Joan Allen is all set to star in Lasse Hallstrom's remake of the Japanese film Hackiko, A Dog's Story. According to Variety, Richard Gere is producing and starring in the project.

The film revolves around an Akita's relationship with its owner. The Stephen P. Lindsey script will focus on the faithful dog's decade long vigil. The Akita waited for his owner to come home not knowing that the man had died. The Japanese celebrate the dog each year with a statue being erected in his honor in Tokyo. Gere will play a college professor that takes in the dog and cares for it.

Production is set to start this January in Rhode Island.