 |
| Actor Lee Seung-gi, left, and Lee Hee-joon pose for pictures during the online press conference for tvN's new thriller series "Mouse." Courtesy of tvN |
By Lee Gyu-lee
Actor Lee Seung-gi said Wednesday that the upcoming thriller series "Mouse" was "the most unique work" he has ever participated in.
"I was shocked when I first read the script. It was different from any other pieces I've previously worked on," Lee said during the online press conference. "The way the series unfolds its message was much more vivid and intense (than previous works), so I decided to join the project."
The series, which will premiere on Wednesday at 10:30 p.m., revolves around a cat-and-mouse chase between a notorious psychopathic killer and two police officers ― a determined rookie cop, Jung Ba-reum (Lee Seung-gi), and a rowdy detective, Go Mu-chi (Lee Hee-jun).
One day, an unexpected event affects Ba-reum and Mu-chi while chasing after the killer, which "turns their lives upside down."
Director Choi Joon-bae explained that an actual psychopathic killer's statement led him and writer Choi Ran to write the plot of the series.
"There was this psychopathic killer. When he was asked if he felt any guilt about his crimes, he answered 'it's a bummer that I can't go out and enjoy cherry blossom season," the director said.
"The emotional gap between the victim, whose life was destroyed, and the killer, who is ignorant and makes a comment about cherry blossom season, enraged writer Choi … The series will show how the writer put that emotion into the story."
 |
| Scenes from the series / Courtesy of tvN |
The series' first episode has been rated R for the brutality of the murder scenes, making it Lee Seung-gi's first R-rated work in his 17-years acting career.
"The R-rating also makes this the most unique piece as it is my first one," he said. "Sometimes the thriller genre requires violent scenes… and those were needed to narrate the writer's message, so I'm thankful that the network decided to go with the rating level."
Lee added he is excited and curious to see audiences' reactions to his new "image," as he is mostly known as a witty, lighthearted guy through TV shows. "I'm excited to find out how the viewers who know me would see me as the character," he said.
Director Choi added: "The viewers may say it is brutal and scary, but at the same time, they will find themselves immersed in the series as they follow along with the story," he said.
Actor Lee Hee-joon plays vengeful detective Mu-chi who lost his parents to a serial killer when he was young. After surviving the crime alone, his life purpose becomes taking revenge on the killer.
He revealed that he hesitated to take the role. "When I first got the script, my role seemed very difficult. He has a lot of rage. I turned down the role at first," he said. "But when I heard that Seung-gi said he wouldn't do if I don't take the role, I decided to join. And I really appreciate that."
