The first trailer for director Peter Webber’s historical drama Emperor has been released online.  Based on a true story, the film takes place in the immediate aftermath of World War II and stars Matthew Fox as General Bonner Fellers, an expert in Japanese who is assigned to assist General Douglas MacArthur (Tommy Lee Jones) in investigating whether or not the beloved Japanese Emperor should be punished for war crimes.  The film looks a bit like A Few Good Men: WWII Edition, but I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing.  The Fellers role gives Fox an opportunity to show some range, and Jones seems right at home as MacArthur.  The only issue I have with the trailer is that it appears to show nearly the entire movie in two and a half minutes.Hit the jump to watch the trailer, and click here to read Steve’s interview with Fox about the film.  The pic also stars Eriko Hatsune.  The film is currently without a release date, but Roadside Attractions promises that it’s “coming soon.”Click over to Yahoo! to watch in HD.Here’s the official synopsis for Emperor:

A gripping tale of love and honor forged between fierce enemies of war, EMPEROR unfolds the story, inspired by true events, of the bold and secret moves that won the peace in the shadows of post-war Japan.  Matthew Fox joins Academy Award® winner Tommy Lee Jones and newcomer Eriko Hatsune to bring to life the American occupation of Japan in the perilous and unpredictable days just after Emperor Hirohito’s World War II surrender. As General Douglas MacArthur (Jones) suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a foreign nation, he assigns an expert in Japanese culture – General Bonner Fellers (Fox), to covertly investigate the looming question hanging over the country: should the Japanese Emperor, worshiped by his people but accused of war crimes, be punished or saved?  Caught between the high-wire political intrigue of his urgent mission and his own impassioned search for the mysterious school teacher (Hatsune) who first drew him to Japan, Fellers can be certain only that the tricky subterfuge about to play out will forever change the history of two nations and his heart.