Ma Dong-Seok returns with the third installment of “The Outlaws” series, “The Roundup: No Way Out,” he’s poured his heart and soul into making it.
After he joins the Regional Investigation Unit, the bone-crunching action-comedy film follows detective Ma Seok-do, played by Ma. He and his colleagues discover that Japanese gangsters have smuggled illegal drugs into Korea, and a mystery villain is involved in the distribution.
Lee Jun-hyuk joins the franchise as the new film’s villain, and Japanese actor Aoki Munetaka takes the role of Riki, a member of the yakuza syndicate. Unlike the two previous films, “The Roundup: No Way Out” features two antagonists.
During an interview with the Korea Times, Ma stated that the two villains are not parallel but three-dimensional, powerful characters who build the thrill and complicate his investigation. When asked what makes “The Outlaws” franchise successful, he said he thinks there is catharsis in seeing a real person risking life and limb on screen. Detectives say they get vicarious satisfaction from watching his character because, in real life, they aren’t allowed to beat or kick offenders.
According to the report, “The Outlaws” garnered 6.8 million in ticket sales, and “The Roundup” topped ten million admissions in local theaters and became South Korea’s biggest commercial hit of 2022.
Ma, who appeared in over 120 films and TV series, expressed that he always dreamed of becoming an action hero. Many of the roles he landed are strong, muscle-bound characters who lead their team to prevail over the bad guys.
Ma hinted he already has Hollywood projects under his belt. He received remake offers from the US and also had to film two additional Marvel movies because he signed a three-movie contract (including ‘Eternals) good for ten years. He is also going to act in and co-produce the Hollywood remake of the Korean thriller “The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil” and a human drama film, which is a Korean remake of a classic Hollywood film.
Ma Dong-Seok’s “The Roundup: No Way Out” will premiere in local theaters on May 31, 2023
Source: The Korea Times
