| A scene from the film, 'Gentleman' / Courtesy of Contents Wavve |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Actor Ju Ji-hoon, best known for his roles in the "Along With the Gods" film franchise and Netflix series "Kingdom," went against expectations and chose to pursue a mid-budget movie instead of vying for a role in another major franchise.
In the crime comedy film, "Gentleman," Ju plays the role of Ji Hyun-soo, a private detective who is falsely accused of kidnapping his client. He disguises himself as a prosecutor to chase Kwon Do-hoon, an alleged mastermind of kidnapping and sex trafficking crimes.
Ju shared his thoughts on starring in mid-budget films and why theaters still need them.
"I believe that studios should pump out more quality mid-budget movies because they allow for a wider range of themes and genres to get explored. As long as a film has its own charm and an interesting concept, I am willing to take part in the project," he said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Friday.
The 40-year-old actor said he now seeks advice from young staff when selecting movie roles.
"I take more chances because I have learned some things over the years. I want to make the kind of films that I would want to see. However, I have to admit that I'm in my 40s now and I don't know what genres young people like to watch the most. So I often ask my staff who are in their 20s about their favorite genres," he said.
| Actor Ju Ji-hoon / Courtesy of Contents Wavve |
Describing "Gentleman" as a straightforward caper movie with fantasy elements, he lauded director Kim Kyung-won's creative endeavor.
"Although I had limited information about director Kim because this was his second feature film, I was able to sense the overall tone of the film by speaking to him directly," he said.
"I loved how he examines human emotions in a complex way. For instance, it's hard to say whether my character, Ji Hyun-soo, is a good guy or not. He is a self-righteous, but snobbish character who breaks rules and tricks other people."
Ju hinted that he will be starring in entertainment TV show "Bros on Foot" alongside actors Ha Jung-woo, Yeo Jing-goo and Choi Min-ho, also known as Minho of K-pop boy band SHINee.
The four actors will be challenged with various missions and quests on their journey abroad.
"I was having a dinner with director Jang Tae-you, with whom I worked together in SBS' drama series, 'Hyena,' and he asked me if I'm interested in doing a variety show with his brother, Jang Hyuk-jae, who is also a popular producer behind SBS' 'Running Man' and Netflix's 'Busted!' At that time, I didn't give him a clear-cut answer. Few weeks later, actor Ha called me and said, 'This sounds fun. Are you in?' I told him I would do if he agrees to star in it," Ju said.
"Gentleman" will hit local theaters, Dec. 28. It is Wavve's first original film and will be available on the local streaming platform at a later date. However, the release schedule has not been decided yet.