The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn't Kill (ザ・ファブル 殺さない殺し屋, Za Faburu Korosanai Koroshiya) is a 2021 Japanese action comedy film directed by Kan Eguchi, serving as the sequel to The Fable (2019). Based on the second half of Katsuhisa Minami's manga series, the film follows legendary hitman Akira Sato (Junichi Okada) who attempts to maintain his non-violent lifestyle in Osaka while being targeted by underworld forces. It was released theatrically in Japan on June 18, 2021, by Shochiku.
Contents
Cast
Junichi Okada as Akira Sato / "Fable"
Fumino Kimura as Yoko Sato
Yurina Hirate as Hinako
Shinichi Tsutsumi as Utsubo
Masanobu Ando as Suzuki
Kōichi Satō as the boss
Jiro Sato as Kenjiro Takoda
Mizuki Yamamoto as Misaki Shimizu
Ken Yasuda as Ebihara
Kai Inowaki as Kuroshio
Jun Kurose as Isaki
Masao Yoshii as Kainuma
Manami Hashimoto as Ai
Daisuke Miyagawa as Jackal Tomioka
Production
Filming
Production commenced February 2020 in Osaka but was halted in April due to COVID-19 restrictions. The reason so many people appear wearing masks in the film is that the director accepted the requests of extras who were anxious about the unknown virus.
Reception
Box office
The film debuted at #1 in Japan, earning ¥233 million in its opening weekend. It grossed ¥1.42 billion ($12.94 million) during its theatrical run, becoming the 23rd highest-grossing Japanese film of 2021.