Moviefone Editorial

Tag: andrew koji

David Dastmalchian to Play M. Bison in ‘Street Fighter’
(Left) David Dastmalchian in ‘Murderbot,’ premiering May 16, 2025 on Apple TV+. (Right) Raúl Juliá in 1994’s ‘Street Fighter’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Preview:
- ‘Dune’s David Dastmalchian is joining the new ‘Street Fighter’ movie.
- He’ll play the big bad, M. Bison.
- Kitao Sakurai is in the director’s chair.
The cast for the new ‘Street Fighter’ movie is really starting to come together at last.

And the latest addition, per Deadline, ‘Dune’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ actor David Dastmalchian, who has scored his biggest role yet, playing the scheming, powerful villain M. Bison, a stalwart of the games and its various adaptations.
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Dastmalchian’s casting marks the latest positive step forward for the new movie, which is slowly coming together via Legendary Entertainment and Sony Pictures.

Related Article: Jason Momoa, Noah Centineo & Andrew Koji in Talks For ‘Street Fighter’

What’s the story of ‘Street Fighter’?

‘Street Fighter’ (1994)

The games revolve around an international martial arts tournament where fighters from around the world compete to prove their strength and abilities. This is a franchise that gained massive popularity with the release of ‘Street Fighter II’ in 1991, which introduced revolutionary mechanics such as combo attacks and special moves, and greatly influenced arcade and home console gaming.

Subsequent titles have expanded the game’s universe, introducing new characters, complex storylines, and enhanced graphics and gameplay mechanics, so there are potentially rich pickings for anyone looking to adapt it.

Which brings us to the 1994 movie, which didn’t exactly cover itself in glory, but has a fanbase. It starred the likes of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Raul Julia, Ming-Na Wen, Simon Callow and, in a somewhat more surprising addition, Kylie Minogue (who, let’s not forget, pursued acting before becoming a pop megastar).

More recent was 2009’s ‘Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li,’ directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak. That one starred Kristin Kreuk as the title character, who as a child witnesses her father being captured by wealthy gangster Bison. When she grows up, she goes into a quest for justice and bring down his criminal organization known as Shadaloo.

If you haven’t really heard of that one, you’re not alone –– made for $18 million by Hyde Park Entertainment, it took in around $12 million worldwide and failed to make much of an impact in pop culture.

There was also an animated series, which got a better reception than either movie, but still didn’t really break out.

What has happened with the new ‘Street Fighter’ movie so far?

Michael Philippou and Danny Philippou direct ‘Talk to Me.’

The latest attempt at bringing ‘Street Fighter’ to screens has been in the works for a couple of years, since Legendary announced its acquisition of live-action film and TV rights back in 2023.

In that time, it has been through at least one set of directors, as ‘Talk to Me’ sibling duo Danny and Michael Philippou hopped aboard in April of that year, only to depart after a few months of development.

Kitao Sakurai, who previously directed 2021 buddy comedy/prank movie ‘Bad Trip,’ was hired in February, and is still attached.

Who else is aboard the new ‘Street Fighter’ movie?

Jason Momoa arriving for the Amazon Upfront on May 13th, 2025. Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Amazon.

The movie already features a clutch of names, from A-listers to athletes and musicians.

Jason Momoa is confirmed to play Blanka, a feral man with green skin who comes from the Brazilian jungle.

Noah Centineo will be Ken Masters, the best friend/sometime enemy of fellow fighter Ryu, which is the role ‘Snake Eyes’ Andrew Koji landed.

Wrestler Roman Reigns is Akuma, a villainous type who defeated his brother, who happens to be Ryu and Ken’s master.

Fellow WWE veteran Cody Rhodes has the part of Guile, a US Air Force pilot and brawler who has sworn to take down Shadaloo.

Country singer Orville Peck will be Vega, who in the game is a masked claw fighter from Spain who uses a personal fighting style combining Japanese ninjutsu and Spanish bullfighting.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson will play Balrog, a disgraced boxer who is also the bodyguard of Bison. He’s reportedly training to perform his own stunts for the movie.

And finally, Callina Liang, last seen in ghost story ‘Presence’ is playing Chun-Li.

Where else have we seen David Dastmalchian?

David Dastmalchian in ‘Rosario’. Photo: Mucho Mas Releasing.

Dastmalchian has enjoyed a real boost to his career of late, but he’s been plugging away for years.

He’s become known for memorable, scene-stealing roles in the likes of the ‘Ant-Man’ franchise and ‘The Belko Experiment.’

Other movies include ‘Blade Runner 2049’, ‘Dune: Part One’, and 2021’s ‘The Suicide Squad.’

