EXCLUSIVE: Japan’s Nikkatsu Corporation has announced director Takashi Miike has started shooting Yakuza Apocalypse: The Great War Of The Underworld as of April 17.

This time, the prolific director of films such as Thirteen Assassins, Audition, Ichi The Killer and most recently The Mole Song: Undercover Agent Reiji is combining the yakuza genre with vampire legend.

Yakuza Apocalypse stars Hayato Ichihara (Rookies: Graduation) as Kagayama, a feeble but loyal underling to legendary yakuza boss Kamiura, who turns out to be a vampire. When an assassin from an international syndicate arrives in Japan to deliver an ultimatum, Kamiura is killed. But, not before he manages to bite Kageyama, and the transformed underling sets out to get revenge against a formidable team of assassins.

“Take a hike, boring Japanese productions! Against everyone’s wishes, I’m going back to my roots on this one, and plan to go on a real rampage with Yakuza Apocalypse. I hope my cast and crew, and even myself make it out alive,” said the controversial director.

The film is produced by OLM. Yoshitaka Yamaguchi, a former assistant director to Miike and a director himself, wrote the original script.

Nikkatsu is handling worldwide sales and local distribution in Japan. The film is set for local theatrical release in 2015.

Ichihara is reported to have undergone special training to prepare for what looks to be a gruelling shoot.

“I have never seen such a wild and unusually plotted movie before. I am grateful for the opportunity to star in Yakuza Apocalypse […] and will meet head-on any rampage Miike dishes out,” said the actor.

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