Ken Watanabe Joins "Cirque du Freak"

Variety is reporting that Ken Watanabe has signed on for the upcoming vampire film, "Cirque du Freak."  He will be joining John C. Reilly and Salma Hayek.

Reilly will play a vampire who drafts a 14-year-old to serve as his assistant. The youth is turned into a half-vampire and becomes the catalyst in a battle between vampires and the rival Vampanese. Hayek will play Madame Truska, the bearded lady.

Watanabe will portray Mr. Tall, the barker for the Cirque.

Shooting is set to start next month for the Universal Pictures project which is based on the bestselling 12-book children’s series by Darren Shan.