Scott Mann (The Tournament) has been hired by The Weinstein Company to direct their remake The Seven Samurai.

Screenwriter John Fusco has been developing the project at The Weinstein company for the past 18 months. The story centers on a small, contemporary village in Thailand who recruits seven warriors from around the world to help defend their town from an upcoming attack.

It is said that Scott Mann will also help develop the screenplay with John Fusco, in hopes to start shooting sometime this year.

Akira Kurosawa directed the original 1954 classic Seven Samurai, which starred Toshirô Mifune and is considered by many to be one of the greatest movies of all time. The director's son, Hisao Kurosawa, will executive produce the remake along with Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein.

The Seven Samurai will be produced from a $60 million budget.