Hayden Christensen will star in true life period drama "Beast of Bataan" directed by Fred Schepisi reports Reuters.

The story follows the trial of Masaharu Homma, the Japanese general who was implicated in the Bataan Death March.

Christensen is playing Homma's young lawyer, trying his first case and fighting against the death penalty for his client, who is being tried for war crimes by U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

Koji Yakusho ("Babel") is in negotiations to portray Homma. Willem Dafoe and William Hurt also are in talks to join. Shooting will begin this February in Australia.