During a press conference for the Netflix series 'Mercy for None' held on the morning of June 5th at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, So Ji-sub shared his thoughts on being the fan-favorite for the role. "I heard about it later and felt quite pressured," he revealed.
Based on a popular webtoon of the same name, 'Mercy for None' is a noir action series that follows Nam Ki-jun (played by So Ji-sub), who, after severing his own Achilles' tendon and leaving the world of Mercy for None, returns 11 years later following the death of his brother and second-in-command, Ki-seok (played by Lee Jun-hyuk), to uncover and avenge the truth behind his death. So Ji-sub's casting as the lead character, Nam Ki-jun, has brought the dream casting to life, marking his return to the noir action genre for the first time in 13 years since 'A Company Man'.
"I was honestly grateful when the script for 'Mercy for None' came to me. I love this kind of noir, the rough and tumble genre that's full of energy. I was so thankful that the offer came to me first and that I had the opportunity to choose," So Ji-sub commented.
Returning to action after a long hiatus, So Ji-sub expressed his eagerness, saying, "I wanted to do action." He also highlighted the focus of his action scenes in 'Mercy for None', explaining, "Ki-jun is a character who acts more through his actions and eyes than words. Whether speaking, performing action scenes, or even standing still, I tried to fill in the gaps with my performance."
Director Choi Sung-eun, who took the helm of the project, couldn't believe So Ji-sub's casting became a reality. "It was unbelievable," he said. "So Ji-sub was the casting fans of the original work dreamed of when it was being adapted, and having him on board was fantastic."
He continued, "From the first day I met So Ji-sub, I could envision how he would bring Nam Ki-jun to life, what kind of expressions and emotions he would convey. With him and the rest of the cast, who I believe are the best choices, directing this series for the first time has provided me with a rich environment and excellent materials to work with, allowing me the freedom to create what I wanted."
From So Ji-sub to Heo Jun-ho, Gong Myung, Choo Young-woo, Ahn Gil-kang, Jo Han-chul, Lee Beom-soo, and special appearances by Cha Seung-won and Lee Jun-hyuk, 'Mercy for None' promises an immersive ensemble of strong characters. With its heavy hardboiled action, expanded narrative from the original, and a variety of spectacles, it's set to deliver intense entertainment.
Comprising a total of 7 episodes, 'Mercy for None' will be released on Netflix on June 6th.
[Photo by Baik Seung-Chul]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)