While The Wolverine was severely delayed by the departure of director Darren Aronofsky, it’s now moving forward again, with Will Yun Lee (Total Recall, Red Dawn) and Brian Tee (Grimm) signing on to play The Silver Samurai and Noburo Mori in the film.
Will Yun Lee will play the main villain, Kenuichio Harada, a.k.a. The Silver Samurai, the illegitimate son of a crime lord who uses an electrified samurai suit of armour. Brian Tee’s Noboru Mori is the corrupt Minister of Justice who is about to marry the daughter of a Yakuza crime boss. The young woman is also the love interest of Hugh Jackman’s title character.
Variety adds that Hiroyuki Sanada (Rush Hour 3, Lost) will play Shingen, while Hal Yamanouchi (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Push) will play Yashida. Also recently cast are fresh faces Tao Okamoto and Rila Fukushima, both Japanese models who are relatively new to acting.
James Mangold is directing from a screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie and Mark Bomback. Production is expected to start next month in Australia.