Actor Hideaki Ito has been cast as a movie villain for the first time in his career. He was chosen to appear in the film version of Sanpei Shirato's manga "The Legend of Kamui," which recently resumed filming after a series of setbacks.

The action film, starring Kenichi Matsuyama and directed by Yoichi Sai, was delayed for a few months after lead actress Rinko Kikuchi was injured. At one point, the movie was almost dropped completely, but it eventually got back on track with actress Koyuki replacing Kikuchi.

In the film, Ito plays the head of a group of shark exterminators that arrive in the fishing village where the swordsman Kamui (Matsuyama) has ended up. Ito and his gang offer to help Kamui and the villagers to get rid of a shark infestation, but he also sets a trap for Kamui, leading to a violent showdown.

Other cast members have been revealed: Koichi Sato, Kaoru Kobayashi, Suzuka Ohgo, Sei Ashina, Anna Tsuchiya, and Hong Kong actor Ekin Cheng. Filming had originally been scheduled to wrap up in February, but is now projected to finish in September. Release is planned for summer 2009.