Legendary Ninja Kosugi returns in ‘Ninja Assassin’

According to Dark Horizons, filming on NINJA ASSASSIN, produced by Joel Silver and the Wachowski Brothers, who made the recent flop SPEED RACER, has begun shooting in Berlin, Germany. However, according to the report, a 1980’s action icon returns in his first role in over fifteen years.

Sho Kosugi, who perhaps was responsible for pioneering the Ninja craze in American action films in the early 80’s, returns to the screens and is said to be playing the role of the leader of the Ozunu Clan, the ninja gang who go after the film’s protagonist, a former Ozunu Clan member named Raizo, played by Korean pop icon Rain. Rain recently made his Hollywood film debut in the abysmal live action adaptation of SPEED RACER.

Kosugi gained fame in the 1980’s after appearing in Cannon’s Ninja trilogy, which consisted of ENTER THE NINJA (1981), REVENGE OF THE NINJA (1983), and NINJA III: THE DOMINATION (1984). He usually would appear alongside his sons, Kane and Shane. Kane is currently a top action star in Japan who was recently seen in D.O.A.: DEAD OR ALIVE (2006), opposite Jamie Pressly and Devon Aoki; and WAR, where he had two brief fights, one opposite Ryo Ishibashi and one opposite Jet Li.

Kosugi retired from films in the mid-90’s to form the Sho Kosugi Institute, where he teaches acting and martial arts alongside younger son Shane. Shane returned to Hollywood with a brief role in Tom Cruise’s film THE LAST SAMURAI (2003) with member of Sho’s Ninja Taiko group.

From the looks of it, fans may expect a Rain-Kosugi fight in NINJA ASSASSIN. The film co-stars Rick Yune, Naomie Harris, and Ben Miles. James McTeigue (V FOR VENDETTA) directs with action choreography by David Leitch and Chad Stahelski, who handled stunt coordinating duties on SPEED RACER.

NINJA ASSASSIN is scheduled for release in 2009 from Warner Brothers.