A new trailer for Bullet Train was released on YouTube this morning, quickly climbing to be the #6 trending video, and it’s easy to see why: it features bullets, samurai swords, and Brad Pitt in a package reminiscent of classic action films like Kill Bill.
Directed by David Leitch, whose credits include Deadpool 2, the kinetic new trailer features Pitt as he battles baddies on a Japanese bullet train. It’s a simple but fun concept that hearkens back to the likes of Die Hard while featuring some high-energy action scenes.
Check out the trailer below:
Based on the Kōtarō Isaka novel originally titled Maria Beetle, the film adaptation of Bullet Train was originally announced by Sony Pictures back in June 2020. Its star-studded cast includes Sandra Bullock, who replaced Lady Gaga after she was forced to drop out following scheduling conflicts, as well as Andrew Koji, Joey King, and Benito “Bad Bunny” Ocasio.
The official synopsis reads:
An original movie event, Bullet Train is a fun, delirious action-thriller from the director of Deadpool 2, David Leitch. Brad Pitt headlines an ensemble cast of eclectic, diverse assassins – all with connected yet conflicting objectives – set against the backdrop of a non-stop ride through modern-day Japan.
Leitch has built strong action credentials over the past decade, co-directing John Wick with Chad Stahelski before going on to work on Atomic Blonde, Hobbs & Shaw, and Deadpool 2. His most recent project was the Bob Odenkirk action vehicle Nobody, which we called “gruesome and violent” but also “wickedly funny and surprisingly poignant.”
In an interview with Collider, King said of Leitch, “David Leitch, man. What a guy. I love that man! He is so smart, so kind-hearted, so gentle and so creatively smart. I can’t say enough good things about him. Working with him blew my mind. I learned so much from being on that set.”
In preparation for the trailer, an ad for “Nippon Speed Line” narrated by Pitt was released on Instagram.
Bullet Train isn’t part of a major franchise, so it’s taking to time to build momentum, but its success on YouTube suggests that interest is growing. It’ll be in theaters on July 15.
Kat Bailey is Senior News Editor