More recently, he enjoyed acclaim as the star of indie horror ‘Late Night with the Devil’ and was also seen in ‘The Boogeyman’ and ‘The Life of Chuck’.

On the small screen, he appeared in shows including ‘Murderbot’, ‘Gotham’ and ‘The Flash’.

Coming up, he has the likes of the movies ‘Dust Bunny’, ‘Sender’ and ‘The Cure’ and has a role in the next season of Netflix’s ‘One Piece’.

When will the new ‘Street Fighter’ movie hit theaters?

Despite the growing cast ranks and the presence of a director, Sony and Legendary are looking to avoid the mistakes of the past and haven’t planted a flag for this one just yet.

Which makes sense given ‘Street Fighter’s somewhat tortuous development history. This one might actually have a fighting chance.

Raúl Juliá in 1994’s ‘Street Fighter’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Other Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Street Fighter’ Franchise
- ‘Street Fighter’ (1994)
- ‘Street Fighter: The Animated Series’ (1995)
- ‘Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li’ (2009)
Buy ‘Street Fighter’ movies on Amazon
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July 10, 2025
Jason Momoa, Noah Centineo and More on for ‘Street Fighter’
(Left) Jason Momoa at the Amazon Upfront on May 13th, 2025. Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Amazon. (Center Left) Noah Centineo as Owen Hendricks in ‘The Recruit.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022. (Center Right) Andrew Koji in ‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’. Photo: Paramount Pictures. (Right) Roman Reigns in ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Preview:
- Jason Momoa, Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji and Roman Reigns are in talks for ‘Street Fighter.’
- Legendary has ‘Bad Trip’ director Kitao Sakurai on board.
- The movie will adapt the popular video game.
At a time when video game movies are enjoying a true renaissance, with box office hits (‘A Minecraft Movie’) and critical adulation (HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’), one title is seeking to undo at least two attempts’ worth of bad publicity.
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‘Street Fighter,’ which adapts the hugely successful Capcom console and home entertainment system game franchise, has been through the wringer in the past (see below for details on the two largely unsuccessful movies spawned from it), but Legendary and the games company is hoping for better things from a fresh iteration.

And it has some actors now in talks to join the cast, with Deadline reporting that Jason Momoa (who is enjoying success with ‘Minecraft’) eyeing a role alongside Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji and Roman Reigns.

Related Article: After Much Talk of the Role, Jason Momoa will be Lobo for ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’

What’s the story of ‘Street Fighter’?

‘Street Fighter’ (1994)

The games revolve around an international martial arts tournament where fighters from around the world compete to prove their strength and abilities. This is a franchise that gained massive popularity with the release of ‘Street Fighter II’ in 1991, which introduced revolutionary mechanics such as combo attacks and special moves, and greatly influenced arcade and home console gaming.

Subsequent titles have expanded the game’s universe, introducing new characters, complex storylines, and enhanced graphics and gameplay mechanics, so there are potentially rich pickings for anyone looking to adapt it.

Which brings us to the 1994 movie, which didn’t exactly cover itself in glory, but has a fanbase. It starred the likes of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Raul Julia, Ming-Na Wen, Simon Callow and, in a somewhat more surprising addition, Kylie Minogue (who, let’s not forget, pursued acting before becoming a pop megastar).

More recent was 2009’s ‘Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li,’ directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak. That one starred Kristin Kreuk as the title character, who as a child witnesses her father being captured by wealthy gangster Bison. When she grows up, she goes into a quest for justice and bring down his criminal organization known as Shadaloo.

If you haven’t really heard of that one, you’re not alone –– made for $18 million by Hyde Park Entertainment, it took in around $12 million worldwide and failed to make much of an impact in pop culture.

There was also an animated series, which got a better reception than either movie, but still didn’t really break out.

What has happened with the new ‘Street Fighter’ movie so far?

Michael Philippou and Danny Philippou direct ‘Talk to Me.’

The latest attempt at bringing ‘Street Fighter’ to screens has been in the works for a couple of years, since Legendary announced its acquisition of live-action film and TV rights back in 2023.

In that time, it has been through at least one set of directors, as ‘Talk to Me’ sibling duo Danny and Michael Philippou hopped aboard in April of that year, only to depart after a few months of development.

Kitao Sakurai, who previously directed 2021 buddy comedy/prank movie ‘Bad Trip,’ was hired in February, and is still attached.

Where else have we seen the cast?

Jason Momoa arriving for the Amazon Upfront on May 13th, 2025. Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Amazon.

Jason Momoa surely needs no introduction, as he’s been busy for years. He’s worked on giant franchises such as the DCEU (where he was Aquaman, including in his own successful movies) and the ‘Fast & Furious’ universe, playing flamboyant villain Dante.

