Oh, so this is pretty awesome! According to Deadline, Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada – who recently played Hanzo Hisashi, a.k.a. Scorpion in 2021's Mortal Kombat (and, whatever misgivings I have about that film, his performance wasn't one of them) – has been tapped to join Keanu Reeves (John Wick 1-3, The Matrix quadrilogy) in an "undisclosed role" for John Wick: Chapter 4 (title pending, I assume).
And here's what director Chad Stahelski said about Sanada's casting:
Having long admired Hiroyuki as both actor and action performer, I’m thrilled and honored to welcome him to the John Wick family.
No plot details released as of yet, but it can be assumed it will consist of Reeves' world-class assassin killing a bunch of fools bloodily and coolly, all while learning a bit more about his backstory and the ins-and-outs of the weird, wild underground assassin world.
Meanwhile, John Wick 4 – directed by franchise mainstay Chad Stahelski and also starring singer Rina Sawayama, Donnie Yen (Ip Man, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Bill Skarsgård (It, It: Chapter Two, “Castle Rock”), and Shamier Anderson (Stowaway) – will be unleashed into theaters May 27, 2022.
Shay Hatten and Michael Finch wrote the screenplay. Pic is produced by Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, and Stahelski and executive produced by Reeves and Louise Rosner.
So what do you guys think? Fans of the action series? If so, looking forward to the new one? Either way, sound off below!