Hitoshi Matsumoto working on next film

[Tokyograph News]

After the success of last year's "Dainipponjin," comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto is working on his follow-up film as a director. Not much has been revealed so far, but sources say that the script is currently being polished, and the project is expected to be completed in time for theatrical release sometime in 2009.

Gossip site Uraura Geinou has mentioned some unconfirmed details, saying that the film is supposed to be a tearjerker about an unsuccessful entertainer (played by Matsumoto himself) who suddenly becomes burdened with a stranger's child. Itsuji Itao (who appeared in "Dainipponjin") may be playing the father who abandons the child. Special guests are rumored to include Matsumoto's mother and his comedy partner Masatoshi Hamada.

The gossip site also reports that a sequel to "Dainipponjin" is being discussed.

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