Director Ryoo Seung-wan is plotting a threequel follow-up to 2015’s Veteran and his latest, I, The Executioner, which just screened Out Of Competition at Cannes. Ryoo confirmed the preliminary details in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter’s Patrick Brzeski on Sunday.
“I’m actually already in talks with the actors. A third one will happen. I already have a spin-off story. I’d like to expand this universe and I feel like there are many more stories that I can tell. Of course, there’s a very important precondition for all that though. If Veteran 2 flops, none of this will happen. If you want to see a third one, please give this film your support!”
I, The Executioner reunites Ryoo with the prime cast of the first film led by Hwang Jung-min (12.12: The Day). The two previously collaborated on Ryoo’s hit award-winning 2010 crime thriller, The Unjust.
Ryoo also dove a little more into the film’s vision compared to the first film which saw Hwang play a dauntless, scruffy detective investigate the crimes comitted by an elusive young tycoon who thinks he’s above the law. He elucidates that the new sequel – while aiming to create something better and different from his first pic after nine years – isn’t as black-and-white as the first film, and cites more prevalent nuances and complexities being presented as the story is told, effectively deconstructing the typical cop flick.
“I wanted to create something different, something that’s new and deeper than the first film — a film that can really leave a long-lasting impression on the audience. And, you know, I think I found my way.”
Ryoo later added the following:
“Usually, action films are about a sense of justice that the protagonist is pursuing, which the audience is made to crave. But this time, I thought, “What if the film is actually about two different definitions of justice that clash?” It could still be an action film that the audience can enjoy with their senses and their bodies, but it could also stimulate them intellectually. I wanted to pose a question with an action film that the mass audience can enjoy. Of course more than anything else, my first goal was just to create a much more fun film.”
Veteran became a box office smash hit and scoring big in well over a dozen award organizations in 2015 and 2016. A sequel was confirmed by then, with a U.S. remake announced as recently as last October.
Ryoo went on to direct more propulsive and high-octane period thrillers like The Battleship Island which also starred Hwang, as well as 2021’s Escape Form Mogadishu, and last year’s high-seas thriller, Smugglers, which also earned a raft of awards at several festivals, including another Best Director win for Ryoo at the 59th Daejong Film Awards.
I, The Executioner sees Hwang reprise his role as he and the major crimes unit take on a serial killer with the help of a new edition to their team. As the city is plunged into chaos by the murders, the team is forced to contend with questions involving the killer’s motives as he announces his next target.
The movie also stars Jung Hae-in, Oh Dal-su, Oh Dae-hwan, Jang Yoonju and Kim Sihoo, from a script by Ryoo and co-scribe Lee Won-jae. CJ ENM is repping the film’s rights and is set to release the film in South Korea later this year.
Read more at THR.
Lead photo: CJ ENM
