Manny Pacquiao is set to star with American-Korean actor Don Lee in an upcoming action movie, with parts  to be filmed in the Philippines.

Chavit Singson, the movie's producer, announced that Manny has already met with Don Lee.

“Pumunta ako ng Korea, kasama si Manny. Pinakilala ko si Pacquiao sa most popular sa Korea na si Don Lee. Gagawa kami ng pelikula kasama si Manny. Action film ang gagawin namin ni Don Lee. Mga boxing so bagay kay Manny,” Chavit said.

The film marks a significant development for the Philippine film industry as Don Lee plans to build a studio in Vigan. “Sa Pilipinas gagawin kasi gusto ni Don Lee na gumawa ng studio sa Vigan na puwede rin gamitin ng iba kagaya sa Hollywood,” Chavit explained.

Don Lee is well-known for his role in Train to Busan and gained international fame through Marvel’s Eternals.

Manny, expanding his career beyond boxing and politics, previously appeared in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry Wapakman in 2009 and promoted his documentary film Manny in 2015.

Chavit also hinted at other projects in the Philippines, including the filming of Season 2 of the popular Korean series Vagabond. “Yung series na very popular sa Korea, ‘Vagabond’. Itutuloy dito. Nakatapos na sila, tapos ‘yung continuation, dito na sa Pilipinas kukunan,” he said last April.

In April, Manny and his wife Jinkee met with Don Lee in Korea. The meeting, highlighted on Instagram by Jinkee, showed Don Lee expressing his admiration for Manny by asking for an autograph for the Big Punch Boxing Club.

The announcement of the movie comes at a time when there is a growing interest in international collaborations in the film industry. The involvement of Manny and Don Lee, both prominent figures in their respective fields, underscores the potential success of this venture.

— By Samantha Prats