Right on the heels of the release of the highly acclaimed “Ninja II: Shadow of a Tear”, Kane Kosugi has taken the reins of the leading man in “Agent X”. The film marks Kosugi’s first lead in a Hollywood film with Brahim Achabbkhe serving as fight choreographer. At present, few other details are available with regard to the rest of the cast or the identity of the character X that Kane will portray, although we can probably safely rule out Racer X from the “Speed Racer” series.
In any case, Kane’s been long overdue for a breakout. His life in front of the camera goes all the way back to appearing alongside his father Sho Kosugi in many of the popular ninja flicks of the 1980’s, and he made a tremendous impression with the absolutely blazing speed he displayed in 2002’s “Muscle Heat”. His all-too-brief appearance in the Jet Li-Jason Statham vehicle “War” was by far the most disappointing aspect of that film, since his duel against Li lasts just long enough to tease the audience with his astounding kicking skills, and his aforementioned blazing speed, before his character is killed off (Fingers crossed for a rematch in “The Expendables 4”!) Likewise, he was by far the most likeable thing about “DOA: Dead or Alive”, the adaption of the video game series in which he played perhaps the most beloved ninja character in the gaming world, Ryu Hyabusa, one of the DOA series’ stand out characters and star of his own gaming series, “Ninja Gaiden”! Kane’s recent appearance in “Ninja II” only further solidifies his action movie capabilities, and with his and Brahhim Achabbkhe’s involvement being the only things known about the film at present apart from the title, it’ll be quite the guessing game trying to figure out the nature of “Agent X” before the trailer lands. Let the speculation begin!
