Talent management firm Artists First has signed Joey Iwanaga, a second-generation Japanese-American actor known for his work in action cinema, marking a new chapter for the performer following his breakout role in the martial arts film The Furious. The move reflects growing industry interest in Iwanaga after the film's strong critical reception and box office performance, positioning him for further roles in high-profile action projects.

Iwanaga played lead villain Paklung, the sociopathic son-in-law of a gangster running a child trafficking syndicate, in The Furious, directed by former stunt coordinator Kenji Tanigaki. The film, which premiered at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival before opening at number one in China and later in US cinemas, holds a 98% critic rating and 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Iwanaga, who trained in disciplines including karate, boxing and taekwondo, began acting at 16 in Dancing Karate Kid (2013) and gained international recognition through Enter the Fat Dragon (2020) alongside Donnie Yen, with other credits including Alice in Borderland; he will next appear in the live-action adaptation of Blue Lock.