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Ken Watanabe to Play the Villain in Chris Nolan's Inception

by Alex Billington
May 4, 2009

And I thought the cast for Christopher Nolan's Inception couldn't get any better? Two more phenomenal actors who have joined the cast as announced via Hollywood Reporter tonight. Ken Watanabe will play the villain, a man who is blackmailing the lead character, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, a CEO of a mysterious company. Up-and-comer Tom Hardy has also joined the cast as "a member of DiCaprio's team." Also starring in Nolan's "contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind" are Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy, Ellen Page and Marion Cotillard. That's one hell of a cast, eh?

Ken Watanabe is actually one of my all-time favorite actors. I absolutely love the guy and he's never let me down in any role he's ever played. He appeared in Nolan's Batman Begins as the "fake" Ra's Al Ghul in the beginning and also did an exceptional job as Katsumoto in The Last Samurai and as General Kuribayashi in Letters from Iwo Jima. His addition to this cast has made a project that I'm already very excited for even more highly anticipated in my book. Now only if we knew what the heck this was about, but I'm thinking at this point, I'd rather just be completely surprised next summer. We'll keep you updated on all the latest!

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Reader Feedback - 18 Comments

Isn't Michael Caine in this as well?

Chuck Norris on May 4, 2009

^Yes he is.

Dan on May 4, 2009

Caine said he will have a bit part. He was only on set for 3 days. This has suddenly shot to the top of my most anticipated list! I just really thought about the film and its implications for the first time. Nolan's first film since TDK. DiCaprio in the lead. AMAZING supporting cast. Another mind-bending sci-fi thriller in the vein of The Prestige, which I loved. 😀

Keith on May 4, 2009

cool

xerxex on May 4, 2009

Holy shit batman... Fuckin amazing. This is gonna rock the 2010 summer movie season.

teyhtr on May 4, 2009

Geeh they only need Bale to complete the entire gang right now.

Craig on May 4, 2009

Yeah, exactly. Alex Billington is going to wait til next summer to find out what this film is about. jk 😛

markers on May 5, 2009

What did everyone here expect? After TDK it's obvious that Nolan would have his choice of casting no matter how good or bad the script is. I don't think the abundance of A-listers itself qualifies this as having potential. I'll wait to hear more about the story before I form an opinion. I have faith in Nolan and all the aforementioned actors, but I'm remaining skeptical because film makers tend to get lazy when they have the peace of mind of an endless budget combined with an unlimited pool of acting talent.

peloquin on May 5, 2009

You mean to tell me that in this movie is: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (my fav young male actor), Cillian Murphy, Ellen Page (fav young female actress), Michael Caine AND Ken Watanabe are in the same film? and one of my top fav directors is making this?????????????? O. M. G.

buddhistwisdom7 on May 5, 2009

While speculating on the plot: If he's blackmailing DiCaprio's character that means that the lead character must be doing something he's not supposed to. Perhaps he's created some new technology which the company doesn't want leaking out. It's described as "contemporary" so it won't be too outlandish. While on the topic of casting: Just when I think it can't get better it does! These phenomenal casting announcements are giving me a heart attack!

SlashBeast on May 5, 2009

Peloquin: Given Nolan's track record, I highly doubt he'll "get lazy". I'm unabashedly optimistic about this, regardless of what the story is about.

elessar on May 5, 2009

Gordon-levitt in a Nolan film after TDK with Heath ledger....Levitt looks more like ledger every day, career and looks wise. Sounds awesome

Cody on May 5, 2009

I really respect this guy and appreciate his performance in acting is a very good actor,i hope he is The Sliver Warrior in the next Wolverine if it's in Japan.

Fisherr on May 6, 2009

I agree with Alex, Ken Watanabe is a GREAT actor. and not just in the Hollywood films he's done, (which he has been excellent in), but he's also been in some great Japanese films that are worth checking out like Kizuna and Sennen No Koi.

Roberto Dinamite on Aug 10, 2009

#8 - Peloquin You're an assbag. Actors are attracted to good scripts, not the cruddy ones you write.

SlashBeast on Sep 29, 2009

Who said I even write scripts? Actors are also attracted to a large paycheck... After seeing the teaser for this though it doesn't look like Nolan "got lazy" at all and I cannot wait to see what he does with this story. No need to call me an assbag, but I apologize if my comment affected you on such a personal level that you felt the need to attack me for my opinion.

peloquin on Sep 29, 2009

I apologize. I overreacted.

SlashBeast on Dec 6, 2009

NOT! You cum sucker!

SlashBeast on Feb 16, 2010

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