Exploring a potential Assassin's Creed Shadows movie, we imagine a dream cast for Naoe and Yasuke. Actors like Masumi, Rina Sawayama, Lakeith Stanfield, and Tongayi Chirisa could bring these feudal Japan assassins to life. Supporting roles for figures like Oda Nobunaga are also considered, envisioning a thrilling cinematic experience.
Flickering gaslights cast long shadows on wet cobblestones, echoing the city's hidden, secretive dealings. Picture Assassin's Creed Shadows as a movie with great prospects for casting and narrative on the big screen. Set in feudal Japan, the game features dual protagonists: Naoe, the trained shinobi, and Yasuke, the famous African samurai.
Voice actors Masumi Tsunoda and Tongayi Chirisa bring the characters to life in the game and could easily continue their roles in a movie adaptation, adding authenticity to the characters. The war-torn late Sengoku era makes an excellent setting for a story about converging paths, presenting an exciting plot on which to base a feature film.
Masumi (The voice and motion capture actor for Naoe in the game): Given her existing portrayal and martial arts experience from Yakuza Princess, she could bring authenticity to the role.
Rina Sawayama: With her acting debut in John Wick: Chapter 4, she's shown action prowess and has a compelling screen presence that could suit Naoe's intensity.
Sonoya Mizuno: Known for her roles in Ex Machina and House of the Dragon, she possesses a captivating and versatile quality that could capture Naoe's agility and stealth.
To understand this, one needs to understand more about the character. So, let’s get on with it then. Ah, Naoe! She's one half of the compelling protagonist duo in Assassin's Creed Shadows and brings a distinct flavor to the Assassin's Creed universe. Think of her as a fierce, agile, and deeply principled kunoichi (female ninja) operating in the tumultuous Sengoku period of Japan.
As a ninja of the Iga region, she is inherently stealthy. Expect her gameplay to focus on the ability to use shadows, rooftops, and various tools of the shinobi to get to a position of advantage or stealth sensorily undetected into an enemy's encampment.
From everything we can observe and infer, Naoe not only partakes in stealthy assassinations. She exhibits an inherent need to seek justice and to protect her people and homeland. We can ascertain that she has a connection to her fight that includes an ego of some sort, combating the enemy forces disrupting the peace.
Naoe, as a shinobi in a time of war, needs to exhibit resourcefulness. With Naoe, she will likely be able to improvise for creating tools and setting up finishing maneuvers quickly, or directing her opponents' threats against one another. At the same time, she adapts from opportunity to opportunity.
Tongayi Chirisa (The voice and motion capture actor for Yasuke in the game): Similar to Masumi, his established connection with the character could translate well into film.
Lakeith Stanfield: His range and intensity, seen in films like Judas and the Black Messiah and Atlanta, could give the legendary samurai a powerful and nuanced portrayal.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II: With his commanding presence and physicality in films like Aquaman and Watchmen, he could embody Yasuke's strength and determination.
Let us explore the character of Yasuke!
He is the other half of the duo of protagonists in Assassin's Creed Shadows, and his historical reality is the only black man in the Assassin's Creed canon. He is, in essence, a rapid and distinct version of a powerful, honorable, and culturally different samurai. Living within the complex and often brutal realities of Meiji Japan.
Many of the Assassin's Creed protagonists are fictitious, but Yasuke is not, as he was a bona fide historical figure. Yasuke, an African retainer who lived in Japan, served and assisted one of the most powerful Japanese daimyōs, Oda Nobunaga. Yasuke lived during the Sengoku period, which alone adds historical reality and significance to the character.
Yasuke is likely to prove exceptional in heavy combat compared to Naoe, assuming Naoe will consider stealth before direct confrontation. His gameplay may include sword attacks at a much greater rate, with powerful techniques that have distinct differences.
Oda Nobunaga: Ken Watanabe would be a fitting choice, bringing gravitas and historical weight to the role of the powerful warlord. Hiroyuki Sanada could also deliver a compelling performance.
Hattori Hanzo: Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, known for his iconic villain roles and martial arts background, could portray the legendary ninja with a sense of mystique.
Akechi Mitsuhide: Tadanobu Asano's intense and enigmatic presence could make him a compelling portrayal of this complex historical figure.
When it comes to casting for the adaptation, three significant factors need to be taken into account. The first is authenticity, ensuring that actors of Japanese descent and actors of African descent are cast in the lead roles. Honoring the characters within the context and culture of the game was very important.
Next, the actors would need to show a real range in terms of high-adrenaline stunts and dramatic nuances. Of course, the third major factor is the chemistry between the two actors playing Naoe and Yasuke. Their bond and dynamic are the emotional centre and narrative engine of the story.
This is only a starting point, and many capable actors would bring these characters to life. The secret would be to lock in a cast that not only has the appearance but can also comprehend the dichotomy of Naoe and Yasuke's experiences and character arcs in an era of conflict and upheaval, in feudal-era Japan.