Warning: Minor spoilers ahead for Bullet Train
Bullet Train cast and character guide. Assassin movies have long been a staple of the action genre, most recently with Anthony and Joe Russo’s The Gray Man, which is launching its own universe. Bullet Train joins the 2022 slate of action flicks that has included Top Gun: Maverick and Moonfall.
Bullet Train was originally developed by Antoine Fuqua before director David Leitch took over filmmaking responsibilities. The highly anticipated film went into production in late 2020 and has a star-studded cast that includes Sandra Bullock, who replaced Lady Gaga in a co-starring role. Like many films that were affected by the global pandemic, Bullet Train’s release was delayed, shifting from April 2022 to various dates in July before settling on an August 5 theatrical release date.
The film, which was adapted to the screen by Zak Olkewicz from the novel by Kōtarō Isaka, follows the assassin Ladybug, who is tasked with retrieving a briefcase on a bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto and must battle a plethora of other mercenaries who are more linked than any of them believe. Bullet Train boasts a tremendous cast. Here is a full guide to every actor in the film, which characters they’re playing, and in what other movies and TV shows audiences have seen them in before.
Brad Pitt As Ladybug
Ladybug is a highly experienced and skilled assassin who doesn’t necessarily have the best of luck when it comes to certain situations. While he’s trying to leave the assassin life, he’s drawn back into the thick of the action with a new job. Ladybug is portrayed by Brad Pitt, who is best known for his roles in Fight Club, Moneyball, Ad Astra, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, World War Z, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Interview with the Vampire, Inglourious Basterds, Troy, Ocean’s 11, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, to name a few of his many famous movies.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson As Tangerine
Tangerine is a British assassin who is on the bullet train with the same objective as Ladybug. Tangerine is played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who is best known for his roles in Christopher Nolan’s film Tenet, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Nocturnal Animals, Godzilla, Anna Karenina, Kick-Ass and its sequel Kick-Ass 2.
Brian Tyree Henry As Lemon
Lemon is also a British assassin who is riding the bullet train. Notably, Lemon is one of Tangerine's associates and the pair work together to get the briefcase that Ladybug is after. Lemon is portrayed by Brian Tyree Henry, who is best known for his roles in If Beale Street Could Talk, Widows, the TV series Atlanta, Godzilla vs. Kong, the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Eternals, and Joker. The actor has also voiced the character of Jefferson Davis, the father of Miles Morales, in the hit animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Joey King As The Prince
The Prince is a British assassin who masquerades as a schoolgirl to hide her identity. The Prince is portrayed by Joey King, who is best known for her roles in Hulu’s The Princess, The Conjuring, The Kissing Booth and its two sequels, White House Down, the TV series Fargo, and The In Between.
Andrew Koji As Yuichi Kimura
Yuichi Kimura is a Japanese assassin who goes after the person who pushed his son off the roof, but finds himself in a sticky situation when he meets the Prince on the bullet train. Yuichi is portrayed by Andrew Koji, who is best known for his roles in Fast & Furious 6, the acclaimed TV series Warrior, and Snake Eyes.
Hiroyuki Sanada as The Elder
“The Elder” is Yuichi Kimura’s assassin father who once worked for a prominent Japanese criminal organization before it was taken over by the White Death. The Elder is portrayed by Hiroyuki Sanada, who is best known for his roles in The Last Samurai, Ring, Sunshine, Speed Racer, 47 Ronin, The Wolverine, and Army of the Dead.
Bullet Train Supporting Cast & Characters
Michael Shannon as The White Death - The White Death is the leader of a Russian criminal organization he took over from The Elder’s boss years prior. He leaves a trail of violence and death wherever he goes. The White Death is portrayed by Michael Shannon, who is best known for his roles in 99 Homes, Knives Out, Man of Steel, where he played General Zod, The Shape of Water, Boardwalk Empire, Mud, The Iceman, Revolutionary Road, and Jonah Hex.
Sandra Bullock as Maria Beetle - Maria Beetle (whose name was the original novel’s title in Japan) is Ladybug’s handler. She is the one who contacts the assassin about acquiring the briefcase on the bullet train. Maria is played by Sandra Bullock, who is best known for her roles in Gravity, Speed, Miss Congeniality, the Netflix film Bird Box, The Blind Side, The Proposal, Crash, 28 Days, Practical Magic, and While You Were Sleeping.
Zazie Beetz as Hornet - Hornet is an assassin who is in disguised as one of the train’s employees. Hornet is portrayed by Zazie Beetz, who is known for her roles in Joker, Deadpool 2, Nine Days, the Netflix film The Harder They Fall, the animation The Bad Guys, and the TV series Atlanta starring Donald Glover. Beetz also voices Amber Bennett in Prime Video’s animated series Invincible.
Logan Lerman as The Son - The Son of White Death who is ransomed and saved by Tangerine and Lemon. The Son is played by Logan Lerman, who is best known for his roles in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Fury, the Prime Video TV series Hunters, 3:10 to Yuma, and for playing Percy Jackson in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, and its sequel Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.
Bad Bunny as The Wolf - The Wolf is a Mexican assassin who seeks out Ladybug for revenge on something he thinks he did in Bullet Train. Bad Bunny — otherwise known as Benito A Martínez Ocasio — is a rapper and singer who is best known for his roles in Narcos: Mexico and F9: The Fast Saga.
Karen Fukuhara is a crew member, one who has no involvement with what’s happening. Fukuhara is best known for playing Kimiko on Prime Video’s popular series The Boys. She has also starred in David Ayer’s Suicide Squad, the animated series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and Craig of the Creek.
Channing Tatum as bullet train passenger - Channing Tatum appears in a brief cameo role, playing one of the train's passengers. The actor is best known for his roles in Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL, 21 Jump Street, White House Down, The Lost City, Jupiter Ascending, The Hateful Eight, and Step Up.
Ryan Reynolds as Mr. Carver - Carver is an assassin and colleague of Ladybug's in Bullet Train. Ryan Reynolds appears in a brief cameo, with the actor best known for his roles as the titular character in Deadpool, Free Guy, The Proposal, and The Hitman's Bodyguard.