and I can’t wait for his return to blockbuster territory next year in Gareth Edwards’ anticipated Godzilla.
Unforgiven will be released in Japan on September 13th. No word yet on when or if the film will be getting a theatrical release in the US or UK. But as a big fan of Watanabe’s work, I’m hoping that it will. For now, here’s the new poster, and the first teaser trailer below to give you a reminder of what we have to look forward to here.
[yframe url=’www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIzLPfXrFRg’]
