The John Wick action film franchise has been known to throw together many of Hollywood's most fascinating actors. Now another actor is joining the franchise, as Mortal Kombat actor Hiroyuki Sanada has been added to John Wick 4's roster.
Sanada is an actor with an impressive resume of supporting roles that span decades. In fact, Sanada has starred in classics such as Rush Hour, The Twilight Samurai, and the original Japanese Ring film, and he has experienced a career resurgence by starring in widely-seen hits such as Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Westworld, and Army of the Dead. Furthermore, Sanada is also slated to appear in the upcoming Sony Pictures action film Bullet Train.
Now Collider has learned another impressive role has been added to Sanada's credits, that being a highly coveted role in John Wick 4. The specifics of the role is currently undisclosed, but the actor will be starring alongside Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Wesley Snipes, IT star Bill Skarsgard, Shamier Anderson, and British pop singer Rina Sawayama, as well as previous John Wick actors who are expected to return such as Laurence Fishburne and Halle Berry. Longtime John Wick director Chad Stahelski will return to direct the sequel and the film will begin shooting on location in France, Germany, and Japan this Summer.
In addition to Keanu Reeves, who has become practically synonymous with the titular character, the franchise has been known to include actors such as Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Anjelica Huston, and a plethora of martial arts actors. John Wick 4 has proven to be no different, as notable stars like Rogue One's Donnie Yen and Wesley Snipes have already been confirmed to appear in the film.
As the release of John Wick 4 nears, it's exciting to watch the cast grow to the extent that it has. It is especially exciting to see a diverse group of stars headline the film, and Sanada adds to that diversity extensively. And as an actor in multiple action films, it is safe to say that Sanada has the experience to be a key component of the sequel.
Of course, fans of the franchise may be concerned that its creator, Derek Kolstad, won't be involved in John Wick 4. However, even Kolstad himself has stated that he's excited for the next installment of the action film series, so perhaps his confidence and the addition of several talented newcomers will be enough to calm the nerves of fans, who may worry about what the future holds for Wick.
John Wick 4Â is expected to release on May 27th, 2022.
Source: Collider