It appears that The Wolverine is not a direct sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but more of a stand-alone film, for which Christopher McQuarrie wrote the script loosely based on the Japanese saga by Frank Miller and Chris Claremont.
After his four-month shoot for Les Mis, Hugh Jackman has tweeted that filming on The Wolverine will begin shooting this August in Australia (and Japan).
Therefore, Coming Soon has reported that Will Yun Lee (CBS hit Hawaii 5-0) looks like he's landed the role of the villain Kenuichio Harada, known as The Silver Samurai; Hiroyuki Sanada, from Lost and Rush Hour 3 is signing up to play Shingen Harada, former leader of Clan Yashida and a portion of the Yakuza; then Hal Yamanouchi, who's been seen in The Life Aquatic, will be Yashida in the movie; and finally, Grimm actor Brian Tee is set to play a corrupt minister by the name of Noburo Mori, who is about to marry the daughter of a Yakuza crime lord .
Yes, James Mangold is directing the movie set for a July 26th, 2013 release.
Lee will next appear in Sony's Total Recall remake and Lionsgate's 3D dance feature Cobu 3D.
Stay tuned.