Notable upcoming movies include ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ (with Momoa playing Lobo), ‘The Wrecking Crew’ and manuscript crime mystery ‘Hand of Dante’ (no, nothing to do with his ‘Fast’ role.) He’s also co-created and stars in new Apple TV+ show ‘Chief of War.’

Noah Centineo is a rising star who got his break with the likes of Netflix romantic comedy/coming-of-age movie series ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ and has gone on to movie roles including in ‘Black Adam,’ 2019’s ‘Charlie’s Angels’ and this year’s ‘Warfare.’

Noah Centineo as Owen Hendricks in ‘The Recruit.’ Photo: Philippe Bossé/Netflix © 2022.

He may be best known for another Netflix series, action thriller ‘The Recruit.’

Andrew Koji also found notability on the small screen, with his starring role in Cinemax series ‘Warrior.’ He’s been seen in movies including ‘Bullet Train,’ ‘Snake Eyes’ and ‘Boy Kills World.’

Koji is part of the cast for a new crime thriller series called ‘Haven’ that also stars Sophie Turner.

Wrestler-turned-actor Reigns has been seen in movies such as ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw’ and ‘The Wrong Missy.’

When will the new ‘Street Fighter’ movie hit theaters?

While Sony and Legendary (tellingly, the former is no longer mentioned in reports on the movie) announced last year that ‘Street Fighter’ would land in theaters on March 20th next year, the fact that the cast are only now in talks and there’s no current word on a writer or a producer makes us think that we’ll be waiting a little longer for this one.

‘Street Fighter: The Animated Series’ (1995)

Other Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Street Fighter’ Franchise
- ‘Street Fighter’ (1994)
- ‘Street Fighter: The Animated Series’ (1995)
- ‘Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li’ (2009)
Buy ‘Street Fighter’ movies on Amazon
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May 29, 2025
TV Review: ‘Black Doves’
Keira Knightley in ‘Black Doves’. Photo: Netflix.

Launching with all six episodes on Netflix on December 5th, ‘Black Doves’ almost feels like it could be a crossbreed between an expensive BBC drama and a Shane Black movie.

The former for the production values and starry British-led cast (with the financing instead coming from the world’s biggest streaming service) and the latter for the chewy, satisfying dialogue, occasional bursts of violence and Christmas setting.

Does ‘Black Doves’ fly high?

Ben Whishaw in ‘Black Doves’. Photo: Netflix.

‘Black Doves’ is the latest series to hail from Joe Barton, a TV veteran whose career to date includes the excellent, if little-seen (and quickly cancelled) ‘Giri/Haji’ and more recently twisty sci-fi thriller ‘The Lazarus Project.’

We’d predict that ‘Black Doves’ probably gave him less of a headache to figure out than his last gig, which is not to say that it doesn’t include its own twists and turns as Keira Knightley’s character delves into a mystery with some international implications.

Script and Direction

(L to R) Ben Whishaw and Keira Knightley in ‘Black Doves’. Photo: Netflix.

Barton also wrote all six scripts (probably another reason this feels so very British –– it had a singular vision guiding it from the executive producer’s office), and that gives the whole show a cohesive feel.

This is a propulsive, darkly funny action thriller sliced up into episodic chunks, and for the most part works really, really well. The set-piece fight scenes are impressive but not overused, and the conversations feel authentically human even as they involve geopolitics or the enshrouding main mystery.

Yes, there are certainly some trope-heavy moments common to so many thrillers in this genre, but few feel so predictable as to ruin the effect.

Directors Alex Gabassi and Lisa Gunning took three episodes each, and as with Barton’s writing, they all feel of a piece. The action is dynamic, and the show as whole looks beautiful. It helps that the backdrop is a twinkly London at Christmastime, but this is no shiny rom-com.

Performances

With Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw as the focus, the whole cast has something to contribute.

Keira Knightley as Helen Webb

Keira Knightley in ‘Black Doves’. Photo: Netflix.

We’ve seen Knightley do action in the past, but her character here is more layered and nuanced than many of her movie roles. Helen is a woman with a checkered past and whose life is split between family and duty –– even if that duty is to a mercenary espionage outfit rather than her country.

Here, the actor has the chance to combine her natural charm with a steely edge that works well for her. And she’s a great double-act with Whishaw.

Ben Whishaw as Sam Young

Ben Whishaw in ‘Black Doves’. Photo: Netflix.

With espionage experience under his belt (albeit more as the tech-happy Q in the Daniel Craig Bond movies), Whishaw taps into something primal for ‘Doves’ Sam –– he’s a man who accepts the life of a fixer for the organization, while also showing a vulnerable side that aches to get back to a normal life with his ex, Michael (a superb Omari Douglas).

This is a different side to Whishaw than we’re used to seeing on screen, and a welcome one.

