Tommy Lee Jones has landed a key role in the upcoming Peter Webber film Emperor. He’ll play the part of General Douglas MacArthur in the historical drama.
Inspired by true events, Emperor is an epic story of love and understanding set amidst the tensions and uncertainties of the days immediately following the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II. On the staff of General Douglas MacArthur, the de facto ruler of Japan as Supreme Commander of the occupying forces.
Based on a screenplay by David Klass (Walking Tall, Desperate Measures, Kiss the Girls) and Vera Blasi (Woman on Top, Tortilla Flats), Emperor stars Matthew Fox as General Bonner Fellers, one of MacArthur’s leading Japanese experts, who, at the end of World War II, is charged with reaching a decision of historical importance: should Emperor Hirohito be tried and hanged as a war criminal?
Interwoven with this nail-biting political thriller is the story of Fellers’ love affair with Aya, a Japanese exchange student he had met years previously in the U.S. Memories of Aya and his quest to find her in the ravaged post-war landscape help Fellers to discover both his wisdom and his humanity and enable him to come to the momentous decision that changed the course of history and the future of two nations.
Of the casting, Producer Gary Foster said: “Tommy will bring strength, intelligence, and gravitas to the portrayal of General Douglas MacArthur, a legendary American hero.”
Emperor will be produced by Foster (Ghost Rider, Daredevil, Sleepless in Seattle, The Soloist), Yoko Narahashi (The Last Samurai) Eugene Nomura (Tajomaru, Surely Some Day) and Russ Krasnoff (The Soloist). Emperor is a co-production between Fellers Film and Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment.
Production is due to begin this month with lensing to take place in New Zealand and Japan.
