After two years of development, director Chad Stahelski offers a very promising update on the Ghost of Tsushima movie. The original Sucker Punch game centered on a samurai out to redeem himself after his clan is wiped out by the invading Mongols on the eponymous island, choosing between following the warrior code and fight honorably or succeed with minimal casualties. The Ghost of Tsushima movie was first announced in early 2021 with Stahelski, well known for helming all four John Wick movies, set as director and producer.
During an exclusive interview with Screen Rant for John Wick: Chapter 4‘s Oscars campaign, Stahelski offered an update on the Ghost of Tsushima movie. The director confirmed that the script is ready to go and that the creative team is “very close to getting our s–t together“, acknowledging that they are currently waiting on the strikes to end before they can properly move forward. See what Stahelski shared below:
We have a script, we’re very close to getting our s–t together on that, as well. Development is always tricky, it’s studios, it’s strikes, and availabilities, and scouting. You have to will things into existence. I think the two things that I am closest and most interested in are Highlander and Ghost of Tsushima. Both amazing, amazing properties, the story of Ghost is, also, one of my favorite properties of all time.
Why Stahelski Is Perfect For Ghost of Tsushima
As the John Wick franchise continued to grow with each sequel, Stahelski further showed Asian influences in the Keanu Reeves-led movies, particularly in the more recent Chapter 4 and its predecessor, Chapter 3 — Parabellum. The filmmaker properly utilized the castings of Mark Dacastos, Donnie Yen, Hiroyuki Sanada, Cecep Arif Rahman and Yayan Ruhian to deliver a number of thrilling kenjutsu sequences all expertly shot. Stahelski even explained to Screen Rant how he sought to pay homage to Akira Kurosawa in Chapter 4 when John is seen at the Osaka branch of The Continental:
Stahelski’s Kurosawa influences are made all the more relevant when looking at Ghost of Tsushima itself. Co-director Nate Fox frequently talked about the iconic filmmakers’ influence on the game itself, with its gameplay feature of allowing standoffs against foes seeking to emulate Seven Samurai, among other major properties. The game was even released with a black-and-white filter mode entitled “Kurosawa mode”, having received permission from the family’s estate to name it such to pay tribute to the director.
The other major reason Stahelski looks to be the perfect director for the Ghost of Tsushima movie is his sheer passion for the project. The filmmaker has frequently teased his dedication to authentically bringing the game to life on screen, even going so far as to say he hopes to push for an all-Japanese cast speaking in their native language to further stay true to its 13th century setting as well as the story itself. While Stahelski is currently busy putting together his Highlander reboot, his dedication to Ghost of Tsushima marks a promising sign of its ongoing development.
