Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s appearance in Bullet Train came after a fight and wasn’t just handed over to him. Directed by David Leitch, the film stars Brad Pitt in the leading role. It follows Ladybug (Pitt), who must avoid assassination attempts on him in a Japanese bullet train. In Bullet Train, Aaron Taylor-Johnson portrays a British assassin code-named Tangerine who comes face-to-face against Ladybug in this action-adventure ride on a train.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Aaron Taylor-Johnson discussed his role in the film and shed some light on his process to bag the part. Turns out, Leitch had Taylor-Johnson fight for the part as there were apparently several other actors who wished to get it. The actor, talking about his conversation with Leitch, told THR that it was his first call with the director after he had declined a part in Deadpool 2, which helped him establish a relationship with him. He said,

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However, Taylor-Johnson was thankful to David Leitch and how he choreographed his action sequences with Brad Pitt. He added,

When this came around, I was like, “Hey, do you remember me?” And he was like, “Of course. I like you as an actor.” So I was like, “Cool, what about this character?” And he was like, “Get in line, buddy. There’s like ten other actors who want this job and they’ve got a bigger name than you do.” (Laughs.) So I don’t expect these roles to be handed out, and I’m willing to fight for them, which is what I had to do for this. So I think I’m in the driver’s seat because I’m working hard. I also try to manifest what I feel, and sometimes, the universe brings it back my way. But you still have to actively go out and get it."

When you sign up for a David Leitch movie, you just want to jump in, and to his credit, he encouraged that. He supported us to be courageous and do it, for the most part. All these characters have their own fighting styles, and I think that’s important….Brad and I would just go, “What if we fight with a packet of crisps and a bottle of sparkling water?” You start to take from the Jackie Chans of the world and the Buster Keatons of the world, and that’s what makes a David Leitch movie.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Work on Bullet Train Probably Got Him Kraven The Hunter

     Sony Pictures

Sony Pictures Releasing, who distributed Bullet Train, got Aaron Taylor-Johnson the lead role in the upcoming Sony’s Spider-Man Universe film, Kraven The Hunter, based on his performance in this film.

In the interview, when asked if it’s true he bagged Kraven The Hunter because of Bullet Train, the actor replied,

Further adding on the conversation he had with Sony for Kraven The Hunter, Taylor-Johnson replied,

That’s what I hear! I feel very fortunate. It’s one of those magical and rare moments where the stars align from just doing your job the best you can. I was turning up to work and just loving everything. And then someone else further up the totem pole was looking down and noticing the hard work and what I was trying to achieve. So it’s always really lovely when that happens, but it doesn’t happen very often, if at all.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson has already wrapped production on Kraven The Hunter, which will release on January 13, 2023.

There was stuff coming out of the rushes, and then I got a call, saying, “We’re thinking of you for this thing.” That’s when they put me in touch with J.C. Chandor, the director, and Matt Tolmach, the producer, and we all hit it off. So I’m very blessed that Kraven was the next project, and to be with the same studio, Sony, was really wonderful.