If you’ve seen Andrew Koji on screen, you probably remember the eyes first. There’s this heavy, soulful intensity he carries, even when he’s busy kicking someone through a wall. Most people found him through Warrior, the show based on Bruce Lee’s lost writings, where Koji plays Ah Sahm. He was honestly a revelation in that. But if you think he’s just another "martial arts actor" to be pigeonholed into a specific box, you haven’t been paying attention to his recent career moves.
Koji’s journey is kinda wild. He spent years in the trenches—doing stunts, editing, taking tiny roles in things like Fast & Furious 6 (look closely, he’s there). He almost quit acting entirely before Warrior happened. Now, he’s headlining reboots of massive video game franchises and working with directors like David Leitch.
The Warrior Era and the Fight for Season 4
Let’s get the big elephant in the room out of the way. Warrior is basically the best show you might not have watched yet. It moved from Cinemax to Max, then finally hit Netflix, where it found a massive new audience. Koji plays Ah Sahm, a Chinese martial artist who travels to 1870s San Francisco to find his sister and ends up becoming a hatchet man for a powerful Tong.
The choreography is incredible. Truly. But it’s the character work that sticks. Koji didn't want to just mimic Bruce Lee. Instead, he brought this gritty, reluctant-hero energy to the role.
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The fans have been screaming for a Season 4. Honestly, it’s been a rollercoaster. While the show was officially canceled after Season 3, the Netflix debut gave people hope. However, as of early 2026, the word from cast members like Joe Taslim is that Season 3 was likely the end of the road. It sucks because it ended on a cliffhanger, but Koji has clearly moved on to bigger—if not always better—things.
Andrew Koji Movies: From Snake Eyes to Street Fighter
His jump to Hollywood blockbusters was... interesting. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021) wasn't exactly a critical darling, but Koji was the best part of it. He played Tommy (Storm Shadow), and he brought a layered, Shakespearean tragedy to a character that is usually just a "cool ninja."
Then came Bullet Train (2022). This was a major pivot. He played Yuichi "The Father" Kimura. What’s cool about this role is that he barely fights. He spends most of the movie being threatened by a teenager or stuck in a seat with Brad Pitt. It proved he could hold his own in a high-budget ensemble without relying on his fists.
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The Big One: Ryu in Street Fighter (2026)
This is the one everyone is talking about right now. After years of mediocre adaptations, Legendary Pictures is swinging for the fences with a new Street Fighter movie. Andrew Koji has been cast as Ryu.
Think about that for a second. Ryu is the face of fighting games. It’s a massive responsibility. Directed by Kitao Sakurai, the film is set to drop in October 2026. The buzz is that they’re going for a gritty, 1990s-set martial arts epic rather than the campy stuff we’ve seen in the past. Starring alongside Noah Centineo (as Ken) and Jason Momoa, Koji is finally getting that "leading man" status in a global tentpole.
The TV Shows You Might Have Missed
While Warrior is the crown jewel, Koji has been busy on the small screen in ways that show off his range.
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- Black Doves (2024): He joined Keira Knightley in this spy thriller set in London. It’s a complete 180 from his period-piece work.
- Gangs of London (Season 3): Koji joined the cast as Zeek Kimura. If you know anything about this show, you know the action is visceral and borderline terrifying. He fits into that world perfectly.
- Peaky Blinders: He had a brief but memorable stint in Season 5 as Brilliant Chang. It was a short role, but it showed he could vibe with the high-caliber acting of Cillian Murphy.
He also did a film called Boy Kills World (2024), where he played a character named Basho. The director, Moritz Mohr, mentioned in interviews that Koji actually stayed in character throughout the entire shoot. He’s got that "actor’s actor" mentality, which is probably why he’s survived the industry as long as he has.
Why Andrew Koji Matters Right Now
Koji is part of a wave of actors who are actively fighting against being "typed." He’s been vocal about his complex relationship with martial arts. He loves it, but he doesn't want it to be his only currency. He’s pushing for roles that allow for emotional depth—like his work in the indie film Seneca: On the Creation of Earthquakes.
He’s British-Japanese, and he’s often talked about the struggle of finding roles that aren't just "the Asian guy who knows karate." By taking roles like Ryu or Kimura, he’s reclaiming those spaces and making them three-dimensional.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to dive into his filmography, don't just stick to the hits.
- Watch Warrior on Netflix or Max. It is the definitive Andrew Koji performance.
- Check out Bullet Train to see him do "vulnerable and desperate" instead of "stoic and lethal."
- Keep an eye out for "Worth the Wait." It’s a rom-com he filmed with Lana Condor. It’s a total departure from his action roots and will show a side of him we rarely see.
- Mark October 16, 2026, on your calendar. That’s when Street Fighter hits theaters. Whether it’s a masterpiece or just a fun popcorn flick, seeing Koji as Ryu is going to be a cultural moment for martial arts cinema.
The best way to support actors like Koji is to watch their non-action projects. He wants to produce and direct eventually. Based on the intensity he brings to his 2-minute scenes in Peaky Blinders, whatever he makes behind the camera is probably going to be just as captivating as what he does in front of it.