Bullet Train (film)

Upcoming film by David LeitchTemplate:SHORTDESC:Upcoming film by David Leitch

* Kelly McCormick
* David Leitch
* Antoine Fuqua
* Brad Pitt
* Joey King
* Aaron Taylor-Johnson
* Brian Tyree Henry
* Andrew Koji
* Hiroyuki Sanada
* Michael Shannon
* Benito A Martínez Ocasio
* Sandra Bullock
* Columbia Pictures
* Fuqua Films
* 87North Productions
* August 5, 2022 (2022-08-05)

***Bullet Train*** is an upcoming American action comedy film directed by David Leitch, from a screenplay by Zak Olkewicz. It is based on the Japanese novel *Maria Beetle* (published in English as *Bullet Train*) by Kōtarō Isaka. The film stars Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Benito A Martínez Ocasio, and Sandra Bullock.

*Bullet Train* is scheduled to be released in the United States on August 5, 2022, by Sony Pictures Releasing.

## Premise

Trained killer Ladybug wants to give up the life but is pulled back in by his handler Maria Beetle in order to collect a briefcase on a bullet train heading from Tokyo to Kyoto. Onboard the train he and other competing assassins discover their objectives are all connected.

## Cast

* Brad Pitt as Ladybug, a seasoned but unlucky American assassin.
* Joey King as The Prince, a British assassin posing as a schoolgirl.
* Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Tangerine, a British assassin and Lemon's associate.
* Brian Tyree Henry as Lemon, a British assassin and Tangerine's associate.
* Andrew Koji as Yuichi Kimura, a Japanese assassin.
* Hiroyuki Sanada as Elder
* Michael Shannon as White Death, the leader of a criminal organisation.
* Bad Bunny as The Wolf, a Mexican assassin with a vendetta against Ladybug.
* Sandra Bullock as Maria Beetle, Ladybug's contact and handler.
* Zazie Beetz as Hornet, an American assassin posing as a train crew member.
* Logan Lerman as The Son, Tangerine and Lemon's associate.
* Karen Fukuhara as a train crew member
* Masi Oka
* Pasha D. Lychnikoff
* Miraj Grbić

## Production

*Bullet Train* was initially developed by Antoine Fuqua—who produced the film—through his Fuqua Films banner. It was also originally intended to be a violent R-rated action film, but the project turned into a R-rated comedy during the development process.

It was announced in June 2020 that Sony Pictures hired David Leitch to direct the adaptation of the Kōtarō Isaka novel from a screenplay by Zak Olkewicz, and Brad Pitt being cast in the film the following month. Joey King entered negotiations to join in a role described as a supporting role on "a cameo level". In September, Andrew Koji was added, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry joining in October. In November 2020, Zazie Beetz, Masi Oka, Michael Shannon, Logan Lerman, and Hiroyuki Sanada joined the cast, with Leitch revealing in December that Karen Fukuhara had also joined, and that Jonathan Sela would serve as cinematographer. That same month, Bad Bunny was also added to the cast, and Sandra Bullock joined the following year in February to replace Lady Gaga, who had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with *House of Gucci*.

Production for *Bullet Train* began in October 2020 in Los Angeles, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming started on November 16, 2020, and wrapped in March 2021. According to the film's stunt coordinator, Greg Rementer, Pitt performed 95 percent of his stunts in the film.

## Release

It was originally set to be released on April 8, 2022, before being delayed to July 15, 2022, then again to July 29, and then to August 5.

## Controversy

The castings of several non-Asian actors, including Brad Pitt and Joey King, prompted accusations of whitewashing as their characters were Japanese in Kōtarō Isaka's novel. David Inoue, Executive Director of the Japanese American Citizens League, criticized the castings, explaining that while the American adaptation would have been appropriate if the setting took place in the United States, the filmmakers chose to keep the novel's Japanese setting while keeping Japanese characters in the film's background, strengthening charges of whitewashing. Inoue also questioned the actors' allyship to the Asian community for knowingly accepting whitewashed roles and further criticized the film for pushing the "belief that Asian actors in the leading roles cannot carry a blockbuster" despite the recent successes of Asian-led films such as *Crazy Rich Asians* and *Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings*.

