Actor Gang Dong-won confessed that while filming Wild Sing he even heard jokes from people around him asking, "Don't you have any money?"
On the morning of the 19th at a café on Samcheong-ro in Jongno-gu, Seoul, an interview was held with Gang Dong-won, the lead actor of the film Wild Sing.
'Wild Sing' (director Son Jae-gon, distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by About Film) tells the story of a once chart-topping but suddenly disbanded three-member mixed dance group called "Triangle" that was swept up in an unexpected incident, and their reckless attempt to seize a comeback opportunity that arrives 20 years later. It is a collaboration between About Film, the production company of the 2019 comedy Extreme Job which drew 16.26 million viewers, and director Son Jae-gon, who built a distinctive comedy world with Okja (Note: Korean title '해치지않아'—please retain original intent) .
Starting as one of Korea's representative pretty boys and mastering every genre, Gang Dong-won plays Hyun Woo, the Triangle leader and dance machine who boasts an unrivaled aura and comic-book visuals, leading the team at its center. Acclaimed actor Um Tae-goo, known for his strong presence, plays Triangle's youngest member and storm rapper Sang-gu, who shows unabashed swag, and rising star Park Ji-hyun, active across films and series, plays Triangle's center Domi, who exudes refreshing energy and absolute charm. The unpredictable chemistry of new actors meeting as idol members Triangle is the film's top viewing point. In addition, Oh Jung-se plays self-proclaimed "earbud boyfriend" and tragic balladeer Choi Seong-gon, who has been number two for 39 consecutive weeks, bringing unique comedy and lively energy to the film.
Gang Dong-won, a prolific actor who works like an ox in the film industry, has been releasing one film each year in recent years, including Broker (2022), Cheonbaksa exorcism institute (2023), The Architect (2024), and Jeon,ran (2024). Last year he returned to drama for the first time in 21 years since the SBS series Magic through Disney+ Tempest with Jun Ji-hyun.
Gang Dong-won said, "I watched the final cut (as screened in theaters) for the first time yesterday, and the people who made it tend to see what's lacking first. I saw what I did wrong and things like that. Still, I did my best as much as I could. There are many mistakes this time too. I thought, 'I wish I had done a few more headspins...'"
Responding to comments such as "Why on earth did Gang Dong-won appear? What kind of dance did he do? It seems different from the expectations for his previous films," he said, "The script was fresh, and I thought it fit well with the current times in a fun way. So I felt it might work if I tried it. It's not a role I could have played when I was younger."
Ahead of the release, when Triangle's music video was released, comments such as "I can't even imagine how much more successful Gang Dong-won wants to be" and "Seeing Gang Dong-won work so hard makes me want to work hard too" poured in, creating a meme.
Gang Dong-won said, "I saw that meme too and it was funny. And because this time I play a singer, it resonated more. I didn't try to change intentionally; I just thought, 'It would be funny if I did this.'" He added, "People close to me keep capturing and sending those comments and things, which is amusing. They ask, 'Do your close friends have no money these days?' But I'm not getting much more than before. It wasn't a high-budget film; it was shot squeezing every bit out of the budget," he said with a laugh.
Meanwhile, Wild Sing opens on June 3.
[Photo] Provided by AA Group
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