Sarah Lancashire as Reed

Sarah Lancashire in ‘Black Doves’. Photo: Netflix.

Lancashire, British acting royalty at this stage partly thanks to her commanding work in ‘Happy Valley,’ is a convincing blend of imperious handler to Knightley’s Helen and ice queen operative.

She may not get her hands bloody directly (she has people for that), but she sweeps into scenes and delivers what could be tough exposition with grace and style.

Kathryn Hunter as Lenny Lines

Kathryn Hunter in ‘Black Doves’. Photo: Netflix.

Hunter has become a reliable scene-stealer, and here plays the hard-nosed crime boss Lenny, who rules with an iron hand. Her scenes, particularly with Whishaw (whose character once worked for her), are always crackling with energy and danger.

This is an actor who can do so much with even the smallest role.

Tracey Ullman as Alex

We won’t exactly specify Ullman’s role, as it’s something of a spoiler, but suffice to say when she shows up, she really has an impact.

Other Notable Characters

(L to R) Gabrielle Creev, Katherine Hunter and Ella Lily Hyland in ‘Black Doves’. Photo: Netflix.

The rest of the ‘Doves’ ensemble is a reliable bunch of British (and American) performers, with Gabrielle Creevy and Antonia Campbell-Hughes both excellent as chatty assassins, while Andrew Buchan is stalwart as Helen’s politician husband, who gets to do more than just be her other half.

If there’s one actor who seems shortchanged by his role, it’s Andrew Koji, who mostly appears in brief flashbacks and mostly serves as a plot point rather than a character.

Final Thoughts

Ben Whishaw in ‘Black Doves’. Photo: Netflix.

It’s not every spy thriller you could conceivably see slotting into your Christmas re-watch list. And while ‘Black Doves’ may not be perfect –– slipping as it does into cliché occasionally –– it’s still a very entertaining example the genre, with great writing and good performances.

‘Black Doves’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘Black Doves’?

Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, ‘Black Doves’ is a story of friendship and sacrifice.

It follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a quick-witted, down-to-earth, dedicated wife and mother — and professional spy. For 10 years, she’s been passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organization she works for: the Black Doves.

When her secret lover Jason (Andrew Koji) is assassinated, her spymaster, the enigmatic Reed (Sarah Lancashire), calls in Helen’s old friend Sam (Ben Whishaw) to keep her safe.

Together, Helen and Sam set off on a mission to investigate who killed Jason and why, leading them to uncover a vast, interconnected conspiracy linking the murky London underworld to a looming geopolitical crisis.

Who is in the cast of ‘Black Doves’?
- Keira Knightley as Helen
- Sarah Lancashire as Reed
- Ben Whishaw as Sam
- Andrew Koji as Jason
- Kathryn Hunter as Lenny Lines
- Tracey Ullman as Alex
- Andrew Buchan as Wallace Webb
- Omari Douglas as Michael
- Sam Troughton as Stephen Yarrick
- Gabrielle Creevy as Eleanor
- Luther Ford as Hector Newman
- Isabella Wei as Kai-Ming
Keira Knightley in ‘Black Doves’. Photo: Netflix.

Keira Knightley Movies:
- ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace‘ (1999)
- ‘Bend It Like Beckham‘ (2003)
- ‘New Year’s Eve‘ (2011)
- ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl‘ (2003)
- ‘Love Actually‘ (2003)
- ‘King Arthur‘ (2004)
- ‘The Jacket‘ (2005)
- ‘Pride & Prejudice‘ (2005)
- ‘Domino‘ (2005)
- ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest‘ (2006)
- ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End‘ (2007)
- ‘Atonement‘ (2008)
- ‘Never Let Me Go‘ (2010)
- ‘London Boulevard‘ (2010)
- ‘A Dangerous Method‘ (2011)
- ‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World‘ (2012)
- ‘Anna Karenina‘ (2012)
- ‘Begin Again‘ (2014)
- ‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit‘ (2014)
- ‘The Imitation Game‘ (2014)
- ‘Everest‘ (2015)
- ‘Collateral Beauty‘ (2016)
- ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales‘ (2017)
- ‘The Nutcracker and the Four Realms‘ (2018)
- ‘The Aftermath‘ (2019)
- ‘Boston Strangler‘ (2023)
Buy Keira Knightley Movies on Amazon
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December 14, 2024
Movie Review: ‘Boy Kills World’
Bill Skarsgård in ‘Boy Kills World’. Photo: Lionsgate.

In theaters on Friday, April 26th, ‘Boy Kills World’ is a revenge thriller that choose to layer dark, madcap humor over its clear ‘John Wick’ influence. Powered by a solid, committed central performance from Bill Skarsgård and some entertaining quirk from elsewhere in the cast, it does somewhat fall victim to a thin storyline that gives it much more of a style over substance feel and sometimes comes across as a video game rather than a movie.

