Casting The Live-Action Ghost Of Tsushima Movie: 8 Actors Perfect For Jin

When it comes to casting Jin for the live-action Ghost of Tsushima movie, there are plenty of actors who could do a great job. While it was once almost a given that a live-action adaptation of a video game would suck, the last decade or so has seen the genre turn around. HBO’s The Last of Us series received critical acclaim, while the likes of Werewolves Within or the Sonic the Hedgehog movies earned solid reviews. One game that feels almost custom-made for the big screen is Sony’s Ghost of Tsushima from 2020.

Ghosts of Tsushima’s story follows Jin Sakai, a samurai who is forced to abandon his strict codes to defend the titular island. The game has an emotional storyline, incredible visuals and some great characters and combat. It was also greeted with rave reviews, and a film version was quickly greenlit. John Wick director Chad Stahelski is currently attached, and it could be his next project after he finishes work on the Henry Cavill Highlander reboot. Of course, a Ghost of Tsushima movie will ultimately live or die based on who plays Jin.

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8 Daisuke Tsuji

Daisuke played Jin in the original game

For fans of the Ghost of Tsushima game, the clear casting choice is Daisuke Tsuji, who voiced Jin and provided his facial and motion capture. His performance is the reason the character resonated so strongly, as Jin evolved from a samurai with an almost naive view of warfare to one who was willing to do whatever it took to win. The game takes players on a rich, emotional journey with Jin, who learns to abandon tradition and forge his own path.

The advantage of casting Daisuke as Jin is there are no other actors who know the material as well. That’s not to say there aren’t other performers who couldn’t make Jin their own, but in terms of carrying over the elements that made Ghost of Tsushima such a hit, retaining the same character would be an incredible asset. As for Daisuke’s thoughts on being cast, he took to Twitter in 2021 to state that regarding Jin’s various hot spring sequences:

One potential downside – at least from a studio perspective – is that Daisuke Tsuji doesn’t have much experience in live-action movies. He’s appeared on shows like Invasion, but most of his credits are voice over roles, including Mortal Kombat 1. If he was to take the role of Jin in the Ghost of Tsushima film, he would likely be put through extensive screen tests and fight training first.

7 Andrew Koji

Koji REALLY wants to play Ghost of Tsushima’s Jin

Andrew Koji is a leading contender for Jin in Ghost of Tsushima – and it’s a role he really wants too. Koji is the star of the martial arts series Warrior – which was based on a story treatment by Bruce Lee – and on the big screen, he stole the show as Storm Shadow in the otherwise lackluster Snake Eyes. He played a key role in 2022 action comedy Bullet Train too, which co-starred Brad Pitt and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. The movie was also directed by David Leitch, co-director of the original John Wick, alongside Chad Stahelski.

Where to buy Ghost of Tsushima online

So in short, Koji has experience with action sequences, sword fighting and has worked with a close collaborator of Ghost of Tsushima’s potential director. In 2022, Koji revealed to EW that he has played through the game twice, and stated “I think I can do a really good Jin Sakai. I can bring my own spin to it.” He’s also in the right age range and is a little more familiar with American audiences thanks to his parts in high-profile English-language productions.

6 Show Kasamatsu

Kasamatsu needs a leading man role

Maybe one of the more obscure potential choices for Ghost of Tsushima, but Show Kasamatsu is a strong candidate regardless. Kasamatsu has been making a name for himself with shows like Gannibal or the Michael Mann-produced Tokyo Vice. In the latter, he plays a conflicted enforcer for the Yakuza, and in a series that boasts actors like Ken Watanabe and Rinko Kikuchi, he’s the most intriguing character.

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He brings both a steeliness and vulnerability to Sato – which makes him an excellent choice for Jin. Kasamatsu has the looks, the charisma and experience to play Jin, and while he’s not exactly a household name yet, the Ghost Of Tsushima brand itself is what will draw audiences to movie theaters anyway.

5 Brian Tee

Tee has a rich variety of roles

The Japanese-born Brian Tee has appeared in many American blockbusters, most notably playing Shredder in 2016’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. He’s also appeared in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Jurassic World and played Liu Kang inweb series Mortal Kombat: Legacy. In short, Tee is an actor who has been around and appeared in parts that stretched his action muscles – including underrated Korean thriller No Tears for the Dead – and dramatic muscles too, like his role as Dr Choi in Dick Wolf’s Chicago franchise.

Tee is a performer with over 20 years of experience, and could portray a more haunted take on Ghost of Tsushima’s Jin. Of the potential candidates on his list, Tee is the oldest, and might be out of the age range producers are thinking about. That said, the film doesn’t have to act as a direct translation of the game’s story or timeline. It could instead follow an older Jin who must earn redemption for his “failure” to stop the invasion of Tsushmina Island and put its own spin on the character’s arc.

4 Sen Mitsuji

Mitsuji is an unconventional but intriguing pick for Jin

Half Australian, half Japanese model Sen Mitsuji has the smallest number of credits of any other performer on this list, but that doesn’t have to rule him out of the running. Mitsuji has a very distinctive look, and played major roles in short-lived sci-fi drama Origin, the second season of Altered Carbon and miniseries Brave New World. Mitsuji seems to have stepped away from acting since the latter, which aired in 2020. In his previous roles, Mitsuji displayed a brooding charisma and screen presence, and with extra coaching, could totally be in the running for Stahelski’s Ghost of Tsushima.

3 Tatsuya Fujiwara

Fujiwara is the most experienced actor of the bunch

Another older, unconventional choice to play Jin is Tatsuya Fujiwara, who is most famous for acclaimed cult hit Battle Royale. The star has worked steadily in the aftermath of that 2000’s hit, including the sequel Requiem and playing Light in the live-action Death Note films. Fujiwara is about ten years older than Jin is portrayed in Ghost of Tsushima and would likely bring more of an intensity than a younger performer might. That would be an interesting way to approach the role, though, and would finally give Fujiwara a prominent role in a big-budget, Hollywood production.

2 Kento Yamazaki

Yamazaki is the star of Netflix’s Alice in Borderland

A young Japanese star who has amassed a big filmography in a short period, Kento Yamazaki has starred in everything from Takashi Miike’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable Chapter I to a TV adaptation of Death Note and popular Netflix show Alice in Borderland. Yamazaki comes with a well-rounded range of credits, including wacky comedy, drama and action. Jin goes through a full transformation in Ghost of Tsushima’s story, and Yamazaki is the kind of rising star with the experience to add meat to the character’s bones.

1 Mackenyu

Mackenyu’s acting background is perfect for Ghost Of Tsushima

Mackenyu is another strong pick for Ghost of Tsushima’s Jin and won hearts playing swordsman Zoro in Netflix’s One Piece. Mackenyu is the son of movie icon Sonny Chiba (Kill Bill: Volume 1) and has previously made an impression with projects like Rurouni Kenshin: The Final, Tokyo Ghoul: ‘S’ and Pacific Rim: Uprising. Despite his age, he’s racked up an impressive number of credits across both Japanese and American productions, with the live-action One Piece winning him a new batch of fans.

He has the experience with action to take on the physical challenge of a Ghost of Tsushima movie, but he hasn’t had a role with the dramatic requirements. Many of Mackenyu’s past credits have traded on his good looks and charm but rarely challenged him as a dramatic actor. Jin could be the role that lets Mackenyu sell his range to audiences, however, and being a little younger than his other rivals for the film could underline the transformation Jin goes through.