Karoshi, a near‑future thriller set in a hyper‑corporate Manhattan, follows a mysterious infiltrator who uncovers a violent system after a coworker’s death.. The film, written and directed by Andrew Doscher, debuted its production details this week, highlighting a blend of social commentary and high‑octane action.

Andrew Doscher teams with John Wick’s Chad Stahelski for Lionsgate pitch

According to the source, Doscher brought his script to Chad Stahelski, the director behind the John Wick franchise, whose strong ties to Lionsgate helped secure a pitch for the project. The partnership, produced under Stahelski’s 87Eleven Productions, signals a strategic alignment between indie‑driven storytelling and mainstream action sensibilities.

Doscher, known for Still (2018) and Only (2019), also wrote the live‑action adaptation of Ghost of Tsushima, adding credibility to his ability to merge cultural themes with genre thrills. The involvement of Stahelski is expected to infuse the film with the kinetic visual style that fans associate with the John Wick series.

Vancouver shoot from June to August 2025 shapes Manhattan’s dystopia

The principal photography took place in Vancouver, Canada, from June through August 2025, with cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski—renowned for his work with Ari Aster—behind the camera. As the soucre notes, Vancouver’s versatile locations allowed the crew to recreate a near‑future Manhattan while keeping production costs manageable.

Pogorzelski’s visual approach is expected to accentuate the film’s bleak corporate aesthetic, using stark lighting and tight framing to convey the oppressive atmosphere that defines the story’s setting.

Cynthia Erivo and Teo Yoo headline cast linking star power to social thriller

The cast includes Academy‑award‑nominated actress Cynthia Erivo, Korean‑American actor Teo Yoo, and rising talents Isabel May and Giancaspian Esposito.. The soucre emphasizes that Yoo’s involvement was pivotal in finalising the package, suggesting his marketability helped attract additional financing.

Erivo’s presence adds gravitas to the narrative, while the ensemble’s diversity mirrors the film’s thematic focus on cultural tradition intersecting with corporate loyalty.

Karoshi’s title draws on Japanese ‘death from overwork’ to critique corporate culture

Karoshi takes its name from the Japanese sociomedical term for death caused by excessive work, a concept that frames the film’s exploration of occupational stress and systemic violence. As reported, the title serves as a metaphor for the lethal consequences of unchecked corporate ambition in the story’s near‑future world.

By foregrounding this term, the film joins a growing list of media that spotlight the human cost of relentless productivity, resonating with recent real‑world debates about work‑life balance.

Who is the mysterious outsider protagonist?

The source does not disclose the name or background of the infiltrator who drives the plot, leaving a key narrative element shrouded in secrecy... This omission fuels speculation about whether the character will represent a whistleblower archetype or a more ambiguous anti‑hero .

Without clarification, audiences are left to wonder how the outsider’s motivations will intersect with the film’s broader critique of corporate excess.