Keanu Reeves will be starring in a new version of ’47 Ronin’ — the famous Japanese epic:
This version is set in a world of witches and giants, making this a battle epic more in tune with ”300” than, say, ”Gladiator,” at least as far as fantastical elements. More than that, Reeves portrays Kai, the son of an English sailor and a Japanese woman and a character created specifically for this Hollywood retelling. The 46-year-old actor chose his words carefully on the topic of tilting the classic to fit modern popcorn imperatives.
“Japanese kids grow up with this story told to them. They hear it from family and they learn it in school, it’s part of the culture,” Reeves said. “It’s been made into movies many times and on television. It’s like our westerns, the story keeps being told. It’s been reworked in some ways [for this new film] but with great care and respect.”
I don’t know if Reeves is expressive enough to play a Japanese character, but I guess those old samurai were more stoic than most.