Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù is set to lead A Colt Is My Passport, the Amazon MGM Studios/Orion Pictures reimagining of Nikkatsu’s classic 1967 yakuza thriller, with Victor Alli joining him in the ensemble.
The film reimagines Takashi Nomura’s hardboiled noir and transplants the action from Tokyo to 1978 Detroit. Here, Dìrísù plays Colt, a Vietnam veteran-turned-hitman who goes on the run after assassinating a crime boss.
The supporting cast includes Victor Alli, Tim Roth, Jack Reynor, Lucy Boynton, Ewan Mitchell, Burn Gorman, and Noah Taylor.
Directed by Gareth Evans (The Raid franchise), filming quietly wrapped earlier this year in Wales, UK, with production based at Great Point Studios in Cardiff and across South Wales. Evans produces through his One More One Productions banner alongside Ed Talfan (Havoc) for Severn Screen. Chris Webb, who previously worked on Evans’ Havoc and Apostle stunt teams, penned the script. Executive producers include Shinjiro Nishimura for Nikkatsu and C2’s Dave Caplan, with support from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales.
Dìrísù’s Momentum
Dìrísù continues to cement himself as one of the most versatile actors working today. He recently led Akinola Davies Jr.’s My Father’s Shadow, which won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes, and is currently filming Netflix’s All the Sinners Bleed. His credits also include His House—a performance that earned him a BAFTA nomination—Black Rabbit for Netflix, and Slow Horses season three for Apple TV+.
From Nikkatsu Noir to Detroit Grit
For cinephiles, A Colt Is My Passport holds a special place in Japanese genre cinema. Nomura’s original film, starring Joe Shishido, was a stylish blend of French New Wave cool and Sergio Leone-inspired grit. Part of the Criterion Collection’s Nikkatsu Noir box set, the 1967 film is remembered for its bold visuals and existential hitman story.
Evans himself has long been a champion of Nomura’s work, introducing the film at the 2023 L’Etrange Festival and writing about its influence. With Evans’ signature flair for kinetic, brutal action, this reimagining promises to merge noir melancholy with bone-crunching spectacle—an evolution of the original’s themes for a new era.
No release date has been set, but given Evans’ meticulous approach, audiences may not see A Colt Is My Passport hit screens until at least 2027. Still, with this cast and creative team, anticipation is already building for what could be Evans’ next action masterwork.