Los Angeles, CA, June 11, 2013 – Producer Jonathan Sanger announced today Koji Yakusho will star in the new feature film “Defending the Enemy.” James Moll is attached to direct. Based on the book “A Trial of Generals,” the story follows the widely publicized war crimes trial of General Matsaharu Homma at the end of WWII. Accused of organizing the brutal death march in Bataan, Philippines, Homma ‘s destiny appears doomed when General MacArthur assigns the neophyte defense attorney John Skeen to prepare his defense. Based on actual events, the story is not so much about a trial as it is about the nobility of two very different soldiers. Pre-production will begin in August and principal photography is set for October. Executive Producer, Ellen Wander, along with her company, Film Bridge International, is overseeing the financing and worldwide distribution for “Defending the Enemy.”
Kôji Yakusho, one of Japan's most gifted and popular leading men, starred along side Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett in Alejandro Inarritu’s “Babel.” Yakusho first gained international success with his portrayal of a struggling young executive trying to master ballroom dancing in the original Japanese version of “Shall We Dance?," The film went on to become one of the highest-grossing Japanese movies in the world. Yakusho also starred in Rob Marshall’s epic “Memoirs of a Geisha.” and “Silk” with Keira Knightly and Alfred Molina. Most recently he appeared in the ensemble cast of Takashi Miike's award-winning and critically acclaimed samurai films, “13 Assassins” and “Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai.”
James Moll’s work as a documentary filmmaker has earned him an Oscar, two Emmys and a Grammy. A protégé of Steven Spielberg, James has directed, produced and edited such films as the sports adventure “Running the Sahara,” executive produced by Matt Damon; Emmy-winning “Inheritance,” about the daughter of a Nazi concentration camp commander; and Oscar-winning “The Last Days,” executive produced by Steven Spielberg. Recently, James directed “Foo Fighters: Back and Forth” for which he received his Grammy.
Moll’s Universal Studios based company, Allentown Productions, has created programming for AMC, Showtime, History, VH1, and Hallmark. In addition to work as a filmmaker, James established the non-profit Shoah Foundation with Spielberg for recording and preserving more than 50,000 ‘visual histories’ of Holocaust survivors. James serves as co-chair of the DGA Documentary Award and on the Executive Committee of the Documentary Branch of AMPAS. Jonathan Sanger will produce “Defending the Enemy.” The veteran producer has a knack for choosing emotional and passion driven films. In 1978, Jonathan Sanger made his solo debut as a producer by interesting Mel Brooks in supporting the development of “The Elephant Man,” the classic film directed by David Lynch.
The film was rewarded with eight Academy Award nominations in 1980 including Best Picture, as well as the British Academy Award for Best Motion Picture and the French Cesar Award for Best Foreign Film. Sanger’s next project as producer, “Frances,” the equally passionate story of actress Frances Farmer (starring Jessica Lange, Kim Stanley and Sam Shepard), resulted in two Oscar nominations. In late 1990’s, Jonathan joined Cruise/Wagner Productions where he worked on “Without Limits,” “Mission Impossible II” and “Vanilla Sky.” Paired again with Mel Brooks, Sanger produced the film version of the Tony Award-winning musical “The Producers” (starring Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman and Will Ferrell).