It was announced last year that Chad Stahelski had signed on to direct a movie adaptation of Ghost of Tsushima, the extremely popular video game released on PS4 two years ago. The game puts you in control of Jin Sakai, a samurai on a quest to protect Tsushima Island during the first Mongol invasion of Japan. While it might make sense for a Japanese story to be told in the Japanese language, this is Hollywood we’re talking about. They haven’t always believed that mainstream American audiences can handle subtitles, but Chad Stahelski is hoping to help change that.
While speaking with Collider, Chad Stahelski explained why he’s so excited to helm the Ghost of Tsushima movie.
Honestly, it’s probably the same things that would scare the shit out of most people. It’s a fantasy period piece. It’s done with reverence to Akira Kurosawa, who’s probably in the top five biggest influences of my life as far as film goes. It’s a chance to push technology and people in a story that’s timeless. It’s your typical mythological story of good versus evil, finding a man, watching him change the world or the world changes him. It’s all the Joseph Campbell stuff that you’d love in a story. You put that in with, obviously, so I’m told I have a bit of a Samurai fetish, which is probably true from Manga and anime and stuff.
Chad Stahelski also expressed his desire to shot the movie in Japanese with a Japanese cast. “It’s character driven. It’s got an opportunity for great action, great looks,” Stahelski said. “And honestly, we’d to try to do it, all in character. Meaning, it’s a Japanese thing about the Mongols invading Tsushima island. A complete Japanese cast, in Japanese. Sony is so on board with backing us on that. I’ve been going to Japan since I was 16. I have a love of the country, love of the people, love of the language. To try to direct not only in my language, but someone else’s and culturally shift my mindset to bring apart that in a cool way that still entices a Western audience.” American audiences have become more and more accustomed to subtitles over the years, and while I understand that they aren’t for everyone, I hope Chad Stahelski is able to bring his vision to life with the Ghosts of Tsushima movie.