Do you know that one of many greatest Hollywood actors round is at present credited on one of many greatest success tales of the 2025 field workplace? Channing Tatum actually has a expertise for lending his star energy to among the hottest blockbusters round, from the “Magic Mike” motion pictures to the “Leap Avenue” franchise to, in fact, his scene-stealing position as Gambit in “Deadpool & Wolverine.” However even the ever-reliable superhero style pales compared to what one anime saga has simply pulled off. There is a motive why “Demon Slayer: Infinity Citadel” got here out of nowhere to rule the field workplace this month, proving that anime has loads of untapped potential amongst North American moviegoers. Followers are in a position to watch the trilogy-starter in one in all two codecs — both subbed or dubbed, naturally. Those that opted for the latter possibility would’ve encountered a really acquainted face voice.
It is true: Tatum has a really minor position in “Demon Slayer” as a personality named Keizo. For some background, this minor supporting character is a kindhearted widower with a daughter named Koyuki. As a martial arts grasp and proprietor of a dojo, he is greater than able to caring for himself and people closest to him in want of safety. However it’s his shut relationship along with his solely little one that makes up the core of a heartfelt and quietly shifting dynamic within the midst of this a lot bigger story. Admittedly, this may look like a little bit of an odd selection for a name-brand expertise identified extra for his physicality and display presence (though, to be truthful, Tatum has executed voice work earlier than on animated movies like “The LEGO Film”). Because it seems, nonetheless, he had an awfully good motive for wanting to hitch this explicit venture.
Leisure Weekly not too long ago caught up with the actor, and he defined that he and his daughter Everly’s love of the property helped draw him to this position. “We have been watching this for therefore lengthy,” he said in reference to “Demon Slayer.” The parallels between the real-life father and daughter and the fictional characters in “Demon Slayer” aren’t precisely onerous to overlook, but it surely provides one more layer to a story that audiences are clearly embracing.
Channing Tatum’s look in Demon Slayer might be an indication of issues to come back in anime
As neat as Channing Tatum’s involvement in “Demon Slayer: Infinity Citadel” is to informal followers and anime followers alike, this occasion of stunt casting might be an indication of issues to come back. Aside from Studio Ghibli motion pictures and a handful of different exceptions, it is really fairly uncommon for anime tasks to recruit recognizable stars for cameos in circumstances equivalent to this. Tatum’s minor position is the one and solely occasion of this in “Demon Slayer” (to not be confused with the continued Netflix hit and worldwide sensation “KPop Demon Hunters,” in fact), however may the occasions be a-changing?
It is price noting that the very thought of “Demon Slayer” breaking by means of in North America to the extent that it has already alerts an abrupt shift within the anime scene. Sony Photos, which purchased the anime-focused streaming service Crunchyroll again in 2020, has put its total advertising and distribution may behind placing the film in as many U.S. theaters as doable. The backing of a serious studio (and its assets) is the distinction between this versus any variety of anime flops that died on the vine in North America. This additionally helps clarify the Tatum of all of it, as nicely, contemplating his shut working relationship with Sony over time in motion pictures like “21 Leap Avenue” and its sequel, a proposed (however since-cancelled) “Ghostbusters” film, and his latest rom-com collaboration with Scarlett Johansson, “Fly Me to the Moon.” With Sony utilizing Crunchyroll as its personal distributor for “Demon Slayer,” the studio is within the exceedingly uncommon and enviable place of turning into a one-stop store for all issues anime … and the huge earnings that stand to be raked in.
Might we be taking a look at a brand new golden age for anime within the West? If that’s the case, prepare for much more headlines about stars on the same degree as Channing Tatum with shock voice roles, too. Till then, “Demon Slayer: Infinity Citadel” is at present taking part in in theaters.