Earlier this month, Matthew Fox (Lost) was cast in the upcoming political thriller Emperor. Set at the end of World War II, Fox will play Gen. Bonner Fellers, one of General Douglas MacArthur's leading Japanese experts during a time when MacArthur was temporarily in charge as the de facto ruler of Japan as supreme commander of the occupying forces. Fellers struggles with the decision whether Emperor Hirohito should be tried and hanged as a war criminal, while also searching for his lost love, a Japanese exchange student he had met years before in the U.S.
With Fox set for the lead role, it was only a matter of time before an actor was cast to play Gen. MacArthur, and, according to ComingSoon, director Peter Webber (Hannibal Rising, Girl With a Pearl Earring) has decided on Tommy Lee Jones for the role. "Tommy will bring strength, intelligence, and gravitas to the portrayal of General Douglas MacArthur, a legendary American hero," said producer Gary Foster (Ghost Rider).
Emperor was written by David Klass (Walking Tall) and Vera Blasi (Tortilla Soup), and starts shooting later this month in New Zealand and Japan.
more actors board the Snow Piercer train, Mattew Lillard and Clint Eastwood? >> Posted 01.18.12 by Ryan