Universal plans to continue the story told in the 2013 fantasy action movie 47 Ronin.
The director of the sequel was entrusted to Ron Yuan, an actor (he starred, in particular, in the remake of Mulan and the TV series Siren, Blacklist, and Sons of Anarchy), a martial arts master, and stage director.
Yuan announced that 47 Ronin 2 would be a genre cocktail of martial arts action, horror, and cyberpunk. The sequel will unfold three hundred years after the events of the first film.
The first film, in which Keanu Reeves and Hiroyuki Sanada played, was released in 2013 and became another interpretation of the Japanese legend about samurai who avenge the death of their master on supernatural forces. The film, directed by debutant Carl Rinsch, failed miserably at the box office ($ 151.8 million worldwide with a budget of $ 175 million).
Facts about the 47 Ronin
- According to Keanu Reeves, the filming was first done in Japanese to support the cast, and then in English.
- Karl Rinsch clashed with Universal over the ultimate vision for the film. Universal wanted to create a sci-fi blockbuster based on effects, similar to Avatar (2009) or The Lord of the Rings, while Rinsch presented the film as a drama such as Gladiator (2000) or Kingdom of Heaven (2005).
- This is the seventh cinematic adaptation of the 47 Ronin incident after Genroku Chûshingura (1941), Chûshingura (1958), Chûshingura (1962), Akô-jô danzetsu (1978), Shijûshichinin no shikaku (1994) and Saigo no Chûshingura (2010)). It is, however, the first Hollywood cinematic adaptation.
- The shooters for the film were made by Michael Rip, a famous European shooter. A small number of arrows were made in museum quality for close-ups.
- Due to studio interference, the film underwent some script changes during filming and radical editing during post-production. Because of these decisions, the role of Yorick van Wageningen, who initially played a significant role in the role of Captain, was turned into a quiet cameo.
- Kai’s character seems to be modeled on two historical figures: William Adams, an English sailor who became the first Western samurai, and Minamoto Yoshitsune, a twelfth-century warrior who is said to have trained in the Tengu martial arts.
- Five Japanese actors were cast alongside Keanu Reeves to make the story more authentic, rather than choosing actors who could be recognized in the United States.
- Keanu Reeves was hesitant to take on the role of Kai, worried that his character would not feel integrated into the main story arc.
- It was rumored that Karl Rinsch was kicked out of the editing room during post-production.
- The film’s budget increased to $ 175 million due to complex re-shoots and lengthy post-production. Although it was not a success in theaters, it did well on VOD, DVD, and Blu-ray.
