Steven Seagal asserted that The Last Samurai would have benefited significantly from his involvement as the lead rather than Tom Cruise. Seagal pointed to his martial arts training and upbringing in Japan as qualifications that made him ideally suited for the role, and claimed approximately 450,000 people worldwide had contacted him to voice the same opinion.

The article counters that Seagal's account contains substantial inaccuracies. He was actually raised in Michigan and California, moving to Japan only at age 22. The film achieved considerable success under Cruise's leadership, grossing $450 million globally and generating a Golden Globe nomination for Cruise alongside four Academy Award nominations overall. The piece suggests Seagal's assertions about his suitability and the purported public backing lack credibility.