Lee Joon Gi The Star August 2026 Interview

 

LEE JOON GI

 

 

THE STAR

AUGUST 2026

 

INTERVIEW

https://www.instagram.com/jg_k_drama/?hl=en

 

Lee Joon Gi's Darkest Rebirth: The Legendary Hero Is To Become Joseon's Most Terrifying Monster in Nexflix's Dochabi

 

LEE JOON GI’S
DARKEST
REBIRTH

 

THE 

LEGENDARY 

HERO

IS

ABOUT TO BECOME

JOSEON’S

MOST TERRIFYING MONSTER

IN

NETFLIX’S

DOCHABI

 

The biggest shockwave to hit Korean entertainment has arrived. According to the latest industry reports, Lee Joon Gi is set to embrace the most dangerous role of his illustrious career - the principal villain in Netflix's highly anticipated historical action epic, Dochabi. Forget everything audiences have come to expect. Gone is the noble prince. Gone is the righteous warrior. Gone is the fearless hero.   This time, Lee Joon Gi is expected to descend into darkness, transforming into a venomous, depraved, ruthless predator - a terrifying fiend unlike anything ever seen in a Joseon story. The excitement intensified after fans noticed Lee updating his Instagram with activities deeply associated with the Joseon era, including archery, swordsmanship and horse riding. Many believe these are early signs of his preparation for the physically demanding production. But this won't simply be another role. It is expected to be a complete metamorphosis. Beyond mastering weapons and action choreography, Lee is widely expected to undergo a dramatic physical and psychological transformation to inhabit one of the most sinister characters of his career.     THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SET THE INTERNET ABLAZE     News of Lee Joon Gi's reported involvement in Dochabi spread like wildfire across social media, triggering an explosion of excitement among fans while generating enormous interest from entertainment media throughout the globe, particularly Asia. There is, however, one painful reality. The wait. Pre-production reportedly began in mid-July 2026 and is expected to continue until late August, with principal photography scheduled to begin at the end of August. Filming is reportedly expected to conclude around mid-January 2027, although the schedule could be extended depending on production requirements. For fans who have waited years for another major Lee Joon Gi project, it will feel like an eternity before the film finally arrives.   Many are already counting down the days.     A REUNION MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS IN THE MAKING     Dochabi, Netflix's ambitious historical action film produced by On The Works, will be directed by Ahn Tae Jin, whose acclaimed films include The Owl and The Second Signal. For Lee Joon Gi and Director Ahn Tae Jin, this project represents a remarkable full-circle moment. Their paths first crossed during the production of the cultural phenomenon The King and The Clown (2005), where Lee starred as the unforgettable Gong Gil while Ahn Tae Jin worked as an assistant director. More than two decades later, they reunite - this time as one of Asia's leading actors and an acclaimed film director.   It is a reunion many film lovers never imagined they would see.     THE FILM THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING https://www.instagram.com/p/B2jwDqsp-dU/ (source — Sports DongA)  https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/382/0000761832     Few Korean films have altered the industry's landscape quite like The King and The Clown. The historical blockbuster shattered box-office expectations and became one of the defining cinematic events of its era, earning widespread acclaim and numerous awards. It is the best film in the 100 year history of  Korean cinema.   More importantly, it transformed Lee Joon Gi into one of Asia's biggest stars almost overnight.   The role launched a career that has spanned historical epics, psychological thrillers, legal dramas, fantasy adventures and internationally celebrated action series. Lee Joon Gi's unique blend of alluring charisma, seductive charm, impressive acting prowess, genre versatility and spectacular action skills makes him a perfect candidate for a historical-action epic like Dochabi. Now, Dochabi could mark the beginning of an entirely new chapter.   A JOSEON EPIC WRAPPED IN MYTH, BLOOD AND DARKNESS   Industry observers expect Dochabi to combine Korean folklore, Joseon history and large-scale action into an epic story filled with many themes.   Passionate love Fierce loyalty Political corruption Unspeakable cruelty Devastating betrayal Ultimate sacrifice    If those expectations are realised, Dochabi could become one of Netflix's most ambitious Korean historical productions.     THE PERFECT ACTOR FOR A FEARLESS TRANSFORMATION     Throughout his career, Lee Joon Gi has built a reputation for extraordinary versatility.   He has portrayed kings, princes, assassins, reporters, prosecutors, lawyers, rebels, small-time criminals and complex antiheroes.   Now he appears poised to tackle perhaps the greatest acting challenge of them all.   A villain with no limits. Not merely evil. Not simply misunderstood.   But a character whose presence dominates every scene and leaves audiences simultaneously horrified and fascinated. Whether Taemgwan emerges as a morally ambiguous antagonist or a truly monstrous force, expectations are soaring that Lee will deliver one of the most unforgettable villains ever created in Korean historical cinema.     A FILM THAT COULD REIGNITE THE INDUSTRY     Reports surrounding Dochabi have already generated significant attention within the Korean film industry. Following several challenging years for domestic cinema, many are hopeful that an ambitious Netflix historical blockbuster combining mythology, action and world-class production values could help inject fresh excitement into Korean filmmaking. For many industry watchers, Dochabi has already become one of the most closely watched Korean productions currently in development.     A POWERHOUSE CAST   Another major headline is the reported casting of Jeon Jong Seo as Ahai. Widely recognised as one of Korea's most fearless performers, Jeon made a remarkable debut in the critically acclaimed Burning (2018), later winning the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actress for The Call (2020). She also gained international recognition through Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area.   According to industry reports, the production initially held extensive auditions to discover a new actress for the role before ultimately offering it to Jeon Jong Seo. She joins an impressive ensemble that also includes Kim Do Hoon, creating one of the most exciting casts assembled for a Korean historical production in recent years.   Current reports indicate: Lee Joon Gi - Taemgwan  (formerly reported as Lee Dong Gwan) Kim Do Hoon - Tae San Jeon Jong Seo - Ahai   https://en.namu.wiki/w/%EB%8F%84%EC%B0%A8%EB%B9%84(%EC%98%81%ED%99%94) According to published reports, the character previously identified as Lee Dong Gwan has since undergone a name change to Taemgwan.   The story follows Tae San, a former military officer hiding in the northern mountains of Joseon, who becomes entangled in Taemgwan's deadly conspiracy to hunt slash-and-burn settlers by falsely branding them as barbarians. The conspiracy threatens not only Tae San's own life but also the life of the person he cherishes most.     THE HUNT BEGINS   The real hunt begins when cameras start rolling.   Production is expected to commence at the end of August, with filming projected to continue until around mid-January 2027.   If the early reports are any indication, audiences are not simply waiting for another historical film.   They are waiting to witness one of Korean cinema's most dramatic transformations - a beloved hero stepping into the shadows to unleash what could become one of the most unforgettable villains of the Netflix era.   The countdown to Dochabi has begun.

