Bullet Train (Film)

> THE END OF THE LINE IS JUST THE BEGINNING
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*Bullet Train* is a 2022 American action comedy directed by David Leitch from a screenplay by Zak Olkewicz, and produced by Antoine Fuqua, who initially conceived the film. It is based on the 2010 novel *Maria Beetle* (titled *Bullet Train* in the U.K. and U.S. editions), written by Kōtarō Isaka. The film stars Brad Pitt as an unlucky assassin who must battle fellow killers while riding a bullet train. In addition to Pitt, the film also stars an ensemble supporting cast including Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Benito A. Martínez Ocasio, and Sandra Bullock.

Principal photography began in Los Angeles in November 2020 and wrapped up in March 2021. *Bullet Train* premiered in Paris on July 18, 2022, and was theatrically released in the United States on August 5, 2022, by Sony Pictures Releasing. The film has grossed $239 million worldwide on a production budget of around $90 million, receiving mixed reviews from critics.

## Cast

* Brad Pitt as Ladybug
* Andrew Koji as The Father
* Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Tangerine
* Brian Tyree-Henry as Lemon
* Joey King as The Prince
* Michael Shannon as The White Death
* Logan Lerman as The Son
* Hiroyuki Sanada as The Elder
* Yoshi Sudarso as Young Elder
* Bad Bunny as The Wolf
* Zazie Beetz as The Hornet
* Sandra Bullock as Maria
* Masi Oka as The Conductor
* Karen Fukuhara as Kayda Izumi

## Development

*Bullet Train* had been initially developed by Antoine Fuqua, who co-produced the film, through his Fuqua Films banner. It was originally intended to be a serious action thriller in the vein of *Die Hard,* but the project turned into a light-hearted action comedy during the development process.

It was announced in June 2020 that Sony Pictures had hired David Leitch to direct the adaptation of the Kōtarō Isaka novel from a screenplay by Zak Olkewicz, with Brad Pitt being cast in the film the following month. *Variety* reported that Pitt was paid $20 million. Joey King subsequently entered negotiations for a supporting role, while 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 (credited as his real name, Benito A. Martínez Ocasio) was also added to the cast, and Sandra Bullock joined the following year in February to replace Lady Gaga, who had dropped out due to scheduling conflicts with *House of Gucci* (2021).

Production for *Bullet Train* began in October 2020 in Los Angeles, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming started on November 16, 2020, and wrapped up in March 2021. The producers constructed three full train cars, and LED screens with video footage of the Japanese countryside were hung outside the windows of the train set to help immerse the actors. Stunt coordinator Greg Rementer said Pitt performed 95% of his own stunts in the film.

## Music

Dominic Lewis composed the score for *Bullet Train*, who worked for nearly a year during the COVID-19 lockdown. He employed the use of various instruments such as keyboard, bass, guitar, and also performed solo vocals. The score consists of predominantly Japanese music to suit the sensibilities of the film's setting, incorporated with elements from rock, pop, metal, and electronic dance music.

In addition to composing the score, Lewis also produced a number of the tracks featured in the film, including a Japanese-language cover of the Bee Gees' single "Stayin' Alive" (1977) performed by Queen Bee's lead vocalist Avu-chan. Bonnie Tyler's single "Holding Out for a Hero" (1984) is also covered by Miki Akasura and incorporated into the film, featuring similar lyrics in Japanese. The soundtrack received praise from critics and heralded as an "integral part of the film's storyline".

### *Bullet Train (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)*

1. "Stayin' Alive" - Avu-chan (Queen Bee)
2. "Power" - Siickbrain feat. Pussy Riot
3. "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" - Engelbert Humperdinck
4. "La Despedida" - Alejandro Sanz
5. "My Time to Shine" - UPSAHL
6. "Kill Me Pretty" - Tamio Okuda
7. "Couple of Fruits" - Big Fella
8. "Tokiniwa Haha No Naiko No Youni" - Carmen Maki
9. "Sweet Thang" - Shuggie Otis
10. "Five Hundred Miles" - Song For Memories
11. "Holding Out for a Hero (Dance Version)" - Miki Asakura
12. "Sukiyaki" - Kyu Sakamoto
13. "I Just Want to Celebrate" - Rare Earth
14. "Momomon" - Dominic Lewis

### *Bullet Train (Original Motion Picture Score)*

1. "The White Death"
2. "All Aboard"
3. "Prince"
4. "A Modern Plague"
5. "Royally f#\*ked"
6. "MacGyver"
7. "Yuichi"
8. "Toilet Talk"
9. "Tang Fight"
10. "Daddy Issues"
11. "Fructose Overdose"
12. "The Hornet Stings"
13. "Bubbles"
14. "You're the Diesel"
15. "Backpack"
16. "Polythene Pam"
17. "Tentomushi"
18. "Kyoto Eki"
19. "Dochka"
20. "Mr. Death"
21. "Anuvva Bruvva"
22. "Make or Brake"
23. "Not Carver"
24. "Fate"

## Release

*Bullet Train* was originally set to be released on April 8, 2022, before being delayed to July 15, 2022, again to July 29, and then to August 5. Its world premiere occurred at the Grand Rex in Paris, France, on July 18, 2022.

The film was released on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on October 18, 2022, with the digital version released on September 27, 2022. *Bullet Train* was released on Netflix in the U.S. on December 3, 2022, as part of a deal made by Sony and Netflix in 2021. Sony signed a deal giving Disney access to their legacy content, including *Bullet Train* to stream on Disney+ and Hulu and appear on Disney's linear television networks. Disney's access to Sony's titles would come following their availability on Netflix.

