Superhero flick 'Hi-Five' gears up for release amid Yoo Ah-in's drug scandal

From left, actors Lee Jae-in, Ahn Jae-hong, Ra Mi-ran, director Kang Hyoung-chul, Kim Hee-won, Oh Jung-se and Park Jin-young pose during a press conference for their movie “Hi-Five” at a theater in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Director Kang Hyoung-chul, best known for his 2011 comedy-drama "Sunny," described his upcoming film "Hi-Five" as an entertaining movie that blends the fantasy elements of superpowers with a fun narrative.

"I've had the opportunity to make several films and I'm fortunate to be a movie director. This time, I wanted to make an enjoyable film. I've always wanted to make movies that people can watch comfortably and have fun with," the director said Monday at a press conference in Seoul.

"Hi-Five" is a comedic action film revolving around five individuals who unexpectedly gain different superpowers after receiving organ transplants. The story unfolds as they encounter people who covet their newfound abilities.

"It's a comedy, but it incorporates the unrealistic element of superpowers," Kang explained. "Because of this, we focused more on the stories that arise when characters acquire these powers."

Filming for "Hi-Five" commenced in June 2021 and wrapped up in around five months. However, its release faced significant delays due to the drug scandal involving lead actor Yoo Ah-in, who was under police investigation.

Yoo was released on probation in February, and since then, his delayed films are slowly being released.

Among the delayed movies starring Yoo, the baduk (go) game movie “The Match” was the first to see the light of day. The movie, in which Yoo plays a baduk master, was released in March and surpassed the break-even point by attracting 2.14 million viewers. Promotional efforts for the film excluded Yoo from marketing, a strategy that "Hi-Five" also adopts.

"(Regarding Yoo Ah-in's drug scandal,) it is unfortunate. It would have been better if it hadn't happened, but at the time the scandal broke, the film wasn't completed, so we focused on the post-production work," Kang said.

"During editing, we barely touched (Yoo's scenes). My conviction was to complete a film that showcased the brilliance of all the actors."

The five actors portraying the superpowered individuals are Yoo, Lee Jae-in, Ahn Jae-hong, Ra Mi-ran and Kim Hee-won.

Actor Lee Jae-in plays Wan-seo, who develops a superpower after receiving an organ transplant, in the new movie "Hi-Five." Courtesy of NEW

Actor Lee Jae-in, who made a strong impression in the 2019 occult film "Svaha: The Sixth Finger," plays Wan-seo, a taekwondo enthusiast who gains immense power and speed after a heart transplant.

Lee expressed her excitement about performing action sequences, as she is a longtime fan of superhero films.

"I had a desire to do action movies, and thankfully, the director gave me the opportunity to showcase it," Lee said. "I even showed him some kicks during our first meeting. That's how I was lucky enough to join the project."

She added that she enjoyed great chemistry with Oh Jung-se, who plays her father in the film.

"I was happy to meet senior actor Oh Jung-se, whom I respect, as my father in the movie," she said. "He led the scenes well, creating a good rhythm as we exchanged lines."

Ahn Jae-hong portrays Ji-sung, an aspiring writer who develops extraordinary lung capacity after a transplant. He described his character as someone who struggles to fit into society.

"My character is someone who has immersed himself in superhero genre films," he said. "As soon as I saw the script, I was amazed. It was a script that excited me as I saw how these materials and developments were conceived."

Other superpowers include Yak-seon (Kim Hee-won), who acquires healing powers after a liver transplant, and Gi-dong (Yoo), who gains the ability to see electromagnetic waves following a corneal transplant. Ra Mi-ran’s character Seon-nyeo receives a kidney transplant, but her superpower remains a mystery.

"Hi-Five" will hit theaters on May 30.