Update: Teaser for ‘The Legend of Kamui’

Update: A new, slightly longer teaser trailer for Yoichi Sai’s period ninja actioner THE LEGEND OF KAMUI is now available. (Scroll down to view the first teaser.) Also, Shockiku has set a release date in Japan for Sept. 19th.

Hollywood won’t be alone in bringing fresh ninja action to screens in 2009. While anticipation for the Wachowskis’ NINJA ASSASSIN and Isaac Florentine’s NINJA grows, Shockiku Co. is putting the finishing touches on their own ninja movie. THE LEGEND OF KAMUI is coming out later this year but a teaser trailer is now available.

The $18 million dramatic actioner is directed by Yoichi Sai (BLOOD AND BONES) and stars Kenichi Matsuyama (DETROIT METAL CITY), Koyuki (THE LAST SAMURAI), Suzuka Ohgo (MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA), Hideaki Ito (SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO), Anna Tsuchiya (KAMIKAZE GIRLS), and Hong Kong actor Ekin Cheng (THE STORM WARRIORS).

Koyuki, who is known to Western audiences for portraying the love interest opposite Tom Cruise in THE LAST SAMURAI, was brought in to replace first pick Rinko Kikuchi, who was injured during production.

KAMUI is based on a serialized Japanese graphic novel by Sanpei Shirato that began appearing in the pages of GARO magazine in 1964. It ran for seven years and was first introduced to the U.S. in 1987 by Viz Comics.

Matsuyama portrays the title character, a ninja on the run from his fellow clansmen, hoping to put his violent life behind him. In his flight he encounters Sugaru (Koyuki), a female ninja who is also running away. An incident brings Kamui to a small fishing village where locals befriend him just as his pursuers close in.

THE LEGEND OF KAMUI is headed to Japanese theaters in September.

Tags: chambara, jidai geki, manga, ninja, Shockiku Co., The Legend of Kamui (2009), upcoming