Four of Keanu Reeves' '47 Ronin' Cast

Four of Keanu Reeves' '47 Ronin' Cast11


By Daniel Hubschman , Hollywood.com Staff | Tuesday, March 01, 2011 Carl Erik Rinsch made a huge splash in the advertising industry with his high-concept storytelling. That brought Hollywood to his doorstep and he was quickly attached to a handful of exciting science fiction and fantasy projects (Logan's Run and The Creature From The Black Lagoon among others) that were too pricey for established action directors to work on. We've been hearing his name for years now but haven't seen one of his films go into production. So when he was hired by Universal Pictures to helm 47 Ronin, a period-set samurai flick with Keanu Reeves headlining, I was skeptical about its priority at the studio.


Now it seems the project is finally getting underway as Variety reports that a quartet of foreign actors have been cast. Right off the bat, I'm stoked about Asian actors playing Japanese characters. I'm glad that Universal isn't pulling a Last Airbender and hiring SoCal American's to play hardened feudal warriors. Authenticity will be in tact in this film and I'm enthusiastic, especially since there are a few bad-ass actors involved. Let's have a look.


First we have Tadanobu Asano, who is perhaps best known for his leading role in Takashi Miike's Ichi the Killer as well as the lauded Mongol. He'll become even more recognizable this year when he co-stars in Thor and will have two big Universal films to open in 2012 (including this one) because he's got a part in Peter Berg's Battleship. Next up is Rinko Kikuchi, a feisty little thing who was seen showing her hoo-ha in Babel and added international flavor to Rian Johnson's The Brothers Bloom. Most geek worthy is Hiroyuki Sanada, who appeared in The Last Samurai, Rush Hour 3, Speed Racer and the final season of ABC's Lost as an enigmatic protector of the island known only as Dogen. Finally we have Kou Shibasaki, a singing sensation who made her film debut in Kinji Fukasaku's acclaimed Battle Royale. Have a look at them all below (thanks to CS for the photo mash-up).


You may not be familiar with all of these actors, but that's not the point. The point is that the the famous fact-based story about a band of samurai swordsmen who avenge the death of their master in 18th Century Japan will look and feel like a genuine period piece, not just a soulless Hollywood product. Chris Morgan (Wanted, Fast Five) penned the screenplay for this epic actioner, which is on course to release on November 11th, 2012 in 3D.

'Shepperton Studios building film set without permission'

SHEPPERTON studios is continuing to build Japanese-style buildings on an external film set, despite an application seeking permission for the work being deferred at a council planning meeting.


Executives at the studios, in Studios Road, have begun construction on the Backlot site, rumoured to be for Keanu Reeves' new film 47 Ronin, even though the development has not yet been formally approved by councillors.


Richard Smith-Ainsley, ward councillor for Laleham and Shepperton Green, said: "The original recommendation before the committee was to refuse the application, and amongst other issues to serve an enforcement notice to require that a part of the site being used as an external film set must be reinstated to its previous conditions."


The planning application was recommended for refusal by Spelthorne councillors at the meeting last Wednesday, but it was deferred to be considered at a later date after a request by Shepperton Studios.


Councillor Smith-Ainsley said: "An important consideration for not accepting the studios' request to defer the application was that the archaeological works that they were mandated to carry out before any development had begun were not carried out. The county council archaeologist produced a late letter stating that he considered that any damage that would be done had already been done, so this reduced the significance of the main reason for not deferring the application. We expect the studios to resubmit their application soon and the planning committee will then determine it."


Andrew Smith, director of Shepperton Studios, said: "We have been working with the council and statutory consultees in relation to the technical matters, including archaeology, ecology, transport and flooding since the submission of the application for temporary use of the Shepperton Studios Backlot and an adjacent site to the north west, for the construction of film sets and workshops for a temporary period of seven months, to meet the needs of a specific film production.


"In order to fully address these issues we asked for a deferment, which was granted."

Keanu Reeves In Budapest For Next 2 Months

"Here are a few fresh details about what Keanu Reeves is doing here as the latest celebrity expat in town. He arrived in Budapest recently to spend two months here working on his latest movie at the Raleigh Studio in Rákospalota. The film, '47 Ronin', is based on an 18th century story centered around a band of samurai who, after the tragic death of their master, have the one goal of avenging the death of their commander. Apparently the shoot in Hungary will see the construction of a lifelike model of a Japanese village.


The symbolic meaning behind this story is the everlasting power of dignity, bravery, loyalty and morality. This 3D film is set to faithfully present the legend of the hero warriers of whom one is characterized by Keanu Reeves.


Besides the star personality of the 46 year-old star, this 170 million dollar production is directed by the famous director, Karl Rinsch. The American premier of the 47 Ronin is set for 21 November 2012. "


Translated from Origo.hu by Andrea Nyerges


18.03.2011