Exclusive interview with The Wolverine stars Rila Fukushima, Tao Okamoto and Hiroyuki Sanada

By Eric Walkuski

Posted 13 years ago

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

While Hugh Jackman is undoubtedly the headliner of THE WOLVERINE, he has a very solid supporting cast backing him up and adding to the authenticity of the film’s Japanese atmosphere. Three actors in particular, Rila Fukushima (who plays Wolverine’s petite “bodyguard” Yukio), Tao Okamoto (who plays his love interest) and Hiroyuki Sanada (who plays an antagonist named Shingen), are crucial to the journey of Wolverine, as he struggles to figure out his worth and place in this world.

Here I sit down with the trio to discuss their roles in THE WOLVERINE, the strenuous workouts and the intimidation factor that comes with starring in such a guaranteed blockbuster.

About the Author

Eric Walkuski

Film Critic

10,340 Articles Published

Favorite Movies: Jaws, Star Wars Trilogy, Aliens, Citizen Kane, The Third Man, Dawn read more of the Dead ('78), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ('74), Fargo, Miller's Crossing, Reservoir Dogs, The Manchurian Candidate ('62), Taxi Driver, Back to the Future, Stand by Me, Shaun of the Dead, Boogie Nights, La Dolce Vita, 12 Angry Men, The Birds, Touch of Evil

Likes: Film, Beer (who the hell DOESN'T around here?!), writing, NY Mets, read more The Jets, Girls who love film AND beer (at the same time), Jazz, Deadwood, The Wire, The Office, The Twilight Zone, Cormac McCarthy, Graham Greene, Stephen King, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Scorsese, Spielberg, Halloween season, Marvel movies, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Ash vs Evil Dead, Game of Thrones, Edgar Allen Poe, Mother Nature

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