Still, with some interesting permutations later in the plot, it does prove to have a little more going on under the surface.

Related Article: Famke Janssen and Brett Gelman Talk Action Thriller ‘Boy Kills World’

Does ‘Boy Kills World’ punch above its weight?

Yayan Ruhian in ‘Boy Kills World’. Photo: Lionsgate.

If you only watch one movie this year where Bill Skarsgård goes on a violent rampage intent on wiping out the people who did him wrong… well, we’ve yet to see ‘The Crow’, so we can’t tell you whether ‘Boy Kills World’ is the better of the two.

But it certainly has a level of originality to put it above a new adaptation of a graphic novel that was first brought to screens in 1994. That said, what we have here is very much a blend of ‘John Wick’, ‘The Hunger Games’ with just a dash of a twisted take on ‘The Karate Kid’.

Script and Direction

Sharlto Copley in ‘Boy Kills World’. Photo: Lionsgate.

Tyler Burton Smith wrote the script here, working with Arend Remmbers to adapt the short film that the latter created alongside director Moritz Mohr.

While Skarsgård’s performance is mute, the screenplay for the movie is nevertheless full of entertaining voice-over from H. Jon Benjamin (‘Bob’s Burgers’), who provides an insight into what’s going through his character’s head. Whether it’s quoting from the dictionary that the younger version of Boy studies or commenting on what’s going on, it’s a real highlight of the movie as a whole –– all credit to the team for hiring someone who knows what they’re doing on the voice-over front.

Yet for the most part, the movie is reliant on its fight scenes, and they are certainly numerous, even if they eventually start to make you a little numb. Even with the invention on display here, the sheer brutality of every clash is to such a level that you start to feel battered by it yourself. Still, as the credit implies, it’s fight designer/director and coordinator Dawid Szatarski who deserves the lion’s share of the credit here.

But Mohr, who expands his original concept here, certainly has a lot of flare to spare when it comes to camera moves and performances. It’s clear he and his team were working to a tighter budget than the likes of either ‘Wick’ or ‘Hunger Games’, but he gets a lot out of it.

Performances

Michelle Dockery in ‘Boy Kills World’. Photo: Lionsgate.

Appearing in almost every scene (aside from early story moments when the younger version of his character is on screen, played by twins Nicholas and Cameron Crovetti), Skarsgård brings his typical intensity to the role, and very clearly threw himself into training (he’s essentially carved from stone here) to pull off the various fights.

And his “Boy” is more than simply a savage, revenge-happy warrior –– he’s a damaged personality who has suffered years of trauma and has a mission on his mind (even if it’s not the mission he thinks it is). In tandem with Benjamin’s quirky delivery, it combines to make for a watchable lead role.

As his Guru, Yayan Ruhian channels the film’s anarchic style, bringing a deranged Mr. Miyagi energy to the screens, the world’s most dangerous mentor. He doesn’t have a lot to do besides show off his considerable martial arts skills (you’ll have seen him in the ‘Raid’ movies and the third ‘John Wick’ outing), but he does the job well.

On the villainous side of things, we have an assembled group who are clearly having a blast playing atrocious, dystopian autocrats, a collection of paranoid ramblers and scheming social climbers.

Michelle Dockery in ‘Boy Kills World’. Photo: Lionsgate.

Famke Janssen does a lot with relatively little as the power-obsessed Hilda Van Der Koy, one part Hitler, one part Margaret Thatcher. Around her are the likes of Brett Gelman (superbly sleazy as the script-happy brother-in-law Glen), while Sharlto Copley leans into his ability to make smarmy assholes likeable. Well, sort of. But even when he’s at his worst, he’s utterly entertaining.

Michelle Dockery, meanwhile, is creepy on a whole other level as Hilda’s sister Melanie, the real power behind the throne.

And then there’s June 27, played by Jessica Rothe. The star of the ‘Happy Death Day’ movies is just as committed as the rest, and proves she’s got the action chops as much as Skarsgård. Plus, she delivers when called upon to show other sides to her character.

Final Thoughts

Jessica Rothe in ‘Boy Kills World’. Photo: Lionsgate.

‘Boy Kills World’ is certainly frenetic and action-packed, with a healthy line in dark, zany comedy and some clever ideas.

But in a world where movies such as ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’, ‘John Wick’ and other exist, it doesn’t seem as completely original as it might, and it frequently mistakes punching for plot. Don’t let that stop you from checking out something that could use the support, though.

‘Boy Kills World’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘‘Boy Kills World’?

