Hiroyuki Sanada is one of Japan’s most notable stars and has appeared in quite a few titles throughout the years. His work on Shogun secured him his first Emmy award for Best Actor in a Drama Series.
The gaming community has put two and two together and figured Sanada is a perfect fit for the upcoming live-action Ghost of Tsushima adaptation, with director Chad Stahelski, as Lord Shimura. Sanada’s previous experience in sword fighting and his Japanese heritage makes it a no-brainer decision for Stahelski to offer him a role of a lifetime.
Hiroyuki Sanada’s Role in Shogun Secured Him an Emmy for Best Lead Actor
Hiroyuki Sanada in Shogun
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A still from Shogun
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Credits: Hiroyuki Sanada in Shōgun / FX
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Hiroyuki Sanada in a still from Shogun
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Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshi Toranaga
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The gaming community has high hopes for the live-action adaptation of Ghost of Tsushima and expects the highest degree of filmmaking from Chad Stahelski for this project. Stahelski is no stranger to Japanese culture and briefly danced with the idea during an action sequence in John Wick: Chapter 4, which also starred Sanada in a supporting role.
Sucker Punch Productions did not hold back and designed one of the biggest and most beautiful games for the PlayStation 4 deserving of a live-action treatment.
While nothing much about the film has been shared, Stahelski is keen on staying true to the source material and featuring a Japanese cast. Some fans claim Hiroyuki Sanada was born for a role in this project and is perfect to be cast as Lord Shimura, the uncle of Jin Sakai and the jito of the island of Tsushima.
Sanada can likely play a stern and assertive public figure and has the skills and filmography to back him up from his previous roles.
Casting can make or break a live-action adaptation and the gaming community can get overprotective about it. Looks may not mean everything, especially in video games since most animators borrow the facial features of another person and blend in the performance captured by the main actor who acts out the role and delivers the lines.
Sanada is a seasoned actor and is more than qualified to do the sword work and bring Lord Shimura to life. PlayStation would benefit greatly if it had an Emmy winner as part of the cast of a major first-party production.
Fans Expect to Hear Some Casting News for the Ghost of Tsushima Movie Soon
Hollywood often neglects the source material and turns video game adaptations into something less than recognizable. Hopefully, Ghost of Tsushima will not suffer the same fate as the poorly made Max Payne film years ago, where the producers ignored the provided script and butchered the franchise.
There is a slim chance Sanada may not be interested in taking part in this massive endeavor. Shogun and Ghost of Tsushima are similar in ways more than one and it would not offer Sanada enough room to differentiate both roles. However, Sanada may reconsider, especially if Sony and PlayStation are on board with an accurate and authentic ensemble cast of Japanese talent.
Sucker Punch Productions struck gold with the game and would hope to capture the same lightning of success twice in a different format. Chad Stahelski’s reputation is enough to convince fans that the film will have beautiful visuals and satisfying action, but casting is still a major factor.
Would you like to see Chad Stahelski cast Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Shimura in the upcoming live-action Ghost of Tsushima movie? Let us know in the comments section below!
