Gang Dong-won, Park Jeong-min team up for Joseon-era thriller 'War and Revolt'

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Sun, October 1, 2023 | 02:22

Films

Gang Dong-won, Park Jeong-min team up for Joseon-era thriller 'War and Revolt'

Posted : 2023-06-09 16:47

Updated : 2023-06-11 09:57

Actors Gang Dong-won, right, and Park Jeong-min at the table read for "War and Revolt" / Courtesy of Netflix

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Actors Gang Dong-won and Park Jeong-min are set to team up in a new period thriller film from Cannes-winning director Park Chan-wook's, Moho Film, in collaboration with Semicolon Studio.

The upcoming Netflix film "War and Revolt" will be directed by Kim Sang-man, best known for action-thriller "Midnight F.M." (2010), from a screenplay co-written by auteur Park and Shin Chul.

The project is being produced by Park, an acclaimed director known for "Oldboy" (2003), "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance" (2005), "The Handmaiden" (2016) and "Decision to Leave" (2022). This is his first time working with Netflix.

Set in Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), the film tells the story of two childhood friends from different social classes who become bitter enemies.

Gang will play the role of Cheon-young, a master of martial arts who struggles to overcome his origins as a slave. The actor, who has shown off his martial arts and sword fights in period action films "Jeon Woochi" (2009) and "Kundo: Age of the Rampant" (2014), will once again feature brilliant sword skills as a member of a civilian militia.

Park portrays Jong-ryeo, who is born into Joseon's most powerful military family. After passing the military service exam, Jong-ryeo becomes King Seonjo's personal guard. This leads him to be at odds with his former friend Cheon-young.

Park, has created memorable characters in a slew of films that includes the historical drama "Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet" (2016), comedy film "Start-up" (2019) and hard-boiled action thriller "Deliver Us from Evil" (2020), will star in Ryoo Seung-wan's new action crime film "Smugglers" in July.

Cha Seoung-won will star as King Seonjo, a monarch who abandons his people and flees the capital city following the Japanese invasion but seeks to restore his reputation and authority after the Imjin War (1592-1598).

Jin Sun-kyu will take on the role of a civilian militia leader from the traditional ruling class who emerges as an inspiring force amid the chaos of the invasion. Jung Sung-il, fresh off the success of his recent Netflix series "The Glory," will star as the Japanese commander who recognizes Cheon-young's extraordinary swordsmanship.

The release date of "War and Revolt" has not yet been decided.

yeons.kwak@koreatimes.co.kr