Bullet Train is a 2022 American action comedy film 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 by Kōtarō Isaka. The film stars Brad Pitt as a former assassin who must battle fellow killers while riding a fictionalized version of the Tokaido Shinkansen. In addition to Pitt, the film also stars 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 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 $153 million worldwide on a production budget of about $90 million, and received mixed reviews from critics. 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 (1988), 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.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, nd 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,[23] and wrapped in March 2021.The producers constructed 3 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 percent of his own stunts in the film.[26] Variety.com reported that Pitt was paid $20 million. The film features a number of original tracks. Most notably, the film contains Japanese-language covers of "Stayin' Alive" by Bee Gees as well as "Holding out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler. In an interview with Variety, composer Dominic Lewis noted that the film's soundtrack represent "all vibe and no technique".
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. It had its world premiere at the Grand Rex in Paris, France on July 18, 2022. As of August 25, 2022, Bullet Train has grossed $72.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $81 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $153.6 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.
Synopsis :
Ladybug is an unlucky assassin who is determined to complete his new mission peacefully after too many have gone off the rails. But fate has decided otherwise and embarks him on the fastest train in the world alongside formidable adversaries who all have something in common, but whose interests diverge radically... He must then try by all means to get off the train.
Bullet Train
Directed by David Leitch
Screenplay by Zak Olkewicz
Based on Maria Beetle by Kōtarō Isaka
Produced by Kelly McCormick, David Leitch, Antoine Fuqua
Starring Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Benito A. Martínez Ocasio, Sandra Bullock
Cinematography : Jonathan Sela
Edited by Elisabet Ronaldsdottir
Music by Dominic Lewis
Production companies : Columbia Pictures, 87North Productions
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
Release dates : July 18, 2022 (Grand Rex), August 5, 2022 (United States)
Running time : 126 minutes