Takashi Miike has tackled a lot of material, from a Japanese Western to schlock and splatter horror, and a whole world of tense dramatic finishes inbetween. The visual director has decided to take on an adaptation of a classical story, that of ritual suicide in olden Japanese society, using the medium of 3D. The preliminary casting choice of a famed Kabuki (lighter Japanese theater) actor, Ebizo Ichikawa, certainly seem to indicate a serious and dramatic direction, but no doubt with the typical visual flare and enthusiasm that accompanies every Miike film. The subject matter itself is likely to lend itself quite well to 3D in many senses, with samurai drama and visceral evisceration finding equal parts of screen time. The shooting is scheduled to begin in October of this year. It will be Miike’s first 3D film, and quite a bold choice to begin the new medium with.

The story itself revolves around a samurai who seeks revenged for the ritual suicide of his son-in-law. The Japanese concept of Harakiri (literally “Cut Midriff”) is a very tough concept to tackle, especially in international terms, the ritualistic suicide for honor rarely transitioning well into western mythology. But the story itself is no doubt a compelling one, and the visual effects alone should be enough to captivate most fans. The film will also have as a starting point the old 1962 classic by the same name, which starred Tatsuya Nakadai. It should be interesting to see how a revamped version of a classic looks and feels, in 3D.