Exclusive: Hiroyuki Sanada and Andrew Koji talk Bullet Train
Hitting theaters on August 5 from Sony Pictures is the action thriller Bullet Train, directed by David Leitch and starring Brad Pitt.
Bullet Train is based on the Japanese novel written by Kōtarō Isaka and is set on a Japanese Bullet Train on a high-speed journey from Tokyo to Morioka with very few stops on the trek. Brad Pitt stars as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the rails. Fate, however, may have other plans, as Ladybug’s latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the globe – all with connected, yet conflicting, objectives – on the world’s fastest train...and he's got to figure out how to get off. From the director of Deadpool 2, David Leitch, the end of the line is only the beginning in a wild, non-stop thrill ride through modern-day Japan.
The cast includes Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Zazie Beetz, Logan Lerman, Michael Shannon, Masi Oka and Andrea Muñoz.
The screenplay is written by Zak Olkewicz, adapted from Kôtarô Isaka's novel. Produced by Antoine Fuqua, David Leitch, and Kelly McCormick.
Sanada plays "The Elder", a former Japanese assassin and Kimura's father. He recently starred in Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead for Netflix and James Wan- and Todd Garner-produced fantasy action film Mortal Kombat. He next will appear in John Wick: Chapter 4 opposite Keanu Reeves. His other credits include The Last Samurai, Rush Hour 3, The Wolverine, HBO’s Westworld, Avengers: Endgame and Foreign Language Film Oscar nominee The Twilight Samurai.
Koji plays Yuichi Kimura / "The Father", a Japanese assassin. He recently starred in the Paramount feature Snake Eyes as ‘Storm Shadow’ opposite Henry Golding. Koji also stars in Jonathan Tropper’s new Cinemax series, Warrior, which is inspired by the writings of Bruce Lee and just wrapped its second season.
Blackfilmandtv.com’s Wilson Morales caught up with Sanada and Koji as they spoke about their roles in the film and working with Brad Pitt.