The new movie stars Bill Skarsgård as a young man known only as “Boy”, who vows revenge after his family is murdered by Hilda Van Der Koy (Famke Janssen), the deranged matriarch of a corrupt post-apocalyptic dynasty that left the boy orphaned, deaf and voiceless.

Driven by his inner voice, one which he co-opted from his favorite childhood video game, Boy trains with a mysterious shaman (Yayan Ruhian) to become an instrument of death and is set loose on the eve of the annual culling of dissidents. Bedlam ensues as Boy commits bloody martial arts mayhem, inciting a wrath of carnage and blood-letting.

As he tries to get his bearings in this delirious realm, Boy soon falls in with a desperate resistance group, all the while bickering with the apparent ghost of his rebellious little sister.

Who is in the cast of ‘Boy Kills World’?
- Bill Skarsgård as Boy
- H. Jon Benjamin as Boy’s “inner voice”
- Jessica Rothe as June 27
- Michelle Dockery as Melanie van der Koy
- Brett Gelman as Gideon van der Koy
- Isaiah Mustafa as Benny
- Andrew Koji as Basho
- Famke Janssen as Hilda van der Koy
- Sharlto Copley as Glen van der Koy
- Yayan Ruhian as a shaman
Brett Gelman in ‘Boy Kills World’. Photo: Lionsgate.

Movies Similar to ‘Boy Kills World’:
- ‘Enter the Dragon‘ (1973)
- ‘Black Rain‘ (1989)
- ‘Fight Club‘ (1999)
- ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon‘ (2001)
- ‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1‘ (2003)
- ‘Kill Bill: Vol. 2‘ (2004)
- ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World‘ (2010)
- ‘The Hunger Games‘ (2012)
- ‘John Wick‘ (2014)
- ‘Warrior‘ (2011)
- ‘The Raid‘ (2012)
- ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings‘ (2021)
- ‘Monkey Man‘ (2024)
Buy Tickets: ‘Boy Kills World’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Bill Skarsgård Movies On Amazon
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April 27, 2024
‘Boy Kills World’ Interview: Famke Janssen and Brett Gelman
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Opening in theaters on April 26th is the new action thriller ‘Boy Kills World,’ which was directed by Moritz Mohr and stars Bill Skarsgård (‘John Wick: Chapter 4‘), Jessica Rothe (‘La La Land’), Michelle Dockery (‘The Gentlemen‘), Brett Gelman (‘Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile’), Famke Janssen (‘X-Men‘) and Sharlto Copley (‘The A-Team‘).

Related Article: Bill Skarsgård Talks ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ and Working with Keanu Reeves

(L to R) Famke Janssen and Brett Gelman talk ‘Boy Kills World’.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Famke Janssen and Brett Gelman about their work on ‘Boy Kills World’, the plot, their characters, the action, their first reaction to the screenplay and working with director Moritz Mohr.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Janssen and Gelman, Isaiah Mustafa, and Andrew Koji.

Michelle Dockery in ‘Boy Kills World’. Photo: Lionsgate.

Moviefone: To begin with, Famke, can you talk about your character and why everyone fears her?

Famke Janssen: Well, I think she’s misunderstood. I think this is someone who’s being confronted with her past, and it’s been a bit dodgy and shady. So, she’s now down a very slippery slope of a mental state that’s not stable, a family history that’s probably very troubled, and a very violent, obviously present time that we’re in, in the world and in this movie. So, I would say unhinged, to put it lightly.

MF: Brett, can you talk about your character and his odd commitment to theater? Did you draw influence from any former directors that you have worked with?

Brett Gelman: It was fun. I mean, that was great to sort of be this maniacal dictator who wants to be an artist and a writer. There’s nothing more fun than playing an insane director, even if it’s just for a few moments like it is in the film. Yeah, I’m always channeling some of the stranger directors that I’ve worked with in the past who would flip out, or acting teachers.

Brett Gelman in ‘Boy Kills World’. Photo: Lionsgate.

MF: Famke, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and the ‘Boy Kills World’ universe?

FJ: It was different. To me it was all going to be about, what’s the execution going to be like? How is this going to look visually? That’s where I think I was pleasantly surprised. We had an idea about it in terms of production design, costumes, the stunt team and stunt coordinator and the visuals of all of it, and the acting. But it’s a visual feast unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It’s a hyper-reality.

MF: Finally, Brett, what was your experience like collaborating with director Moritz Mohr on this project?

BG: Moritz is the opposite of how Gideon behaves as a director in the movie. Moritz is like somebody who you’d always picture holding a chocolate bar and giggling. But in a wholesome way. He was a dream to work with. He’s the perfect combination of somebody who knows exactly what they want, but then is also open to collaborating with you. The best kind of directors, beyond having vision, are the directors who have vision and then also enjoy actors. Because a lot of them hate us. Some of us deserve to be hated. Moritz didn’t give us less love. Moritz gave us Moritz love, and you can quote me on that. That’s the best quote I’ve ever quoted.
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What’s the plot of ‘‘Boy Kills World’?

