It seems casting has begun on Fox's next Wolverine movie, and according to SHH the following actors will be joining Hugh Jackman in some key roles..
Hiroyuki Sanada ("Lost," Rush Hour 3, The Last Samurai) is set to play Shingen; veteran actor Hal Yamanouchi (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Push, Sinbad of the Seven Seas) plays Yashida; and new discoveries Tao Okamoto and Rila Fukushima will star as Mariko and Yukio, respectively.
You will notice that the character played by Hal Yamanouchi is listed as "Yashida", but fans of Chris Claremont & Frank Miller's "Japan Saga", on which this movie is based, will know that is the family name of several characters that cross paths with Wolverine throughout the course of the story, Shingen and his daughter Mariko (Logan's love interest) included. So this is either a mistake or they have created a new character - possibly Shingen's father - for the movie, we will update if we can figure it out. Anyway, there is another (illegitimate) member of the Yashida clan - Keniuchio Harada, a mutant who will become The Silver Samurai. No word on his casting yet, but keep an eye out.
The Wolverine is set to hit theaters July 26, 2013 James Mangold directing. Lauren Shuler Donner will produce with Hugh Jackman, John Palermo and Hutch Parker.
Article image courtesy of Superherohype