Liv Morgan Steps into the World of Japanese Cinema with “Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo”
WWE Superstar Liv Morgan recently took a temporary leave from the ring in May 2025 to immerse herself in a dramatically different role: acting in the highly anticipated film “Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo.” The film, directed by the renowned Takashi Miike, marks a significant departure for Morgan, who already has acting credits in the television series “Chucky” and “The Kill Room.” Her experience, and WWE’s surprising support, signals a engaging new chapter in the athlete’s career.
A Dive into the World of Takashi Miike
Morgan’s enthusiasm for the project stems from her admiration for director Takashi miike, a figure celebrated – and sometimes notorious – in the horror genre. In an interview on “What’s Your Story” with Stephanie McMahon, Morgan described Miike’s work as intensely unsettling. “He has the scariest films ever,” she shared. “I love horror. I watched his movie ‘The Audition,’ and I had to look away. I’m not squeamish…He has a way of making you so uncomfortable.”
Despite her initial hesitations about the script, Morgan auditioned and landed the part. This despite,as she described,initial disbelief. “I get the script and I love it, but I was like, ‘there is no way.’ I auditioned for it anyway. I get the part. ‘Oh shit.’”
WWE’s Unexpected Support
What truly surprised Morgan was the full backing she received from World Wrestling Entertainment. Anticipating potential roadblocks, she was stunned when WWE gave her the green light. “To my surprise, WWE is like, ‘Go get em’,” Morgan recounted. “When I tell you the role and what it entails, it’ll make sense.” The role itself, shrouded in mystery, clearly didn’t deter the company’s leadership.
Morgan spent 17 days filming in Japan, fully embracing a character vastly different from her WWE persona. “I got to play this character that is so different than anything I’ve ever done. The WWE fans are going to see me in a way that I don’t think they’ve ever expected to see me,” she stated.The experience drew parallels to her wrestling career, specifically the extensive preparation WWE athletes undergo.
The Unique Challenges of On-Set Filming
Morgan found that her WWE training surprisingly prepared her for the demands of filmmaking. “Filming a movie felt like I was doing backstages,” she explained. “Moast of our stuff is in the ring with one take, so having that training and going into a film were you can’t get as many takes as you want, but you can get multiple takes, and it’s okay to mess up because you have another try. I was so prepared and ready to take this on.”
However, “Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo” director Takashi miike’s artistic vision led to a unique shooting style – primarily one-take scenes. “We ended up doing everything in one take anyway. He had such a vision. Anything after one take is acting rather of reacting,” Morgan said. While challenging, this approach fostered a raw and vulnerable performance.”We kept everything one take, which is a little vulnerable for me because I feel I could have done better. It was such a good experience.”
Triple H’s Encouragement
Morgan also revealed a conversation with Triple H,where she sought his approval for the project.His response was resolute: “If I didn’t think it woudl be good, I wouldn’t let you do it.” He further advised her to “Just go for it” – advice she heeded wholeheartedly.
“Bad lieutenant: Tokyo” – What we certainly know So Far
“Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo,” as WrestlingNews.co reports, also stars Lily James and Shun Oguri, and is distributed by Neon. While an official premiere date remains unconfirmed, Morgan has suggested October 2026 as a potential release window. The film is a third installment in the “Bad lieutenant” series.
Return to the Ring and Future Outlook
Following her time in Japan, Morgan returned to WWE in November after recovering from a dislocated shoulder sustained in June 2025. She triumphantly made her televised in-ring return on the January 5, 2026, edition of monday Night Raw, defeating Lyra Valkyria at the Barclays Centre during a “RAW is Stranger Things” themed event.
Morgan’s foray into acting demonstrates a willingness to explore new avenues while maintaining her commitment to WWE. Her experience with “Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo” promises to be a transformative one, both personally and professionally, offering fans a glimpse of a side of Liv Morgan they’ve never seen before.
