For a big-scale movie that starts shooting next month, The Wolverine has been laying pretty darn low. There’s been, what, a “possibly” real poster, and… actually, no updates other than the aforementioned August production start. Needless to say, it’s about time they kicked things into gear.

But gears are now being kicked, with ComingSoon, THR, and Variety both providing some major updates on the cast — or, telling us people not named Hugh Jackman are, in fact, going to appear. The biggest news comes from the lattermost, who report that Will Yun Lee (Total Recall, Red Dawn) is playing the main villain: Kenuichio Harada (or Silver Samurai), an oft-rumored antagonist who wields a katana that can cut anything except Wolverine’s trusted adamantium. Fox has tried to deny the involvement of the character, but when Jackman himself confirms it? Kind of undeniable.

The other additions, though small, might bring a recognizable face or two. ThePlaylist has a nice rundown on it, telling us Hiroyuki Sanada (Lost) will play Yakuza boss Shingen, who’s also the father of Silver Samurai; Hal Yamanouchi (The Life Aquatic) is appearing as a possible mobster, Yashida; Tao Okamoto has been cast as Shingen’s daughter, Mariko, a romantic interest to Wolverine; and Rila Fukushima has been signed to play an assassin, Yukio.

THR’s story tells us Brian Tee (Grimm) will star as Noburo Mori, a “corrupt minister of justice” who’s about to marry Mariko. (This is all under the assumption that The Wolverine is based on Frank Miller and Chris Claremont‘s famed run on the character. All signs have pointed to that being the case.)

It’s taken a long time — and not enough people seem to have enough investment thus far — but Mangold, who I generally like, is the person keeping Wolverine from veering into a territory that’s completely uninteresting. For now, this bout of updates, no matter how potentially important, is just an interstitial step.

The Wolverine will open on July 26th, 2013.

Could The Wolverine be cooking up something special with these newest moves?