Drifter is an upcoming American sports action film directed, co-written, and co-produced by Sung Kang (in his directorial debut). It stars Kang, Tamara Braun, Gregory Cruz, Emelia Hartford, Shane Johnson, James Pumphrey, and Michael Nehring.
Contents
Cast
Sung Kang as Tree
Tamara Braun as Rosie
Gregory Cruz as Lantana
Emelia Hartford as Amelia
Shane Johnson as Boston
James Pumphrey as Dusty
Michael Nehring as Bennett
Adam LZ
Brian Scotto
Rutledge Wood as Cody
Dai Yoshihara
Chelsea DeNofa
Luke Fink
Dave Egan
Jacob Gettins
Jarod DeAnda
Grant Anderson
Chris Rudnik
Nate Hamilton
Production
In October 2023, actor Sung Kang was set to direct a live-action adaption of the street racing manga series Initial D, but it never came to fruition.
In July 2025, it was revealed that Kang would direct an original street racing action film titled Drifter, that would star real life racers including Adam LZ, Brian Scotto, James Pumphrey, Rutledge Wood, Dai Yoshihara, Chelsea DeNofa, Luke Fink, Dave Egan, Jarod DeAnda, Grant Anderson, Chris Rudnik, and Nate Hamilton. Principal photography began on August 10, 2025, in Englishtown, New Jersey. In March 2026, Tamara Braun, Gregory Cruz, Emelia Hartford, Shane Johnson, James Pumphrey, and Michael Nehring were revealed as the main cast of the film. The second trailer was released in June 2026.
Release
The film is scheduled to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2026.