Everything We Know About Tokyo Vice So Far
Because one "Vice" apparently wasn't enough for filmmaker Michael Mann, he's returning to direct the pilot episode of upcoming HBO Max series "Tokyo Vice" after a relatively lengthy hiatus. The last we saw of the esteemed director, he had released "Blackhat" back in 2015 ... which practically feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?
Aside from a stray producing credit for James Mangold's "Ford v Ferrari" and his currently in-development Enzo Ferrari project, it's mostly been radio silence ever since for the director of movies like "Heat," "The Insider," and the increasingly popular "Miami Vice." That's set to change with "Tokyo Vice," which brings Mann to the small screen for one of HBO Max's most interesting upcoming productions.
While we're passing the time until its premiere, feel free to take this quick refresher course on everything we know about "Tokyo Vice" so far.
When and Where to Watch Tokyo Vice
The initial announcement of "Tokyo Vice" actually predates WarnerMedia's flashy new streaming service, from before HBO Max even had its name yet. With such premiere talent involved, it's clear that the series received its green light in the hopes of pushing more subscribers to the then-fledgling service. Although we've yet to receive an official premiere date aside from the vague timeline of early 2022, that's why "Tokyo Vice" is set to debut exclusively on HBO Max, which has become a sort of safe haven for ambitious shows and could even resurrect some projects that have suddenly found themselves without a home.
What We Think Tokyo Vice Will Be About
"Tokyo Vice" is set in Japan and specifically deals with the criminal underworld located in and around the city of Tokyo — including the corrupt police force. The series is based on reporter Jake Adelstein's 2009 memoir titled "Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan," which lays out his firsthand experiences while working on the beat for a local Japanese paper. For those who want to read up on the source material before the show's debut, the book is available for purchase through your preferred retailers.
What We Know About the Tokyo Vice Cast and Crew
In addition to Michael Mann, several episodes of "Tokyo Vice" will also be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton ("Short Term 12," "Just Mercy," "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings"). The cast will be led by Ansel Elgort as Jake Adelstein, though it remains to be seen how WarnerMedia will handle the disturbing allegations of Elgort's sexual misconduct.
Joining him is Ken Watanabe as Hiroto Katagiri, Rachel Keller as Samantha, and Ella Rumpf as Polina. A trio of Japanese actors – Ito Hideaki as Miyamoto, Kasamatsu Sho as Sato, and Yamashita Tomohisa as Akira — will also appear in various recurring roles throughout "Tokyo Vice" season 1.