Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo – Takashi Miike’s Neo-Noir Entry Arrives at TIFF

“Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo” is the third installment in the loosely connected “Bad Lieutenant” series. Directed by Japanese auteur Takashi Miike, the neo-noir follows a disgraced Tokyo detective who descends into corruption, addiction and violence while pursuing a twisted case involving a vengeful ex-yakuza, an enigmatic FBI agent and the missing daughter of a powerful American family. The film is slated for its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2026.

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The franchise began with Abel Ferrara’s 1992 crime drama starring Harvey Keitel as a drug-addicted NYPD cop. Ferrara publicly disavowed Herzog’s effort, wishing both the director and Cage “die in Hell.” Miike now adds his own chapter, joining Ferrara and Herzog as the third “legendary” director to reinterpret the theme of a morally compromised police officer.

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The announced cast includes Japanese star Shun Oguri, British actress Lily James and WWE wrestler Liv Morgan. A Blu-ray article lists Gionna Daddio among the leads, creating a minor discrepancy in reported casting. Screenwriter Daisuke Tengan, a frequent Miike collaborator, co-wrote the script. Neon will handle domestic distribution at an unspecified later date and is also responsible for international sales.

Neon: First Look at Takashi Miike's Bad Lieutenant Tokyo

Miike described the project as a focused effort to push creative limits, saying, “A team of incredibly talented actors and crew has gathered in Tokyo. Now. I’m about to throw a fastball straight down the middle of your strike zone — no tricks, no gimmicks.”

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• “A team of incredibly talented actors and crew has gathered in Tokyo. Now. I’m about to throw a fastball straight down the middle of your strike zone — no tricks, no gimmicks,” — Takashi Miike

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