Phantom Ronin is a 2027 American science fiction action martial arts film based on the character of the same name from Midnight Shroud. Produced by Legendary Pictures and The Stone Quarry and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, it is the second installment in the Global Ninja Warrior Universe and a prequel to Midnight Shroud. Directed by Colin Trevorrow and written by Chad Stahelski and Zack Snyder, the film stars Rina Sawayama, reprising her role as Akira Takahashi / Phantom Ronin, with Anna Akana returning as Haruna Okamoto / Kurokage, alongside Willem Dafoe, Sydney Sweeney, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Kelsey Grammer, Jeremy Renner, David Harbour, Michael Jai White, and Ken Watanabe. Set in the Afghanistan War during the 2010s, the film explores Akira's origin story and depicts her early, close relationship with her sister Haruna, who, as Kurokage, would endure as the archenemy of Phantom Ronin, and also explores her relationship with Aurelia Kane. The film had its world premiere at the 84th Venice International Film Festival on November 6th, 2027, and opened in theaters on December 10th; the film was met with largely positive reviews, with praise for the tone, the performances of Sawayama and Akana, action sequences, score, direction, and thematic elements, with many deeming the film to be both "emotionally draining" and one of the best origin stories. Phantom Ronin was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography, and has been named as one of Sawayama's greatest performances as Phantom Ronin. A follow-up, which will be a sequel to Midnight Shroud, is in development.
