Amin Abbas

The Bullet Train movie, based on the Japanese novel Maria Beetle by Kotaro Isaka, premiered in Dubai at Reel Cinemas.

The movie stars Brad Pitt as Ladybug, Joey King as Prince, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Tangerine, Brian Tyree Henry as Lemon, Andrew Koji as Yuichi Kimura, Hiroyuki Sanada as The Elder, Michael Shannon as “White Death” and Benito A Martínez Ocasio as The Wolf.

In the movie, trained killer Ladybug wants to give up the life but is pulled back in by his handler Maria Beetle in order to collect a briefcase on a bullet train heading from Tokyo to Kyoto. Onboard the train, he and other competing assassins discover their objectives are all connected.

One of the audience members who saw the movie said: “I have really enjoyed the fast action and comedy as well the Japanese references and music in the movie, the performance of Brad Pitt in the movie was really good as well other actors.”

“I liked the idea that the movie is featuring different international actors despite being adapted from a Japanese novel so it can be appeal to global audience around the world,” she added.

Bullet Train was initially developed by Antoine Fuqua—who produced the film—through his Fuqua Films banner. It was also originally intended to be an R-rated action thriller film,but the project turned into a light-hearted action-comedy film in the style of Hudson Hawk during the development process.

It was announced in June 2020 that Sony Pictures hired David Leitch to direct the adaptation of the Kōtarō Isaka novel from a screenplay by Zak Olkewicz, and Brad Pitt was cast in the film the following month. It was also announced that Jonathan Sela would serve as cinematographer.

The film also includes Sandra Bullock who joined the following year in February to replace Lady Gaga, who had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with House of Gucci.

Production for Bullet Train began in October 2020 in Los Angeles, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming started on Nov. 16, 2020, and wrapped in March 2021. The movie was originally set to be released on April 8, 2022, before being delayed to July 15, 2022, then again to July 29, and then to August 5.