Shōgun, the critically acclaimed historical drama created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, finished its 10-episode run on FX last week. Anna Sawai received acclaim from critics and viewers alike for her portrayal of the tragic Toda Mariko.
The New Zealand-born actress, 31, is expected to be flooded with some good film offers, and it would not be shocking if she got a chance to play a big superhero role at some point. When speaking with THR about her career in Hollywood, Sawai hinted that her big break might have come much sooner.
She had the opportunity to audition for the role of Katana in Suicide Squad (2016), but she had to pass that up because of her commitment to her J-Pop group, FAKY. Fortunately for us, Sawai could still be cast in a wide range of roles that are spiritually related to her Shōgun character.
Anna Sawai Opened Up About Passing on Katana’s Role in Suicide Squad
Anna Sawai, who many knew from her roles as Naomi in Pachinko and Elle in F9, has had a successful year. Not only is she a vital member of the ensemble in the MonsterVerse series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, but she has also been making waves in the miniseries Shōgun these past few months.
But long before any of these roles ever came her way, though, she was forced to pass up the chance to try out for the role of Katana in Suicide Squad. As the Japanese actress revealed to THR recently:
“I was like, ‘This is my chance!’ And then I go to my manager and he’s like, ‘You can’t audition.’ They basically told me that if I’m gone for over a month, the girls [the other members of FAKY] are not going to have anything to do… It felt like they were really tying me down, and because of my contract…”
Needless to say, there is no guarantee Sawai would have gotten the role, and even if she had, her status might not have increased significantly. Karen Fukuhara ultimately played Katana, and while Sawai was not able to secure the role, she did commend The Boys star.
“She did an amazing job, and I respect her so much, and I love her. But also, I would have loved to audition for it.”
When Sawai watched the season finale of Shōgun in her Los Angeles hotel room, she confessed she went through “very emotional” feelings. Despite missing out on Suicide Squad, the actress can still showcase her talents in roles that are equally epic as her Shōgun’s character.
Beyond Shōgun: James Gunn’s Diverse Casting Options for Anna Sawai
Anna Sawai did a fantastic job portraying the role of Toda Mariko, a highborn with a strong Toranaga allegiance, who converted to Catholicism and serves as a translator between Blackthorne and Toranaga. Per Screen Rant’s description of the character, Mariko is fiercely strong and incredibly intelligent.
But now, let us take a look at three roles that James Gunn (CEO of DC Studios) could consider casting Sawai. Even though she could not become Katana, here are some roles that are not much of a departure from Toda Mariko.
One role that the actress certainly has the potential to excel in is that of Cheshire, a skilled assassin and martial artist in the DC Universe. The character is known for her deadly tactics and cunning personality. If Gunn were to consider casting her, she could only add to Cheshire’s complexity by evoking a sense of mystery and intrigue on screen.
Another character the actress could embody with grace and power is Doctor Light, a DC comic superhero who can control and manipulate light energy. With her commanding presence and ethereal beauty, Sawai would give this character a fresh perspective and reveal depth and subtlety; even fans would agree:
She dodged a bullet because there wasn't too much to do with Katana in that movie. But I like her, she should play Doctor Light. pic.twitter.com/w30ERKZF9F
— ervin (@ervininjustice) May 1, 2024
Lastly, not to be overlooked is Lady Shiva (Sandra Wu-San), a fierce and formidable fighter in the DC Universe known for her extraordinary martial arts skills. The character was co-created by Dennis O’Neil and Ric Estrada. Given Sawai’s experience in action-packed roles, it would be easy for her to nail this character. Plus, her experience in Shōgun proves that she can deal with such a complicated and dynamic role with ease.
Well, whether playing Lady Shiva, Doctor Light, or Cheshire, Sawai would surely bring something unique to each character, giving these legendary roles fresh energy and performances that would astound viewers.
Shōgun is available on Hulu, while Suicide Squad is streaming on Max.
