The upgraded ‘Hitman 2’ is coming to captivate the theaters during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Director Choi Won-seok greeted the audience at the press screening and media conference for the film ‘Hitman 2’ (directed by Choi Won-seok) held at CGV Yongsan in Seoul on the afternoon of the 15th, saying, “Finally, we are able to unveil the second installment. I am excited and looking forward to it.”
Director Choi stated, “We have scaled up the action and enhanced the art animation. Kwon Sang-woo's comic action is unparalleled,” adding, “The chemistry between the characters is great, and we had fun while working on the action scenes.”
Regarding Kwon Sang-woo, he expressed gratitude, saying, “He performed all the high-difficulty action scenes without a stunt double. Despite the hot weather and tough schedule, he led the set with joy. He also made it possible for Choi Ji-woo to make a cameo appearance.”
Kwon Sang-woo shared his thoughts on the release, saying, “I feel good that various genres of Korean films have been shown in theaters since the end of last year. I hope many people will watch diverse films.” He added, “I think there were many Jackie Chan (Jackie Chan) movies released during the Lunar New Year holiday, and I believe ‘Hitman 2’ will have a similar vibe. It’s a film that can be enjoyed with family, filled with laughter and various attractions.”
He continued, “The first film did not exceed 5 million viewers. It did not perform well enough to warrant a sequel, and especially with the COVID-19 situation, there were regrets.” He expressed confidence, saying, “When it was announced that ‘Hitman 2’ was in production, I personally felt like I was taking revenge. I approached it with the mindset of ‘I will bring joy to many more people than the first film.’”
The film is a comedy action story about a webtoon artist who, after quickly falling from a hit writer to a ‘brain-dead writer,’ faces a terror incident mimicking his ambitious new webtoon, leading him to be labeled a criminal overnight. It stars Kwon Sang-woo, Jung Joon-ho, Lee Yi-kyung, Hwang Woo-seul-hye, Kim Sung-oh, and Lee Ji-won.
Director Choi humorously remarked about Jung Joon-ho and Lee Yi-kyung, saying, “There were so many ad-libs that it was almost too much. I had to rein them in.”
He added, “What stands out is the scene at the beginning of the film where Jung Joon-ho and Lee Yi-kyung fall while holding tissues in a gallery. In the script, it was just a simple entrance, but Jung Joon-ho fell while coming in, and then Lee Yi-kyung slid in afterward,” explaining, “It was a scene we modified on set, ignoring the storyboard.”
When asked if a third installment would be made, he replied, “I wrote the first one with the series in mind, so it’s definitely possible. If many people enjoy it, that day will come sooner.”
Hwang Woo-seul-hye once again showcased her charm. With her enhanced beauty, she delivered a performance filled with more vivid curses and action, proving her comedic talent. The actors unanimously praised her, saying, “We were surprised by Hwang Woo-seul-hye’s performance. She did it really realistically.”
Kwon Sang-woo expressed his excitement about reuniting with Hwang Woo-seul-hye as a couple, saying, “There are highlights that only Hwang Woo-seul-hye can deliver. Her unique atmosphere and tone are unparalleled, and she holds a significant share in our ‘Hitman’ series,” adding, “I remember laughing on set because of Seul-hye, even though I’m usually not a very expressive actor.”
He continued, “Our film received a 12+ rating, but the reason it got a 15+ rating is that ‘the husband gets hit too much.’ I was happy thinking that the audience would enjoy watching it. I hope Seul-hye and I can continue our chemistry and do well in the film.”
Hwang Woo-seul-hye also shared, “Oppa always gives me a lot of compliments, which has been a great source of strength when working and acting. I learn a lot from his attitude and consideration, and I believe that if we appear together as a couple in Season 3, he will write more for me. I trust Oppa and will work hard.”
She added, “When I hit Oppa, I always dodge or flinch. That makes it more fun for me, but I don’t know how it turned out on screen.” Lee Yi-kyung chimed in, “When the shoot was on, I thought it was real because it sounded like a real hit. The sound was very realistic,” which brought laughter. Jung Joon-ho also added, “Usually, when female actors are asked to do such scenes, they can’t do it and feel sorry, but we expressed it so realistically that we thought, ‘This is too much.’”
‘Hitman 2’ will be the first among the anticipated films to be released during the New Year holiday on the 22nd.
