Rookie actor Kim Woo-bin has decided to make the leap from dramas to film. And he has decided to make the leap in a big way.
It was back in 2001 that one of South Korea’s biggest-ever box-office hits, “Friend,” hit theaters and now 12 years after the original a sequel to the film, “Friend 2” is set to be released. “Friend” was a story based on the real life friends of Kwak Kyung-taek who just happens to be both the writer and the director for the film. The original film was set in Busan and was about 4 boys, who all came from very different backgrounds during the 70’s. As they grow up they all take different paths in life, but when 2 of the friends decided to return home for a visit they find one of their friends in jail and the other on drugs. Things continue to take turns for the worse and the friends end up rivals in the crime world.
Kwak Kyung-taek has returned as the director for the new action sequel, which is due to hit theaters in South Korea next month. Yu Oh-seong will also reprise his role in the 2013 sequel. The film itself is set to take place 17 years after the events of the original.
Kim Woo Bin had the honor to work along side some of the biggest names in the Korean cinema industry but when asked how he coped with such pressure he said, “Many people thought it would be quite a challenge for me, but it was actually very easy to get on with them because we’re all guys.”
“Friend” was such a hit, it was 2 years before another film broke their record sales revenue and it was also remade into a TV series back in 2009 which starred Hyun Bin, Kim Min-joon, Seo Do-young, Lee Shi-un and Wang Ji-hye. Accordingly any actor would have to feel pressured to play any role in it’s sequel. Rather than turning down such an intimidating role, Kim Woo Bin said he did not hesitate to jump at the opportunity. “I loved this film and it remains one of my favorites. So when the script came along, I didn’t have to think twice” he said.
Kim Woo Bin has played rebellious characters in the TV drama’s he has participated in and has gained much acclaim for doing so. We can only imagine doing the same for his film debut may result in him getting stereotyped into one type of role. But it seems he himself is not worried as he’s quoted saying “I’m not worried about that. If the film or drama has a good script, I can sympathize with the character and the message that the writer or director wants to convey. As an actor, creating different characters is just part of the job.“.
Compared to the original, which appealed mostly to a male audience, the sequel focuses more on the family story than the male friendship of “Friend” as a result Kim Woo Bin feels that the film will have a “broader appeal“.
Make sure to show your support for Kim Woo Bin and check out “Friend 2” when it hits theaters.
Source: The Chosunilbo
Article by: Angelspatience
Edited by: Alona
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