Actor Jo Jung-suk of "My Daughter is a Zombie" expressed his hope that he and close friend YoonA would both succeed in their upcoming screen competition.
On the morning of the 24th, an interview was held with Jo Jung-suk, the lead actor of the film "My Daughter is a Zombie," at a café in Jongno, Seoul.
"My Daughter is a Zombie" (directed by Pileum Sung, distributed by NEW, produced by Studio N) is a comedic drama about a doting father (played by Jo Jung-suk) who goes into secret training to protect his daughter (played by Choi Yoori), who has become the last remaining zombie in the world. The film, based on the popular webtoon of the same name, showcases the directorial talents of Pileum Sung, who is known for compelling works like "Hostage" and "The Day of the Accident," along with a veteran production team that has worked on projects such as "Train to Busan," "Extreme Job," "Exit," "The Admiral: Roaring Currents," "The Burial," the "Squid Game" series, and "All of Us Are Dead."
Jo Jung-suk portrays Jeong-hwan, a father who embarks on secret training for his daughter Sua, the last remaining zombie in the world, as a former animal handler. Jo Jung-suk, who led the box office in Korea's summer theaters with films such as "Exit" (2019/9.42 million) and "Pilot" (2024/4.71 million), is making a comeback with "My Daughter is a Zombie" after a year and is once again anticipating box office success.
Jo Jung-suk noted, "I'm really happy to be returning to the summer box office. I was surprised to hear that it was premiering in the summer, saying, 'Really? That's interesting.' I'm also grateful and moved to receive the title 'The Signature of Summer.' Such a title gives me strength as an actor. I feel, almost unknowingly, like I'm being cheered on. Although I was born in winter, I'm thankful that people call me 'the summer man.' Moreover, I believe that the summer releases tend to do well, and that may play a part in it."
"My Daughter is a Zombie" received positive reviews at a recent press screening, raising expectations for its box office performance.
In response, he said, "Our actors also look for reactions and reviews. It feels good. While discussing different topics like 'There was such a good article' or 'There were these reviews,' we shared everything. It was a pleasant day for us," and added, "Ultimately, although we have to wait to see the results post-release, just that alone is a considerably happy aspect for us."
Jo Jung-suk received praise for having a high synchronization rate with the original, stating, "I heard there was an original, but I didn't see it. I also didn't watch it during filming. While some works benefit from seeing the original, I believed the screenplay itself had immense merit. I thought the earnestness I felt when reading the script for the first time would align well with the synchronization rate of the original if brought out in my acting. I believe both those who have read the original and those who haven't can enjoy this movie. I watched the original after all the filming was completed."
Jo Jung-suk will compete in the summer box office alongside YoonA, who he worked with in "Exit" and is set to release "Pretty Crazy" soon.
He shared, "We even filmed promotional videos together, saying, 'Let's support each other.' I believe YoonA mentioned in an official setting that 'this is meaningful competition,' but there's a sense of camaraderie and family. I think she said something like, 'Let's do well together! I'll lead, and you give your best efforts.'" He smiled while recalling this.
Meanwhile, "My Daughter is a Zombie" will be released on the 30th.
[Photo] Provided by NEW
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