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| A scene from the film, "The Roundup" / Courtesy of ABO Entertainment |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
"The Roundup," the sequel to the 2017 crime action film, "The Outlaws," has expanded the cinematic universe with improved action sequences, according to lead actor Ma Dong-seok. Ma, also known by his English name, Don Lee, promised that his latest action franchise will deliver a more action-packed thrill ride.
In "The Roundup," the actor engages in a reprise of his role as police officer Ma Seok-do, who heads to Vietnam to catch a serial killer named Kang Hae-sang (Son Suk-ku), who commits heinous crimes against Korean tourists and businesspeople in the Southeast Asian country.
The first installment, which revolves around Ma bringing down notorious Chinese gang boss Jang Chen (Yoon Kye-sang), sold over 6.8 million tickets here.
Director Lee Sang-yon, who is making his directorial debut with "The Roundup," drew comparisons between the first and second installments of the franchise. He worked as an assistant director on "The Outlaws."
"'The Outlaws' is set in Garibong-dong, Seoul, while 'The Roundup' is mainly set in Vietnam. The scale of the film got bigger. Audience members, who are tired due to COVID-19, will be able to enjoy a high-octane thrill. It's a good, fun film with some of the best action and comedy that we have ever included," he said during a press conference for the film, Wednesday.
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| Actor Ma Dong-seok poses during a press conference for the film, "The Roundup," in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of ABO Entertainment |
Ma, known for playing characters with dominant strengths in films like "Train to Busan" and Marvel's "Eternals," echoed the sentiment, adding that audience members will be able to enjoy fast action, full of fun and intensity
"The first installment, based on a real-life event, was set in 2004. For the second installment, we assembled several crime cases that occurred between 2007 and 2009. As the series unfolds, each of the events will move toward the current times," he said.
The actor, who also participated in "The Roundup" project as a producer, said he has big plans for "The Outlaws" franchise beyond the sequel.
"Even before the script for the first film came out, I already had an eight-movie story arc. The plot really could go in any direction, but the upcoming series will all be centered on exploring how Ma Seok-do approaches different crime cases, chases after criminals and hunts down new villains," he said.
"The Roundup" explores some of the other characters from the first film as well as some new characters and sees more interaction between the characters. For instance, Park Ji-hwan appears again in the role of Jang Yi-soo, who was a gang leader in the previous film but dreams of beginning a new life in the new film.
"I was excited to see this heightened story return and to act opposite Ma again. Bringing Jang Yi-soo's character back is a huge honor," Park said. Son, who plays the new villain in the film, was unable to attend the press conference as he is filming the Disney+ series, "Casino."
"The Roundup" will hit local theaters on May 18.
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