A recent trailer drop for Shinji Higuchi‘s (Shin Godzilla) upcoming action-thriller Bullet Train Explosion has given us a thrilling glimpse into its high-octane narrative and star-studded cast. Pop quiz, hotshot! Do you know why this sounds so familiar? Well, that’s because it’s based on Junya Sato’s The Bullet Train – the very same source material that inspired the 1994 classic Speed, starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. Just like Speed, Bullet Train Explosion brings the tension to a boiling point with a bomb threat on a high-speed rail, delivering edge-of-your-seat action from start to finish!”
The film’s premise revolves around the Tohoku Shinkansen Hayabusa No. 60, en route to Tokyo, facing an imminent explosive detonation should its velocity fall below 100km/h. A significant ransom demand of 100 billion yen is issued by the perpetrator for the device’s deactivation.
The narrative follows the efforts of conductor Takaichi, portrayed by Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, alongside the train’s crew, diverse passengers including a political figure and a digital content creator, and the Shinkansen General Operation Control Center, as they endeavour to prevent a catastrophic outcome.
The film features a broad cast, including Kanata Hosoda, Non, Machiko Ono, Jun Kaname, Hana Toyoshima, Daisuke Kuroda, Satoshi Matsuo, Suzuka Ohgo, Matsuya Onoe, Naomasa Musaka, Pierre Taki, Bando Yajuro, and Takumi Saitoh.
Episcope serves as the production company, with the East Japan Railway Company providing specialised support, facilitating access to authentic bullet trains and railway infrastructure to enhance the film’s visual realism.
Kota Ishizuka assumes the role of producer, with Kensei Mori as line producer. The screenplay is penned by Kazuhiro Nakagawa and Norichika Oba, and the musical score is composed by Taisei Iwasaki.
Bullet Train Explosion was initially announced as part of Netflix’s international film slate for 2025. It is also included within Netflix’s 2024 Japanese live-action releases, alongside titles such as “Last Samurai Standing,” the third season of “Alice in Borderland,” and the adaptation of the manga “10DANCE.”
Bullet Train Explosion starts streaming worldwide Wednesday, 23 April, 2025, only on Netflix.
