Soji Arai, known for his roles in Pachinko and Tokyo Vice, is set to star in Penthouse, an indie thriller directed by Yakutian filmmaker Stepan Burnashev. Irina Mikhailova, who starred in Burnashev's previous film Our Winter, will play the female lead.

Currently filming in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Penthouse follows a young couple, Saina (Mikhailova) and David (Arai), who relocate from the U.S. to a lavish penthouse in Kuala Lumpur to begin anew. Their fresh start, however, quickly spirals into horror when Saina experiences eerie sounds and ghostly apparitions, leading her to question her sanity. David dismisses her concerns as effects of postpartum depression, stress, and fatigue, but as Saina starts suspecting his involvement in the disturbing events, the line between reality and illusion blurs. Is their home truly haunted, or is David concealing a more sinister truth?

The film’s production is managed by Aquila Emas Sdn Bhd in Malaysia and Saidam Baryl LLC in Kyrgyzstan. Burnashev co-wrote the screenplay with Alexey Ambrosiev and is producing with Syarizan Md Isa, while Arai, Vitaly Yakovlev, and Semyon Yakovlev serve as executive producers.

Arai, who garnered attention for his role in Pachinko, which returned for a second season in August, also recently starred in Tokyo Vice and has appeared in Dead Ringers, Cobra Kai, Legacies, and S.W.A.T.

Burnashev, a prolific Yakutian filmmaker, has directed 14 films and contributed to over 30 projects as a writer, editor, or producer. His 2023 film Aita became Yakutia’s highest-grossing film before being banned by Russian authorities for allegedly promoting nationalism, sparking debate and controversy.