Actor Lee Byung-hun says voicing Gwi-ma in "KPop Demon Hunters" was a leap of faith that felt more like an adventure than a sure thing.
Speaking during a press interview in Seoul’s Samcheong-dong on the 24th to mark the release of his film "No Other Choice", Lee reflected on the global buzz around the Netflix animated feature. “Honestly, it felt more like a gamble,” he said. “I’d done voice work in my 20s for a Korean animated film, but this was my first time on an American movie―and in English. To be honest, I even thought the title sounded a little cheesy at first.”
The offer first came about five years ago. “Sony Pictures reached out for a meeting. Back then, they didn’t have much―just a few sketches. I remember thinking, ‘I’m not sure this is for me.’ But after a few more meetings, including video calls, I changed my mind. I liked the idea of weaving the origins of boy and girl groups into the story,” he explained.
With the film resonating across generations, Lee was curious what his son would think. “We watched it together with high hopes. After a while he asked, ‘Dad, which one are you?’ I said, ‘I’m the fire.’ He looked a bit disappointed,” Lee recalled with a laugh. “But he tried to back me up, saying he wasn’t really into HUNTR/X or Saja Boys, and was on Team Gwi-ma. As the story goes on, though, there’s really no way to root for Gwi-ma. When it ended, he just went, ‘Dad, why did you do that?’”
“Strangely, as my kid has gotten old enough to watch my movies, I’ve ended up playing villains more often,” Lee added with a grin. “He probably thinks his dad specializes in bad guys.”
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)