Billy lands role in Samurai movie

Billy Connolly is to star opposite Tom Cruise in a historical movie epic.

He will play American soldier Zebulah Gant in the drama The Last Samurai, set in the1870s.

Cruise plays Nathan Algren, a US captain recruited by the Japanese army to train them to fight against the Samurai.

He is subsequently captured by the warriors, taught their honourable battle code, and ends up siding with them.

Connolly's character is Algren's war-wounded friend.

Timothy Spall has also signed up to play an English translator in the Warner Bros movie, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Published: 28 Aug 2002