Actor Ken Watanabe to direct film

Monday 30th June, 06:22 AM JST

TOKYO —

Academy Award nominee actor Ken Watanabe, 48, is planning to direct a film for the first time. “Currently, I’m writing a script,” he said, without going into details. “My schedule this year is full with acting, so it looks like it will have to be next year. I want to be able to devote myself to the film and be able to spend enough time on it.”

Watanabe is wrapping up work on a new Hollywood film “Shanghai,” in which he plays a spy for the Imperial Japanese Navy in Shanghai on the eve of World War II. He said shooting finishes in Thailand in August.

7 Comments

Altria at 11:46 AM JST - 30th June

The Second-to-Last Samurai?
PrinceskaNo1 at 01:34 PM JST - 30th June

The most handsome man ever!!! Love him! Will watch anything he produces. Best actor of Japan. Maybe best director too.
thepro at 02:44 PM JST - 30th June

Best actor of Japan? That's a bold statement. Though he sure as hell runs tracks over that kimutaku clod.
Sarge at 06:12 PM JST - 30th June

"shooting finishes in Thailand in August"

They must be sweating like pigs there.

PrinceskaNo1 - I thought you said the Bulgarian gladiator was the most handsome man ever. Tee hee!
Fighton at 09:04 PM JST - 30th June

Best actor in Japan is Yusaku Matsuda from the movie, "Black Rain", unfortunately he died 2 months after the movie was released.

Every Hollywood director wanted him to be in their next Yakuza movie, but unfortunately for him, he didn't survive his big Hollywood break.
PrinceskaNo1 at 11:09 AM JST - 1st July

Sarge, I got confused with so much handsomeness on JT recently. The pizza guy is not bad either. My ranking 1. Ken Watanabe 2. Kotooshyu 3. Sarge
ladykaede at 12:56 AM JST - 3rd July

Ken Watanabe is great looking but my favorite actor is Koji Yakusho - I think he is one of the best too.