Ghost of Tsushima rapidly became one of PlayStation's biggest hits, selling over 9 million copies since release. With that in mind, we're not exactly surprised that an adaptation of the video game is now in the works. It's already attracted some serious talent in the form of John Wick director Chad Stahelski, suggesting that, in terms of action at least, we're in for a treat.
However, the filmmaker has now suggested he hopes to release the movie in Japanese, a ballsy move when Hollywood still tends to avoid big budget features with subtitles. However, if Parasite could find box office success and win multiple awards, there's no reason Ghost of Tsushima can't do the same, right?
"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," Stahelski tells Collider (via ActioNewz.com). "It's a chance to push technology and people in a story that's timeless."
"I think if we did this right, it would be visually stunning. It's character driven. It's got an opportunity for great action, great looks. 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. 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."
Like Prey (which debuted on Hulu in English and Comanche), it sounds like the filmmaker hopes to release two versions of the movie in English and Japanese. Whether that will mean shooting everything twice or doing a dub remains to be seen, but Stahelski would go on to say he believes audiences are ready to watch a movie like this with subtitles.
"No one is going to give me $200 million to do a technology-push movie without speaking English. I get it," he noted. "So, I have to be clever and I have to figure out what's fiduciarily responsible to the property, to the studio and still get what I want out of it and still make it something epic. Again, big challenge, man."
It sounds like a challenge Stahelski is ready for, and we're definitely intrigued to see how Ghost of Tsushima comes together. There's no word on a possible release date, but Sony is taking these video game adaptations seriously, so fingers crossed they do that phenomenal game justice.
Be sure to keep checking back here and ActioNewz.com for updates.