Actor Cho Jung-seok is aiming to be crowned the Summer Box Office King for the second consecutive year.
Last summer, Cho Jung-seok enjoyed a hot August as his film "Pilot" soared to a 4.7 million box office success. His dual role in the movie earned him critical acclaim, including the Best Actor award at the 11th Korea Film Producers Association Awards and the Best Male Performance in a Film at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards.
Since his breakout role in "Architecture 101" (2012), Cho Jung-seok has established himself as an unrivaled force in comedy. His first summer blockbuster title came from the comedy film "Exit" (2019).
This summer, he throws his hat in the ring with "My Daughter Is a Zombie," a film adaptation of a webtoon of the same name. The movie is a comedic drama about a doting father who goes into secret training to protect his daughter, who has become the last zombie on Earth. Cho Jung-seok plays the father, 'Jeong-hwan,' who embarks on secret training for his zombie daughter. He is said to have brought the character to life with his unique expressiveness and versatility.
At a recent press conference, director Pil Gam-seong praised Cho Jung-seok, saying, "From the moment I started working on the script, I envisioned Cho Jung-seok for the role of 'Jeong-hwan.' He effortlessly transitions between comedy and tragedy. His sense of rhythm and quick wit are simply unmatched," amplifying expectations for Cho Jung-seok's portrayal of 'Jeong-hwan.'
"My Daughter Is a Zombie" is set to compete in a three-way battle for box office dominance with "Omniscient Reader," releasing a week prior, and "Pretty Crazy," debuting two weeks later. While it may be overshadowed in scale by the blockbuster "Omniscient Reader" and shares a genre with "Pretty Crazy," Cho Jung-seok is its ace in the hole. With audiences already trusting in Cho Jung-seok's comedic talent, if the film successfully leverages the original webtoon's strengths, it could be another hit following last year's success. The ongoing slump in the film industry, where comedies have shown strength during peak seasons, also signals a positive outlook for "My Daughter Is a Zombie."
"My Daughter Is a Zombie" is set to premiere on July 30.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)