Wolverine may be big in Japan, but we know a guy who's even bigger: Silver Samurai, Logan's chief mutant adversary in the classic 1982 Chris Clairmont/Frank Miller miniseries.
James Mangold's "The Wolverine" will pit studly actor Will Yun Lee ("Die Another Day") as Silver Samurai, real name Harada Kenichirō, against the formidable fighting (and singing?) prowess of Hugh Jackman's title Weapon X, Variety reports.
Harada was first introduced in the pages of "Daredevil," and, besides having an obvious set of badass samurai armor made out of (Quick! Guess!) silver, he can charge his swords with electrical energy to cut through any known substance … except Adamantium, which Wolvie is soaked to the bone in. Tough break, Samurai.
This is not Yun Lee's first Marvel rodeo, having gone up against "Elektra" as superhuman ninja Kirigi (also created by Frank Miller) in that 2005 misfire. The Korean American actor will next be seen in the remakes of "Total Recall" and "Red Dawn."
Yesterday was a veritable bonanza for "The Wolverine" casting news, with ComingSoon reporting that characters Shingen (Hiroyuki Sanada), Yashida (Hal Yamanouchi), Tao Okamoto as love interest Mariko, and Rila Fukushima as female ninja Yukio had all been slotted in. Later, they also disclosed that Brian Tee would play corrupt minister of justice Mariko Yashida, Wolvie's chief competitor for the hand of the lovely Mariko.
Shooting on "The Wolverine" will commence starting August in Australia and Japan so audiences can get a slice next summer on July 26, 2013.