Hiroyuki Sanada has spent decades bringing depth, cultural authenticity, and emotional precision to every project he touches, and his 2026 movie schedule and beyond is shaping up to be no different. Not only is the Emmy-winning actor returning as Lord Toranaga in Season 2 of FX’s Shogun, but also reprising his role as Hanzo Hasashi in the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2. And while both projects are distinct in tone and scale, the Wolverine veteran actor sees a shared thread running through them: genuine Asian representation handled with respect.
In a recent interview with Variety, the actor described the forthcoming video game adaptation as a uniquely meaningful project thanks to its overwhelmingly APAC cast and the energy on set. As he tells it:
