Jon Hamm Joins Takashi Miike's Bullfrog Thriller
The psychological thriller, set in a locked-down near-future Tokyo, has cast Hamm as a former FBI profiler and is being shopped internationally by mk2 Films.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Film — General
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Jon Hamm has been cast as the lead in Takashi Miike's psychological thriller Bullfrog, according to Variety. Paris-based mk2 Films has boarded the project for international sales ahead of the AFM market.
Why it matters
The casting of an established Hollywood lead in a Japanese-directed genre film reflects the growing practice of cross-border co-productions. Its international sales setup signals that the project is being positioned for a global audience from the outset.
The project is scheduled to begin principal photography in summer 2027 with a 2028 release expected. No budget or box office projection has been disclosed, and the schedule remains a plan rather than a confirmed date.
The players
Jon Hamm
Jon Hamm is an American actor best known for playing Don Draper in the television series Mad Men.
Takashi Miike
Takashi Miike is a prolific Japanese filmmaker known for genre films spanning horror, crime and action.
mk2 Films
mk2 Films is a Paris-based production and distribution company that handles international sales for independent and arthouse films.
The details
Bullfrog follows a former FBI profiler, played by Hamm, and a Japanese detective, played by Andrew Koji, as they chase a serial killer through a near-future Tokyo under lockdown. The screenplay is by Eric Jordan Baker, and the film is produced by Nathan Ross with David Styne and Misako Saka, with Tokyo-based OLM overseeing production in Japan.
Timeline
AFM: mk2 Films boards international sales for Bullfrog.
Summer 2027: principal photography is planned to begin.
2028: Bullfrog is expected to release.
Industry Dynamics
Bullfrog extends Takashi Miike's long run of genre films built for both Japanese and overseas audiences, and its casting of a Hollywood lead continues a trend of international co-productions in the thriller space. Its early mk2 Films sales deal reflects how independent genre projects are now pre-sold globally before cameras roll.
For audiences, the project is still years from release, with no streaming platform, theatrical distributor or territory windows announced yet. The international sales deal means the film is likely to reach multiple markets, though specific release dates and platforms remain undetermined.
The takeaway
Bullfrog shows how genre films from Japanese directors are increasingly built with Hollywood talent and global sales in mind from the earliest stages. Readers following international film should watch for distribution announcements as the 2027 shoot approaches.
What happens next
Principal photography is planned for summer 2027, and the film is expected to release in 2028.
Further reading
For more on the film business behind projects like this, browse the latest in Film — General.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Movieweb.
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