Roundup’s Don Lee reveals the secrets of his punches, John Wick casting

There’s nobody like Don Lee.

The hulking Korean action star, also known as Ma Dong-seok, has made a name for herself with his massive physique, heavy punches and easy-going charm. After a long and successful career in his homeland, he gained international attention with his sensational role in ” Train to Busan before Marvel cast him as Gilgamesh eternal.

lee’s newest, The summary: No way outis the third (and best) installment in the hugely popular Roundup crime series that has made waves not only at the Korean box office but around the world.

Polygon exchanged questions with the star via email, discussing his action philosophy and influences, the time he almost starred in a John Wick movie and his thoughts on the upcoming film Train to Busan reissue.

Polygon: Your box background really shines in these movies. I read that when you were a kid you wanted to be a boxer. Can you tell me what that boxing experience means for a role?

Don Lee: I’ve boxed my whole life and through boxing I’ve learned about perseverance and humility in life. In addition, the action in this [Roundup] Also the series is mostly based on boxing. watch the movie Rocky inspired me to dream of becoming a boxer. And while I was learning to box, I also started dreaming of becoming an actor.

Image: BA Entertainment

What is most important to you when it comes to taking compelling action in the modern age?

There are different types of action in movies. Action with guns, car chases, fantasy elements and more. Among these, I focus the most on action that involves bare-handed, no-gun combat. I’ve been boxing for a long time and once even trained to be a professional boxer. So the core of the action sequences for The summary: No way out is boxing. Applying real boxing techniques to action movies is no easy task.

Because it’s a challenge, coordination and synergy with the stunt team is key. Heo Myeong-haeng, the martial arts director, and the stunt crews in this film have been working with me for 20 years and they understand my intentions very well. This allows us to create more realistic action scenes. I still practice boxing daily and take part in sparring sessions with professional boxers.

Which action filmmakers and stars do you think do it best? Do you have any current favorite action films?

I started boxing after watching Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky series when I was a kid. So Rocky is an action film that is irreplaceable for me. It struck me recently that director Chad Stahelski, known for directing the John Wick series, delivers stylish action sequences. I was friends with him for many years and was also offered a role in [a] John Wick, who unfortunately didn’t make it through. [Ed. note: The role was in John Wick 3, which conflicted with his filming schedule for 2019’s The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil.] JJ Perry who was in charge of the stunts John Wick

Image: BA Entertainment

The “Roundup” films have a lot of impactful punches, with action, camerawork and sound design all coordinated, giving the impression that you are really dealing with idiots. How much contact is actually in these films? What is your philosophy on full contact use?

It’s important to look realistic, but safety comes first. While we never actually punch a co-star in the face, there are scenes where we have to punch each other in the body. Actors wear safety equipment in such cases. But even if we’re careful, the blow is strong enough to almost hit the organs. These are challenging types of action, but I did my best to make it look real and fun for the audience.

How does a disparity in physicality affect your approach to a fight scene? Most of the people you fight are shorter than you, but you also fight the taller bouncer No escape. How do you change your approach?

In this film, actors of various weight classes, from middleweight to super heavyweight, appear as my opponents. Because I value realism in boxing, I move fast like a boxer in certain scenes, while focusing on power like a brawler in others. In boxing matches, there are instances where the opponent is knocked unconscious with just a punch or two. In real life, if you get hit with bare hands and no gloves, you’ll be knocked out instantly. That’s what I wanted to convey in this scene. I always try to create realistic action sequences that can be enjoyed by the audience.

Does the fact that a global audience can now easily access and watch your films change your approach?

The universal language of film makes it possible to communicate cinematically all over the world and thereby overcome language barriers. When it comes to producing or planning a film, I try not to limit my imagination by scope or budget. By exploring and imagining without being constrained by production constraints and practical conditions, I believe more compelling content can emerge. And such content can move audiences around the world.

Image: Marvel Studios

After eternalAre you interested in future Hollywood projects? Are there specific franchises that appeal to you?

The Korean film industry and Hollywood are the same in that all the actors and staff work hard together to make a good film. The most outstanding difference is basically the language. Hollywood movies use English, but Korean movies use the Korean language. But under the common language “film” people can communicate with each other beyond the language barrier. And the Marvel Pictures experiences have inspired me tremendously to envision and expand the fictional universe as I make the film.

Did you react when you heard there was going to be a Hollywood? Train to Busan Remake directed by Timo Tjahjanto?

Train to Busan has a special place in my heart. I hope it will be excellently remade.