The new movie stars Bill Skarsgård as a young man known only as “Boy”, who vows revenge after his family is murdered by Hilda Van Der Koy (Famke Janssen), the deranged matriarch of a corrupt post-apocalyptic dynasty that left the boy orphaned, deaf and voiceless.

Driven by his inner voice, one which he co-opted from his favorite childhood video game, Boy trains with a mysterious shaman (Yayan Ruhian) to become an instrument of death and is set loose on the eve of the annual culling of dissidents. Bedlam ensues as Boy commits bloody martial arts mayhem, inciting a wrath of carnage and blood-letting.

As he tries to get his bearings in this delirious realm, Boy soon falls in with a desperate resistance group, all the while bickering with the apparent ghost of his rebellious little sister.

Who is in the cast of ‘Boy Kills World’?
- Bill Skarsgård as Boy
- H. Jon Benjamin as Boy’s “inner voice”
- Jessica Rothe as June 27
- Michelle Dockery as Melanie van der Koy
- Brett Gelman as Gideon van der Koy
- Isaiah Mustafa as Benny
- Andrew Koji as Basho
- Famke Janssen as Hilda van der Koy
- Sharlto Copley as Glen van der Koy
- Yayan Ruhian as a shaman
Bill Skarsgård in ‘Boy Kills World’. Photo: Lionsgate.

Movies Similar to ‘Boy Kills World’:
- ‘Enter the Dragon‘ (1973)
- ‘Black Rain‘ (1989)
- ‘Fight Club‘ (1999)
- ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon‘ (2001)
- ‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1‘ (2003)
- ‘Kill Bill: Vol. 2‘ (2004)
- ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World‘ (2010)
- ‘The Hunger Games‘ (2012)
- ‘John Wick‘ (2014)
- ‘Warrior‘ (2011)
- ‘The Raid‘ (2012)
- ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings‘ (2021)
- ‘Monkey Man‘ (2024)
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April 25, 2024
Movie Review: ‘Bullet Train’

(L to R) Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brad Pitt in Sony Pictures’ ‘Bullet Train.’

‘Bullet Train’, which opens in theaters today, looks to add some violent fun to a summer movie season that hasn’t had too many original films on its schedule.

Which isn’t to say that the movie is completely original, as Zak Olkewicz’ script adapts Kôtarô Isaka’s novel ‘Maria Beetle’.

Yet in the hands of ‘Deadpool 2’, ‘Atomic Blonde’ and ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw’ director David Leitch, it becomes a stylized blend of hitman action, crossed coincidences and over-explained backstories.

Anchored by a laconic but funny performance from Brad Pitt, ‘Bullet Train’ is the story of Ladybug, an assassin who got out of the game and sought out a therapist after bad luck seemed to haunt his every job. Now, he’s back and looking for a relatively easier job for his first new assignment.

(L to R) Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock star in ‘Bullet Train.’ Photo: Scott Garfield. Copyright (C) 2022 CTMG. All Rights Reserved.

His handler, Maria (Sandra Bullock, who is primarily heard over a phone line) assures him that grabbing a briefcase from a bullet train and getting off at the next station should offer him no real challenge.

Of course, it doesn’t work out that way at all. Turns out, the briefcase has connections to the kidnapping of a lethal crime lord’s son (Michael Shannon is the boss known as “White Death”, while Logan Lerman is his slacker kid), and a variety of other assassins.

Prime among them are Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry) and Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), adoptive siblings who are also two of the most notorious hitmen around, who have rescued Lerman’s character and retrieved the ransom money – which is in the briefcase Ladybug has been sent to grab.

Elsewhere on the train is Kimura (Andrew Koji), looking for revenge on the person who injured his son, The Prince (Joey King), a young woman who uses her youth as a weapon as much as any gun or knife, The Wolf (Benito A Martínez Ocasio), with his own vengeful quest and The Hornet (Zazie Beetz), with a specific target for her poisonous talents.

Brad Pitt stars in ‘Bullet Train.’ Photo: Scott Garfield. Copyright: (C) 2022 CTMG. All Rights Reserved.

With Leitch in charge of the chaos (it’s worth remembering that he, along with Chad Stahelski, helped turn Keanu Reeves into a badass assassin for the first ‘John Wick’ movie), ‘Bullet Train’ is naturally crammed with inventive action. Leitch has spent his career performing stunts, coordinating them and now directing them and he knows how to craft a fun sequence that in places has echoes of Jackie Chan’s use of props as weapons.

