Japanese Remake of Clint Eastwood's UNFORGIVEN to Star Ken Watanabe

Warner Bros' Japan production office is developing a remake of the critically acclaimed Western directed by and starring Clint Eastwood that won multiple Academy Award in 1992.

Unforgiven, which was written by David Webb Peoples and also starred Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, and Richard Harris, tells the story of aging outlaw and killer William Munny (Eastwood) who comes out of retirement for one more job. The film won four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director.

Eastwood dedicated the movie to director Sergio Leone, the most famous director from the Spaghetti Western sub-genre who jumpstarted the then young actor's career in 1964 with A Fistful of Dollars -- a remake of Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo.

Now, Warner Japan is prepping to remake the film with director Lee Sang-il (Villain) and Ken Watanabe in the lead role. The story will still take place in 1880 but, according to Variety.com, "the location changed to the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, a time when Japanese settlers were displacing the native Ainu people. Watanabe plays a samurai with a fearsome reputation as a swordsman who is living in retirement with his Ainu wife when poverty and a large bounty tempt him into action again."

The project carries the title Yurusarezaru mono ("Unforgiven" in Japanese) and will begin shooting this September for theatrical release next year.