INTERVIEW Kwon Sang-woo aspires to emulate Jackie Chan's action-comedy legacy in 'Hitman 2'

Actor Kwon Sang-woo plays a former secret agent in an upcoming action-comedy flick “Hitman 2” / Courtesy of BY4M Studio

By Baek Byung-yeul

• Published Jan 16, 2025 6:00 PM KST
• Updated Jan 19, 2025 10:34 AM KST

Actor Kwon Sang-woo, who will soon meet audiences with "Hitman 2," expressed his desire to turn this action-comedy flick into a long-running series and remain an action movie star for a long time, like his idol Jackie Chan.

"If given the opportunity, I hope 'Hitman 2' will surpass the breakeven point, receive much love and become a growing series," Kwon told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Thursday. "If this series could gradually climb the box office ladder, step by step, it would bring me an even greater sense of accomplishment."

"Hitman 2," set for theatrical release on Jan. 22, is a comic action film where Jun (Kwon), a former secret agent who lives as a cartoonist hiding his past, is framed for a terrorist attack that mimics his newly released comic.

The film follows the success of its predecessor, released in January 2020, and was especially hailed for the good chemistry between the ensemble, namely Kwon and other lead actors Jung Joon-ho and Lee Yi-kyung. However, despite the positive reviews, the first installment of the franchise recorded around 2.4 million admissions due to the impact of the pandemic.

"The first film was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic immediately after its release. Still, there was a lot of positive feedback from those who watched the movie on other platforms later," Kwon said. "That's why it felt more regrettable. I thought if the timing had been better, we could have achieved a better box office score and I want to wash away the disappointment I had from the first one through the sequel."

Despite declining theater attendance, Kwon remains resolute to have a presence in commercial films that draw substantial audiences, even if they aren't blockbusters.

"My dream is to consistently be an actor who achieves box office results of over 3 million admissions. Of course, I don't think that number is small. Especially in times like these when the film industry is struggling, I hope we can achieve even better results this time," he said.

The 48-year-old actor rose to stardom in the early 2000s with movies such as "My Tutor Friend" (2003) and "Spirit Of Jeet Keun Do - Once Upon A Time In High School" (2004) and the 2003 TV drama "Stairway to Heaven.”

Continuing his acting career in various films and dramas, Kwon revealed that the genre that suits him best is a combination of action and comedy and he still gets acting ideas from his idol Jackie Chan. Kwon worked with Chan in the 2012 Hong Kong film "CZ12."

"I save short videos about Jackie Chan on YouTube, thinking I'll use them in my movies later. Since I'm still at an age where I can handle action scenes, I save such brilliant ideas or good scenes from his movies and get inspiration from them," he said.

Kwon expressed his unwavering dedication to action roles, revealing that he still performs all his action scenes without a stunt double.

"I want to deliver as much as I can to the audience. I think it's the best way I can show my appreciation to those who pay to watch the movie. Rolling around and sweating on set is my own satisfaction of giving my all to the audience," he said. "I have more passion for action acting than anyone else."

He also spoke about his admiration for comedy films and actors who excel in this genre.

"I've filmed various genres, but basically, the genre I like and enjoy shooting on set is comedy," he said. "Comedy films require a lot of preparation not only in acting but also in areas not visible in the script. That's why I respect actors who are good at comedy films even more."

“Hitman 2” will be released in theaters on Jan. 22.