Do you know that one of many largest Hollywood actors round is presently credited on one of many largest success tales of the 2025 field workplace? Channing Tatum actually has a expertise for lending his star energy to a few of the hottest blockbusters round, from the “Magic Mike” motion pictures to the “Soar Avenue” franchise to, after all, 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 purpose 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 capable of watch the trilogy-starter in considered one of 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. But it surely’s his shut relationship together 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 would possibly seem to be a little bit of an odd selection for a name-brand expertise recognized extra for his physicality and display presence (though, to be honest, Tatum has completed voice work earlier than on animated movies like “The LEGO Film”). Because it seems, nonetheless, he had an awfully good purpose for wanting to affix this explicit mission.
Leisure Weekly just lately 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 thus lengthy,” he acknowledged in reference to “Demon Slayer.” The parallels between the real-life father and daughter and the fictional characters in “Demon Slayer” aren’t precisely arduous to overlook, nevertheless it provides yet 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 return 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 return. Aside from Studio Ghibli motion pictures and a handful of different exceptions, it is truly fairly uncommon for anime tasks to recruit recognizable stars for cameos in circumstances similar 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,” after all), however may the occasions be a-changing?
It is value noting that the very concept 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 Footage, which purchased the anime-focused streaming service Crunchyroll again in 2020, has put its total advertising and marketing and distribution would possibly 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 Soar Avenue” and its sequel, a proposed (however since-cancelled) “Ghostbusters” film, and his current 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 large income that stand to be raked in.
May we be 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 presently enjoying in theaters.
