With each passing weekend, Suicide Squad looks more and more like a distant oasis in a summer that's a little more barren than some would have hoped. Yet before we know it, we'll see the August blockbuster upon us, and part of the crew coming to rescue entertainment starved audiences is Karen Fukuhara's Katana. And as much as her antics will be just what this summer's movie-goers need, the role of the modern day samurai is just what Fukuhara has been looking for, as it honors her childhood and her heritage.
During a conversation conducted for Playboy's "No Filter" segment, Fukuhara spoke toward the point of how her Japanese-American heritage had inspired her throughout her life. In particular, it had influenced her in the following manner:
I've always wanted to play a samurai warrior [...] Samurai are almost always male, so growing up in America I had a hard time figuring out role models. Katana and I may not have the same personality, but coming from the same cultural upbringing, we share core values.
Sharing a common code of behavior with her Suicide Squad character is another great reason that Karen Fukuhara is perfect for the role of Katana. But the fact that her want to play such a role ties deeper into her own personal roots is something that is even more fulfilling to both her, and the audience. Not only will Fukuhara be living her dream, she'll also be bringing a comic character to living, breathing live with an extra dimension of depth.
Karen Fukuhara is just one of the many Suicide Squad cast members that look like they're having a blast with their roles. With Jared Leto going uber-method, Margot Robbie impressing folks enough to get her own Harley Quinn spinoff, and Will Smith looking like he's having the most fun he's had in years, there's just something about this cast that makes a person smile.
At the same time, Fukuhara and her co-stars bring the gravitas needed for such a film to remain grounded and thrilling, but considering that this business is mixed with the pleasure of putting the "comic" back in comic book, it could mean a rather impressive showing. You can see Karen Fukuhara tearing up the competition as Katana in Suicide Squad, when it opens this August 5th.
