Yukiyoshi Ozawa to co-star with Natalie Dormer in The Forest

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Although the David S. Goyer-produced, Jason Zada-directed supernatural horror film THE FOREST is set in Japan and is currently being filmed on location in the Tokyo area, all of the cast members revealed to date have been from other countries – a British actress (Natalie Dormer), an American actor (Taylor Kinney), and an Irish actor (Eoin Macken). The production has now finally announced its first Japanese cast member: film and television star Yukiyoshi Ozawa, who will be making his English-language debut in the film.

Written by Sarah Cornwell and Nick Antosca from an original idea by Goyer, THE FOREST is

set in the legendary Aokigahara forest at the base of Mt. Fuji. Against this incredible backdrop, a young American woman goes in search of her twin sister, who has mysteriously disappeared. Despite everyone's warnings to "stay on the path," Sara enters the forest determined to discover the truth about her sister’s fate, only to be confronted by the angry and tormented souls of the dead who prey on anyone who wanders the forest.

Ozawa's character is a forest guide named Michi, and it sounds like Sara could really use his guidance.

THE FOREST has a solid concept and cast, but my main point of interest in this project is the script, since Antosca is also writing the next installment in my beloved FRIDAY THE 13TH franchise, a movie which is currently scheduled to come out four months after this one. I am the sort of fan who will watch this movie just to see what the writing is like in anticipation of the screenwriter's next movie.

THE FOREST is set to reach theatres in the U.S. on January 8, 2016.