Yahoo Movies HK Exclusive Interview｜A Lifelong ‘Star Wars’ Fan's Dream Come True! Lee Jung-jae Thanks to ‘Squid Game

Korean actor Lee Jung-jae has officially made his mark in Hollywood, after captivated global audiences with his performance in “Squid Game” two years ago and securing the Best Actor award at both the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Emmys (Drama category). Recently starring in the ‘Star Wars’ series “The Acolyte,” Lee Jung-jae candidly admits that it is all thanks to “Squid Game”: “Leslye, the producer, wanted to meet me after watching Squid Game, and that’s how I got the role. Squid Game has truly opened many doors for me!” In an exclusive interview, the award-winning actor reminisces about his childhood memories of Star Wars, expresses his affection for Hong Kong cinema, and reveals his excitement about the collaboration between Hong Kong and Korean filmmakers. Could the star be planning to shoot a film in Hong Kong?

A Star Wars fan since childhood: “My eyes were glued to the screen.”

Lee Jung-jae plays Jedi Master Sol in the new Star Wars series ‘The Acolyte.’ This is his first Hollywood project and he describes it as a dream come true! “I remember the first time I saw Star Wars was in elementary school during the 70s. From start to finish, my eyes were glued to the screen; I was completely absorbed. The film was beyond anything I had ever imagined. The Star Wars series and films that followed have continued to offer new stories and visuals, consistently surpassing expectations. We know that audiences have high expectations for ‘The Acolyte’ and this series will tell a story never before explored in the Star Wars universe. It’s a suspenseful, thrilling genre and a truly captivating piece.”

Discovering cutting-edge Star Wars filmmaking techniques

This is Lee Jung-jae's first starring role in a Hollywood production. Although he has extensive experience in Korea, he approaches this new environment with the curiosity of a novice: “I’m very curious about Hollywood's filming methods,” he shared. “During the filming process, I heard the crew talking about how Star Wars is different, and its methods are unique. From this, I learned that even in Hollywood, Star Wars sets itself apart.” But what exactly sets it apart? “I’ve thought about it, and I think it’s the props, costumes, story, and scriptwriting style, all of which have been unique to the series since the 70s.

They’ve built up a wealth of experience over the years. I can definitely tell on set that they’re consistently improving and evolving. I'm not sure if this makes sense to everyone, but when you put on makeup and play an alien character, you need certain tools. For instance, robots are portrayed by real actors, which requires a lot of tech support. When I see this, I realize how this all stems from decades of experience from working on ‘Star Wars’. I can’t even imagine how much goes into it; it's all part of the ‘Star Wars system’! It’s truly unique!”

But Lee Jung-jae feels that in terms of actual production, there's not much difference between Hollywood and Korea: “If we compare production between Hollywood and Korea, honestly, there's not much difference. Both the filming and the actors' performances are quite similar. I guess it's the same in Hong Kong.”

Winning Best Actor in America for “Squid Game” and reminiscing about Hong Kong films

Two years ago, “Squid Game” became a global sensation, with lead actor Lee Jung-jae winning the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Drama Series. “Winning the Screen Actors Guild Award was incredibly exciting for me and my fans. I’m incredibly honored and happy,” he exclaims. “I have to bring up 'Squid Game' because it’s this show that helped me win these awards. Leslye Headland, the producer, cast me after seeing ‘Squid Game.’ It truly opened many doors for me!”

When asked about his thoughts on Hong Kong cinema, the award-winning actor admitted that he has always been a fan: “I have a lot of fond memories of Hong Kong cinema and I thoroughly enjoy it. I’ve been watching great Hong Kong films since I was a kid. I am eager to see the industry's growth, with new stuff being released constantly. It's all very exciting!” Is there a chance he might consider filming in Hong Kong? “I know there are current plans for collaboration between Hong Kong and Korean filmmakers. They are trying to collaborate. I hope they can bring an excellent viewing experience to fans in Hong Kong and Korea.” A good script would certainly capture the actor's interest!