There has also clearly been a lot of training involved, so the cast (and their stunt teams) throw themselves into the various fights and plot turns. It’s diverting to see the likes of Brian Tyree Henry, not normally known for his action work, give it their all.

Leitch and co., meanwhile have built a slick-looking set that keeps the action condensed and focused, cinematographer Jonathan Sela’s camera roaming the aisles and, later in the movie, heading outside the train to follow the combat as characters

Where it all goes off the rails (literally, at one point) is in the characters. Though some are handed backgrounds (Taylor-Johnson and Henry in particular), mostly the movie lets fists fill in the details.

(L to R) Bryan Tyree Henry and Aaron Taylor-Johnson star in Sony’s ‘Bullet Train.’ Photo: Scott Garfield.

The problem with prioritizing fight scenes over story is that the latter can’t completely carry the former, and when you have an entire sequence explaining how a water bottle came to be crucial to the plot and yet seems to rely on coincidence to make it work, you’re in trouble.

This is a movie that is all surface and little substance, and while that’s not the sort of dilemma that troubles summer movie audiences too much, ‘Bullet Train’ starts to feel like a numbing collection of traits, quirks and insults, like a movie conceived by some teenagers who figured they could write the ultimate script with all the stabbing, shooting, punches and kicks they could put into one movie.

Cliches crop up all over the place, including the henchman who show up at every station to threaten Ladybug and co., snarling about handing over the briefcase (which serves as a McGuffin in more ways than one).

And given the Japanese setting, it leans heavily on cliched iconography and the movie is relatively light on Asian faces. When they do appear, they’re given stereotypical roles and dialogue, while the Westerners (there a few fake British accents here among the Americans) get the lion’s share of the screen time.

(L to R) Bryan Tyree Henry and Brad Pitt star Sony’s in ‘Bullet Train.’ Photo: Scott Garfield.

Everyone is clearly having a blast beating each other up or figuring out how to survive as the train speeds to its destination, but while that’s fun for a while, it doesn’t always translate to the whole journey of the movie.

Pitt makes a solid stab at breathing life into Ladybug, who is obsessed with fate and luck, and really would rather not get into scraps (but is very adept when he does). And his chemistry with old real-life friend Bullock overcomes the fact that she’s largely off screen.

Likewise Taylor-Johnson and Henry, who generate real squabbling sibling energy but can’t quite make their characters feel more than archetypes. And King (despite some accent issues) makes for a cold, calculating killer.

Shannon gets to parlay his steely menace effectively, making the most of a relatively brief screen time allotment.

Brad Pitt stars in ‘Bullet Train.’ Photo: Scott Garfield. Copyright:(C) 2022 CTMG. All Rights Reserved.

The likes of Ocasio (normally found performing in the music sphere as Bad Bunny) and Hiroyuki Sanada (who plays Koji’s character’s father) are largely wasted in nothing roles.

There are also a couple of big celebrity cameos that we won’t spoil here, and the reveal of Beetz’ character is at least entertaining.

Imagine a crossbreed of Guy Ritchie’s repartee-filled early gangster films with the sort of action-heavy titles for which Leitch has become known and you’ve got the idea for this movie. Some of the comedy works, and a lot of the fight scenes are great, but ‘Bullet Train’ runs out of steam.

‘Bullet Train’ receives 3 out of 5 stars.

Brad Pitt stars in ‘Bullet Train.’ Photo: Scott Garfield. Copyright: (C) 2022 CTMG. All Rights Reserved.
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August 6, 2022
‘Warrior’ Star Andrew Koji Joins ‘G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes’ Opposite Henry Golding

Cinemax

The “G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes” spinoff has found a new “Warrior” to add to the mix.

Andrew Koji, the star of Cinemax’s martial arts Western “Warrior,” is joining the cast of “G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes. He’ll play Storm Shadow opposite “Crazy Rich Asians” breakout Henry Golding, who is set as the titular ninja commando.

In the comic book, Snake Eyes is revealed to be the brother of Storm Shadow, who works for G.I. Joe’s main enemy, Cobra.

The studio has been looking to reboot/revive the franchise, which has spawned two movies, 2009’s “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” and 2013’s “G.I Joe: Retaliation.” Ray Park played Snake Eyes in both movies.

Snake Eyes is the silent ninja commando who first appeared in the 1980s as part of Hasbro and Marvel Comics’ relaunch of the G.I. Joe toy line. He never reveals his face, wears all black, and sometimes carries out missions with pet wolf Timber. He has a romantic relationship with fellow team member Scarlett and his nemesis is blood brother ninja Storm Shadow.

Robert Schwentke (two of the “Divergent” movies) is on board to direct the spinoff film.

August 23, 2019