## References

1. ↑ Dominic Lewis to Score David Leitch's 'Bullet Train'.
2. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
3. ↑ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FV31LpqXoAAwCaI.jpg Template:Bare URL image
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 24, 2020). 'Hobbs & Shaw' Helmer David Leitch Boards Sony's 'Bullet Train'.
5. ↑ "You can change every bit of you" Aaron Taylor-Johnson is pushing extremes. *Hero* (March 7, 2022).
6. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 20, 2022). "Sony Chairman Tom Rothman Paddles Upstream To Keep Focus On Traditional Cinema — Deadline Disruptors". *Deadline Hollywood*. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
7. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 6, 2020). Brad Pitt Commits To Board 'Bullet Train'; David Leitch To Helm Sony Pictures Action Film.
8. ↑ Kroll, Justin (August 3, 2020). 'The Kissing Booth' Star Joey King Turns Assassin Opposite Brad Pitt in Sony's 'Bullet Train'.
9. ↑ Kroll, Justin (September 15, 2020). Snake Eyes's Andrew Koji Joins Brad Pitt in Sony's 'Bullet Train'.
10. ↑ Kroll, Justin (October 22, 2020). Aaron Taylor-Johnson Joins Brad Pitt In Sony's Action Pic 'Bullet Train'.
11. ↑ Kroll, Justin (October 28, 2020). Brian Tyree Henry Joins Brad Pitt In Sony Action Pic 'Bullet Train'.
12. ↑ Kroll, Justin (November 13, 2020). Zazie Beetz Joins Brad Pitt In Sony's Action Pic 'Bullet Train'.
13. ↑ Kroll, Justin (November 16, 2020). Masi Oka Joins Brad Pitt in Sony's Action Pic 'Bullet Train'.
14. ↑ Kroll, Justin (November 18, 2020). Michael Shannon Joins Brad Pitt in Sony's 'Bullet Train'.
15. ↑ Kroll, Justin (November 20, 2020). Logan Lerman Joins Brad Pitt In Sony's Action Pic 'Bullet Train'. Retrieved on November 20, 2020.
16. ↑ Kroll, Justin (November 30, 2020). Hiroyuki Sanada Joins Brad Pitt In Sony's 'Bullet Train'.
17. ↑ Template:Cite AV media
18. ↑ Kroll, Justin (December 16, 2020). Bad Bunny Joins Brad Pitt In Sony Action Pic 'Bullet Train'.
19. ↑ Sandra Bullock Joins Brad Pitt In Sony's Action Movie 'Bullet Train' (February 9, 2021).
20. ↑ Douglas, Edward (October 30, 2020). End of Week Production Notes 10/30/20: Marvel's Shang-Chi Wraps, Patrick Wilson Directs and More.
21. ↑ Bullet Train (October 26, 2020).
22. ↑ Couch, Aaron (April 1, 2021). 'Nobody' Producers David Leitch and Kelly McCormick on Bob Odenkirk's Action Chops and Making a Brad Pitt Movie During COVID. *The Hollywood Reporter*.
23. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Lee, Chris (March 25, 2021). "Brad Pitt Went from Playing a Stuntman to Doing His Own Stunts, Man". *Vulture*. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
24. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 14, 2021). Sony Moves *Bullet Train* & *Where The Crawdads Sing* To Summer.
25. ↑ Bonomolo, Cameron (March 18, 2022). Sony's Bullet Train Pushes Back Release Date.
26. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 12, 2022). 'Bullet Train' Moves A Week Later This Summer (en-US).
27. ↑ Tao, Rachel (March 23, 2022). Controversy builds over possible whitewashing in Brad Pitt's 'Bullet Train' (en-US).

## External links

* Official website
* *Bullet Train* at IMDb

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