## Reception

### Box Office

*Bullet Train* has grossed $103.4 million in the United States and Canada, and $135.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $239.3 million. In the United States and Canada, *Bullet Train* was released alongside *Easter Sunday*, and was projected to gross $26-30 million from 4,357 theaters in its opening weekend. The film made $12.6 million on its first day, including $4.6 million from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $30 million, topping the box office. The film made $13.4 million in its sophomore weekend, remaining in first. The film made $8 million in its third weekend, falling to third.

### Critical Response

On Rotten Tomatoes, 54% of 308 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 5.6/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "*Bullet Train*'s colorful cast and high-speed action are almost enough to keep things going after the story runs out of track." Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 49 out of 100, based on 61 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews." Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak gave the film an 82% overall positive score, with 63% saying they would definitely recommend it.

Richard Roeper of the *Chicago Sun-Times* rated the film 3.5 out of 4, calling it "wildly entertaining" and praised the performances, "the creative and blood-splattered action sequences" and most of all the writing. Peter Debrudge of *Variety* wrote, "*Bullet Train* feels like it comes from the same brain as *Snatch*, wearing its pop style on its sleeve - a *Kill Bill*-like mix of martial arts, manga and gabby hitman movie influences, minus the vision or wit that implies."

### Controversy

The casting 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 casting, explaining that while American actors would have been appropriate if the setting was changed to the United States, the filmmakers used the novel's Japanese setting while keeping Japanese characters in the film's background, strengthening the 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* (2018) and *Shang-Chui and the Legend of the Ten Rings* (2021). Despite being cast in the film, King previously said, "I do not believe a white woman should play a character of color. Not me or any other white woman for that matter." Eric Francisco of *Inverse* wrote, "Unless you saw the individual character posters, you'd be unlikely to think *Bullet Train* actually stars any Asian talent. Hollywood supposedly doesn't cast Asian leads because they aren't stars, but the truth is, they aren't stars because Hollywood won't cast Asian leads. How can audiences get excited about buying tickets to see Asian actors when their existence in a movie is barely acknowledged?"

When asked about the casting, Isaka defended the film and described his characters as "ethnically malleable," maintaining that his original Japanese setting and context were irrelevant as they were "not real people, maybe they're not even Japanese." Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group president Sanford Pitch highlighted Isaka's views to defend the casting, reassuring that the film would honor the novel's "Japanese soul" while giving the opportunity to cast big name stars and adapt it on a "global scale". *Bullet Train* screenwriter Zak Olkewicz argued that the decision to cast beyond Japanese or Asian actors proved "the strength of [Isaka]'s work" as it was a story that could "transcend race". Director David Leitch noted that discussions had taken place during pre-production to change the film's setting, but it was ultimately decided to keep Isaka's original location Tokyo due to its international appeal. Jana Monji of AsAm News highlighted the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of Asians in the film and responded to Leitch's comment, "That sounds like White privilege providing an excuse for exclusion." Francisco mentioned that the Japanese author and most audiences in Asia "enjoy their own domestic film industry and go to Hollywood for the spectacle of foreigners," noting the differences between Asians in Asia and Asian American issues.

Guy Aoki, founding president of Media Action Network for Asian Americans, criticized Isaka's statement, "Guess he's more interested in counting the money he's getting for selling his work (and soul) to Hollywood and hoping for sequels." He also thought Leitch's comment was also an excuse for the "tired Hollywood practice of exploiting Asian source material, leaving out most of the Asians in it, and calling the casting of white, black and Latino actors a triumph for diversity." He continued, "Unfortunately, people in Asian countries are used to seeing movies with all-Asian casts, so when Asian-sourced properties get turned into big-budget motion pictures, they find it refreshing to see white, black and Latino stars in them, not caring that the Asian content or culture of the original has been all but abandoned. By contrast, Asian Americans, who are still hungry to be seen, heard and understood in their own country, perceive it as more whitewashing."

## Gallery

### Promotional Material

Teaser image of Brad Pitt as Ladybug.Teaser image of Brian Tyree Henry as Lemon.Teaser image of Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Tangerine.Teaser image of Michael Shannon as The White Death.Teaser image of Joey King as The Prince.Teaser image of Zazie Beetz as The Hornet.Ditto, but dressed as Momomon.Teaser image of Bad Bunny as The Wolf.Teaser image of Andrew Koji as The Father.Teaser image of Hiroyuki Sanada as The Elder.Teaser image of Logan Lerman as The Son.
### Key Visuals

Key Visual (Blu-Ray & DVD)Key Visual (Theatrical Release Poster)Key Visual (Poster)Key Visual (Poster)Key Visual (Teaser Image)Key Visual (IMAX)

## Videos

### Trailers

BULLET TRAIN - Official Trailer (HD)BULLET TRAIN - Official Trailer 2 (HD)Nippon Speed Line - Get on Board March 2BULLET TRAIN - Big Bad Wolf (In Theaters August 5)
## Trivia

* Channing Tatum and Ryan Reynolds appear in uncredited cameo roles as a train passenger and as assassin Carver, respectively. Reynolds accepted the cameo as a thank-you to Pitt for his own cameo in *Deadpool 2* (2018).
* The film's director, David Leitch, appears briefly as the seventeenth person killed (albeit unintentionally) by Lemon and Tangerine while rescuing The Son.