Bullet Train almost featured another major cameo, director David Leitch has revealed. Throughout the film, Brad Pitt’s killer, Ladybug, references his therapist Barry, who helped him achieve inner peace. Ultimately, if Barry had been shown on screen, he likely would have been played by none other than Keanu Reeves.
“There was a time when we were going to do a scene with Barry,” producer Kelly McCormick revealed during a preview of the film (H/T Entertainment Weekly (opens in a new tab)). “My dream cast was Keanu,” Leitch added. “Wouldn’t that have been awesome? Hey, Bullet Train 2!”
Leitch previously worked with Reeves on John Wick, which he co-directed with Chad Stahelski. That wouldn’t have been the only reunion either: Sandra Bullock is part of the star-studded cast of Bullet Train and she starred in Vitesse opposite Reeves.
Bullet Train also reunited Leitch and Pitt – the director was Pitt’s stunt double in several movies, including Fight Club. “He trained me for these fights and in a way he [was] help me develop the character; now he’s a director with his own voice and his own vernacular and I serve him, he’s the boss,” Pitt said of the experience. “So there was a nice symmetry to two old friends.”
Along with Pitt and Bullock, Bullet Train also stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Joey King, Hiroyuki Sanada, Andrew Koji, Michael Shannon, Logan Lerman, Bad Bunny, Karen Fukuhara, and Zazie Beetz.
Bullet Train is now in UK cinemas and hits US theaters this August 5th. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming major movie release dates of 2022 for everything the year has in store.