 

Lee Joon Gi, The King of High-Stakes Thrillers, Is Back: Why Kidnap Game Is Set To Shatter Expectations

 

LEE JOON GI

 

THE KING

OF

HIGH-STAKES THRILLERS

IS BACK

 

WHY

KIDNAP GAME

IS

SET TO SHATTER EXPECTATIONS

 

 

The Asian entertainment industry is ablaze, and one name is at the center of the storm: Lee Joon Gi.   The multilingual global heartthrob isn't just returning to television - he is anchoring one of the most ambitious cross-border productions in Asian television history. Kidnap Game, a massive joint production between Hong Kong’s MakerVille, Japan’s Fuji TV, and South Korea’s Sim Story, is setting a whole new benchmark for high-octane suspense.   Spanning seven major Asian cities hit by simultaneous, chilling abductions, Kidnap Game throws its characters into a lethal survival plot. But while the scale is colossal, the core of the story relies on raw human emotion - and no one delivers high-stakes heartbreak like Lee Joon Gi.   THE UNDISPUTED ‘KING OF HIGH-STAKES THRILLERS     Bestowed with countless titles throughout his storied career, ‘The King of High-Stakes Thrillers’ feels the most fitting in this pan-Asian thriller. Famous for executing his own grueling stunt work and pushing his physical limits, Lee is equally renowned for delivering devastating emotional depth.   In Kidnap Game, he steps into the shoes of Han Ki Joo - a brilliant, icy surgeon whose world shatters when his young, visually impaired daughter is abducted. To save her, he must plunge headfirst into a deadly game where time is his worst enemy.     A LEGACY OF UNFORGETTABLE FATHER-DAUGHTER BONDS     Playing a father fighting against impossible odds isn't new for Lee Joon Gi. In fact, it's where he delivers his most unforgettable, heart-wrenching performances. Fans across the globe still rewatch the legendary father-daughter dynamics that defined his career.     TWO WEEKS (2013)   As Jang Tae San, a small-time gangster running for his life to save his leukemia-stricken daughter Soo Jin (Lee Chae Mi), Lee delivered a desperate, tear-soaked performance that kept viewers on the edge of their seats until the final second.       MOON LOVERS: SCARLET HEART RYEO (2016)   Even as the feared and misunderstood 4th Prince Wang So, Lee’s quiet emotional restraint crushed hearts. His brief encounter with his secret biological daughter -identifying her only by the hairpin he once gave her mother - remains one of K-drama's most poignant, tear-jerking scenes.     FLOWER OF EVIL (2020)   Masking a dark past, his portrayal of Baek Hee Sung provided some of the sweetest, most doting father-daughter moments alongside young Baek Eun Ha, making his world’s collapse all the more tragic.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U2qUXfy8Mc Lee Joon Gi doesn't just play a father; he embodies the fiercely protective soul of one.     REAL-LIFE WARMTH BEHIND THE SCREEN     What makes these dynamic performances so authentic? Off-camera, Lee is legendary for his genuine warmth toward child actors. Between grueling takes, he is frequently spotted playing games, joking around, and making sure his young co-stars feel safe and relaxed before filming intense scenes.   His heart for youth extends beyond the set - from local and international charity missions helping children in need to fondly greeting fans' children during his global concert tours. That innate tenderness is precisely what fuels the electric warmth audiences feel on screen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnay86ya0ww       2026’S MOST ANTICIPATED SURVIVAL THRILLER   In Kidnap Game, Lee Joon Gi takes this dynamic to a dark, uncharted level. How does an emotionally detached, world-renowned surgeon react when the light in his life - his blind daughter - is taken hostage?   Boasting an international star-studded cast, multi-city filming across Asia, and a razor-sharp narrative blending psychological mind games with pulse-pounding survival, Kidnap Game is gearing up to be the ultimate television event of the year.   Get ready - The King is back, and the game is on.