'Batman Begins' Baddie Joins Vampire Pic

Zap2It.com | January 21, 2008

Ken Watanabe

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Ken Watanabe joins a cast that includes John C. Reilly and Salma Hayek

Ken Watanabe has signed on for the Universal vampire film "Cirque du Freak," joining a cast that includes John C. Reilly and Salma Hayek.

Based on the children's book series by Darren Shan, the film focuses on a vampire (Reilly) who hires a 14-year-old assistant without knowing that his young ward is only half-vampire. This escalates tensions between the vampires and the Vampanese. Hayek plays the circus' bearded lady.

According to Variety, Watanabe will play Cirque barker Mr. Tall.

Brian Helgeland adapted the screenplay, which will be directed by Paul Weitz.

Watanabe picked up an Oscar nomination for "The Last Samurai." In addition to his turn as Ra's Al Ghul (sort of) in "Batman Begins," Watanabe has most recently been seen in "Memoirs of a Geisha" and the Oscar-winning drama "Letters from Iwo Jima."