Kitano plots gangster pic 'Outrage' (Variety)

TOKYO -- Secretive Japanese helmer Takeshi Kitano has finally unveiled details of his latest gangster pic -- his first in nine years.

“Outrage” depicts power struggles among Tokyo gangsters. Kitano not only helms and scripts, but also plays the lead -- a low-ranking gang boss charged with doing the dirty work of his superiors.

The cast also includes Tomokazu Miura, Kippei Shiina, Ryo Kase, Jun Kunimura, Tetta Sugimoto, Renji Ishibashi, Fumiyo Kohinata and Takashi Tsukamoto.

Shooting started in August, with Warner Japan and Office Kitano skedded to release next year.

Kitano made his international breakthrough in 1993 playing a gang boss in “Sonatine,” and became known for his extreme depictions of on-screen violence in such pics as “Boiling Point” (1990), “Hana-Bi” (1997) and “Brother” (2000), but has adopted a more peaceful on-screen persona in recent years.