Beat is Back

The media reported this story about the latest film from Kitano Takeshi (see imdb and this fansite) this morning but nobody seems to have picked it up in English yet. Here are the details in point form. I'm sure more complete reports will follow.

Title: Kantoku - Banzai!, 『監督・ばんざい！』(kantoku means director)
Starring: Beat Takeshi, Emori Tôru, Matsuzaka Keiko, Kishimoto Kayoko (you remember her as Beat's wife in Hanabi), Uchida Yuki, etc.
Story: Beat Takeshi plays director "Kitano Takeshi," who makes a pledge not to shoot any more violent films and to finally produce a box office hit. He tries to come up with movies in different genres, including an Ozu-style drama, a love story, a nostalgic story set in the Showa era, a horror movie, a ninja film and a sci-fi picture. None of them work out and he ends up shooting a tale of a simple man and a needy mother and daughter, but things take an unexpected turn... Billed as a "fantastical comedy."
Production Status: The film was shot in secrecy last autumn. It's now completed and set for release in June 2007.

After TAKESHIS', Kitano stated he wanted to move into a new phase of his career where he would direct orthodox movies. It sounds like Kantoku - Banzai! ended up being a self-reflexive look at his creative process. Could be his Stardust Memories...

Update: Don at Ryuganji provides more details.