'The Roundup: No Way Out' is bigger, badder and surrounded with anticipation

For actor Don Lee, prepping for the action film “The Roundup: No Way Out,” the highly anticipated sequel and the third installment of “The Outlaws” franchise, was so stressful that he says he nearly experienced hair loss. But if it can revive...

From left, actors Lee Joon-hyuk, Don Lee, and Munetaka Aoki pose for a photo during the press conference for ″The Roundup: No Way Out″ at Megabox COEX in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

For actor Don Lee, prepping for the action film “The Roundup: No Way Out,” the highly anticipated sequel and the third installment of “The Outlaws” franchise, was so stressful that he says he nearly experienced hair loss.

But if it can revive the frozen domestic film industry after the pandemic — as many anticipate it will — Lee may not even mind giving away a few more chunks of his hair.

Lee participated in every step of the project from the production process to playing the main role. Many see “The Roundup: No Way Out” as the film that could change the mood of the current film industry because the first installment of the franchise “The Outlaws” (2017) became the fourth most successful R-rated film of all time in Korea, while the second film of the franchise, “The Roundup” (2022) was the most successful film that year with 12 million tickets sold.

Actor Don Lee is pictured at the press conference for ″The Roundup: No Way Out″ at Megabox COEX in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

“I know that our franchise is loved by many, so we tried to make the third installment with a sense of responsibility,” Lee, also known as Ma Dong-seok in Korea, said at a press conference for the upcoming film at Megabox COEX in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Tuesday. “We wish to deliver a film that can be a stress-reliever for audiences. I am giving my life to the characters of this series.”

Giving his life to a franchise may sound like an exaggeration, but Lee feels that audiences will acknowledge how hard he and his colleagues have worked after seeing the film.

“Once you watch our film, you will know exactly how dedicated we have been to making this a film worth watching," Lee said.

Main poster for ″The Roundup: No Way Out″ [PLUS M ENTERTAINMENT]

There are points to watch out for in the film, the first of which is that Lee’s character Ma Suk-do, a “monster” cop, has been transferred to a larger department in a larger police precinct within the franchise’s universe. This means the hero will be facing a lot more trouble and more evil antagonists.

Lee Joon-hyuk and Japanese actor Munetaka Aoki each play Joo Seong-cheol and Riki. Joo is the mastermind behind a new type of drug scheme rattling the country, while Riki is a yakuza, a Japanese mob member, who is also embroiled in crime in Korea.

A scene from ″The Roundup: No Way Out″ [PLUS M ENTERTAINMENT]

“My character is someone who is not fazed by the ‘monster’ cop Ma for the first time in the franchise’s universe,” Lee said at the press conference. “He is very smart and at the same time very violent. I thought to myself, it would be terrifying to have someone like this around in real life, while I was playing my character.”

Lee said he gained more than 20 kilograms (44 lbs) for the role of Joo.

Aoki, who plays the first-ever foreign villain in the franchise, said at the event that it was “an honor” to be able to appear in such a famous and widely loved action series.

“I am a fan of Lee and it is an honor to play a part in this film,” Aoki added. “I play a fierce yakuza and have action scenes with a Japanese sword — I hope this will entertain the viewers.”

A scene from ″The Roundup: No Way Out″ [PLUS M ENTERTAINMENT]

Most of the supporting cast has been changed in “The Roundup: No Way Out.” Director Lee Sang-yong, who also directed the second movie “The Roundup,” said that this was a risky bet he was willing to make.

“I cannot say that I am not worried about filling up the third movie with a new supporting cast of new characters,” Lee Sang-yong said. “I am confident it will work out on one hand, and a bit anxious on the other.”

Regarding the pressure for the film to do as well as its predecessors and the stress upon the actors, the director said it was inevitable.

A scene from ″The Roundup: No Way Out″ [PLUS M ENTERTAINMENT]

“I thought a lot about how to overcome that pressure while making ‘The Roundup: No Way Out,’” he said. “But the answer was always this: Let’s try to have fun in making the film.”

“The Roundup: No Way Out” is set to open on May 31 in theaters across Korea.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]