It’s not as if Hollywood hasn’t had its few bright spots in the world of manga adaptations, even in a sea rife with stinkers. Given the right director, there’s always hope, and without fail, there’s no question that the successes of director David Leitch speak louder than words when it comes to thrilling audiences.
He’s got prospects nowadays at Sony Pictures with Bullet Train, an adaptation of Isaka Kotaro’s 2010 manga publication from Kadokawa Shoten, Maria Beetle. Leitch will helm from a script he is overseeing from Fear Street writer Zak Olkewicz. According to THR, Bullet Train tells of “a group of hitmen and assassins with conflicting motives on a train in Tokyo”. Apart from all this and more, and unless you’ve read the manga or have any production insight, specific plot details are unknown.
Leitch, best known for bringing heavy-hitting Hollywood action to life a la John Wick, Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde and Hobbs And Shaw, will be joined by Kelly McCormick to produce via their 87North banner, along with Antoine Fuqua and Kat Samick. Brittany Morrissey overseeing the film for Sony Pictures, who is also behind the upcoming adaptation of One Punch Man.
Leitch is attached to much more, and one only hopes that the coronavirus pandemic doesn’t get even further in the way of fan service for moviegoers. I’m still keen on what his re-take on Enter The Dragon would look like, and I’m not sorry.