‘Shōgun’ Star Hiroyuki Sanada Wants to Switch Katana for Lightsaber: “The World Itself is Amazing”

The recently released ‘Shōgun’ has received widespread praise from critics, earning a 99% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 85 out of 100 on Metacritic. Critics appreciated its visual appeal, cultural authenticity, and adaptation quality. The acting performances were particularly highlighted, making it one of the standout shows of 2024.

It’s no surprise that the cast of this mega-hit is currently in the spotlight, with Hiroyuki Sanada taking center stage. Sanada portrays Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Tokugawa Ieyasu, 1543–1616), a strong military leader and ruler of the Kantō region. As one of the five Regents governing Japan for the young heir of the late Taikō, Toranaga is a descendant of the Minowara clan (Minamoto clan), who historically held the position of shōguns.

Variety recently interviewed Sanada about his future plans. During the conversation, the interviewer presented him with options among major Hollywood franchises such as Star Wars and Marvel. Sanada’s response was quite intriguing:

Yeah all of them, especially ‘Star Wars,’ I’m a big fan of them so, yeah.

When questioned about his favorite character, the actor found it difficult to choose amidst the plethora of options available.

Um, I cannot say one, beacuse the world itself is amazing.

Hiroyuki Sanada has a solid track record in hit series, with notable roles in both film and television. He starred alongside Tom Cruise in ‘The Last Samurai’ as Katsumoto, and in ‘Rush Hour 3’ as Kenji. On TV, he appeared in ‘Lost’ as Dogen and in ‘Westworld’ as Musashi. Prior to his involvement in ‘Shōgun,’ Sanada worked on ‘Bullet Train’ and ‘John Wick 4.’ He also had a minor role in ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ making him technically a part of the MCU canon.

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