posted by jaarel on Jun 1
Preliminary reports at Pajiba.com, are that Oscar nominated and talented actor Ken Watanabe (Inception, Batman Begins, Last Samurai) may be making his directorial debut with a movie entitled “442nd”
The movie is set to be based on the true story of an American-Japanese military unit that was assembled during World War II and then sent on virtual suicide missions all throughout Europe.
Attached to produce the project are Bill Gerber (Gran Torino) and also Watanabe’s management and production company Roar. Cast are yet to be assembled.
The true story of the units battles against Nazi forces, and against overwhelming odds, is what led them to become the most decorated unit in U.S. military history. The history of the regiments forming of American-Japanese soldiers is made all the more powerful given the preceding attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese.
After the Pearl Harbor attack an executive order was given for the internment of Japanese-Americans. As a consequence most Japanese-Americans were discharged from military service. However 1300 soldiers were retained and sent to the mainland to fight and became the 100th Infantry Battalion.
The 100th had large successes and as a result 3000 more Japanese-American soldiers interred in various parts of the United States volunteered themselves and together they formed the 442nd regiment. At the time soldiers with any Japanese heritage were forbidden from fighting in the Pacific, and so were sent to mainland Europe to help fight back the Nazi’s and the Third Reich’s push across the country.
The unit had a great many losses but their courage, valor and success against overwhelming odds and seemingly impossible missions led them to be the pride of the U.S. miltary.