Lionsgate Releases Trailer for Dystopian Thriller Karōshi From the Creator of John Wick

Film studio Lionsgate has released a trailer for the dystopian action film Karōshi, which is set to arrive early next year. Chad Stahelski, who created the John Wick film franchise, is involved in the project, so it is drawing attention from fans of that series.

What the film is about

The title is a Japanese term meaning death from overwork. The source article notes that such deaths are a real phenomenon, not only in Japan and much of Asia but also in Sweden, where about 700 workers die each year from overwork. The physical cause is usually a stress-related heart attack or stroke, as well as suicide, known in Japan as karōjisatsu.

Writer and director Takashi Doscher has transplanted the idea to a grim, futuristic corporate Manhattan, where a company called Ikigai Technologies operates. The official premise describes an action thriller set in the near future, in which corporate loyalty and cultural tradition have reshaped everyday life. After a worker's death, a mysterious outsider infiltrates the powerful company and exposes the violent system hidden beneath its polished surface.

Cast

Teo Yoo, known from Past Lives, plays Hiro, who is clearly seeking revenge against the offending corporation. The cast also includes Takehiro Hira, known for the 2024 miniseries Shōgun, as well as Giancarlo Esposito, Cynthia Erivo, Bill Camp, Richard Harmon, Isabel May and Show Kasamatsu.

The trailer's release marks the start of promotion ahead of the film's planned arrival. An exact release date is not given in the source.