South Korean “flower boy” icon Lee Joon-gi is ready to make a name for himself in Hollywood with his role in the next instalment of the “Resident Evil” franchise.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Joon-gi’s agency Namoo Actors confirmed that the actor has indeed been cast in “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter”.
The confirmation came after the franchise star, Milla Jovovich, posted an Instagram photo of herself with Lee Joon-gi on the film set.
Both of them are involved in the production that is currently underway in South Africa. In her Instagram post, Jovovich wrote: “Working for the last few nights with the incredible 3rd Dan Tae Kwon Do master and actor Joon Gi @actor_jg has been insanely fun and so inspiring. Makes me want to go back to class and brush up on my martial arts skills.”
Check out the Instragram post below:
If the actor’s name sounds familiar to you, that’s because he has previously starred in a bunch of popular South Korean dramas such as “My Girl” and Iljimae”.
Previously credited as Lee Jun-ki, the actor-singer rose to fame through his role as Gong-gil in “The King and the Clown”, a 2005 Korean box-office hit that was submitted into the Oscars that year.
Some of his well-known TV series include “Time Between Dog and Wolf”, “Arang and the Magistrate”, “Two Weeks”, and “Scholar Who Walks the Night”. He is a close friend of YG Entertainment‘s hip-hop group Epik High.
Joon-gi’s overseas ventures include the Korea-Japan co-production “Virgin Snow” and the upcoming Chinese production “Begin Again” (aka “Under the Sicily Sun”). However, “Resident Evil: The Final Project” will mark his first Hollywood project.
A PR rep for Namoo Actors said director W.S. Andersen reached out himself to Lee via email. The rep added:
The director said in the email that he was impressed by Lee’s action dramas and influence in Asia.
Sony Pictures’ Screen Gems confirmed that Joon-gi would be playing Umbrella Corporation’s Commander Lee.
Lee isn’t the only Korean actor to have crossed over to Hollywood. South Korean top actor Lee Byung-hun has starred in “Terminator Genisys” as well “RED” and “G.I. Joe” franchises while Choi Min-sik has starred in “Lucy“.
“Resident Evil: The Final Chapter”, which is the 6th and final instalment of the series, will see Jovovich reprising her role as Alice. Ali Larter will also return to star as Claire Redfield. The other cast members include Iain Glen, Shawn Roberts, Ruby Rose, Eoin Macken, William Levy, Fraser James, and Rola.
It is slated for release in 2017.
Source: THR.
