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No pressure? Song Joong-ki more ‘excited’ over upcoming film ‘Space Sweepers’

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Jaehwa Bernardo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/entertainment/02/02/spacesweepers_unit_068.jpg"/><figcaption>Kim Tae-ri, Song Joong-ki and Jin Seon-kyu star in ‘Space Sweepers,’ South Korea’s first space opera film scheduled for release on Netflix on February 5, 2021. <em>Photo courtesy of Netflix</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA – Instead of feeling pressured, Song Joong-ki admits to being more excited over starring in “Space Sweepers,” widely regarded as South Korea’s first “space blockbuster.”</p><p>“To have the title of ‘Korea’s first space blockbuster,’ it’s almost like having the Korean flag on our chest,” Song said in a press conference on Tuesday.</p><p>“We didn’t want to be pressured or burdened by that but I think a lot of [the burden] was laid on the director’s shoulders. On the contrary, I think I was more excited. I felt like a child again,” he added.</p><p>“Space Sweepers,” which is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on February 5, marks Song’s return to the big screen after nearly 4 years. His last movie project was “The Battleship Island” in 2017.</p><p>The film, set in outer space in the year 2092, follows the crew of spaceship Victory who live off salvaging space debris. They soon find a human-like robot wanted by space guards and decide to demand for a ransom in exchange.</p><p>“We’re kind of an unusual crew. You could say that we’re misfits and we come across a special event and we end up saving the world,” Song said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H1WYnJF1Pwo?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>The 35-year-old actor, who gained wider recognition for his role in the TV drama “Descendants of the Sun,” said “Space Sweepers” reminded him of the 1985 film “The Goonies.”</p><p>“When I first read the script, it reminded me of when I was a young kid… [&#x27;The Goonies&#x27;] was such an amazing adventure film and that’s exactly how I felt [about &#x27;Space Sweepers&#x27;]. It was yet another amazing adventure but only taking place in outer space,” he said.</p><p>In “Space Sweepers,” Song stars alongside Kim Tae-ri, Jin Seon-kyu and Yoo Hae-jin. English actor Richard Armitage, who played Thorin in “The Hobbit” franchise, joins them in the film.</p><p>Kim, who starred in the critically acclaimed 2016 film “The Handmaiden,” said she was looking forward to seeing other sci-fi films produced in Korea.</p><p>“I hope that ‘Space Sweepers’ started something. I’m very proud,” she said.</p><p>For Jin, acting in “Space Sweepers” was like “playing for the nation, playing with the flag on my chest as an athlete.”</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/entertainment/02/02/spacesweepers_unit_013.jpg"/><figcaption>‘Space Sweepers’ is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on February 5. <em>Photo courtesy of Netflix</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Director Jo Sung-hee, who worked with Song in the 2012 box office hit “A Werewolf Boy,” shared that he came up with idea for “Space Sweepers” a decade ago.</p><p>“I heard about these stories about space and space sweepers from a friend. So this was an idea we tried to develop since then,” he said.</p><p>Song added that he even heard of “Space Sweepers” while working on “A Werewolf Boy.”</p><div><strong>Challenging scene</strong></div><p>For Song, one of the most challenging scenes that was shot for the film was “the very first scene where I am flying through space.”</p><p>“It had to do with loss of gravity so that was quite something new and challenging. But again, amazing preparation went into this scene and it was really satisfying,” he said.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/entertainment/02/02/spacesweeper_event_11.jpg"/><figcaption>The cast of ‘Space Sweepers’ with director Jo Sung-hee (middle) at a press conference, February 2, 2021. <em>Photo courtesy of Netflix</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Yoo shared that his role — a robot — was also challenging because it required him to do motion-capture acting.</p><p>“At first, I thought ‘I’ll get to the set and I’ll be able to do what I always do,’ but it was quite, quite challenging,” Yoo said.</p><p>“I had all types of sensors on my body attached and I had to wear these tights and then we had to set the zero points for each scene. But all in all, it was a new experience and it was fun,” he said.</p><p>Kim admitted to feeling sad that “Space Sweepers” would not have a theatrical release but said she was still “happy and grateful” that the movie can be streamed through Netflix.</p><p>She urged viewers to “pay more attention to the sound effects.”</p><div><strong>Related video:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d4RlxNxiPPY?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>South Korea’s first space blockbuster, “Space Sweepers,” is set to premiere on Netflix on February 5.</p>

South Korea’s first space blockbuster, “Space Sweepers,” is set to premiere on Netflix on February 5.

No pressure? Song Joong-ki more ‘excited’ over upcoming film ‘Space Sweepers’

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No pressure? Song Joong-ki more ‘excited’ over upcoming film ‘Space Sweepers’

Jaehwa Bernardo,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 02, 2021 12:54 PM PHT

Read More:

Space Sweepers

Hallyu

Korean cinema

Song Joong-ki

Kim Tae-ri

Jin Seon-kyu

Yoo Hae-jin

Richard Armitage

sci-fi

space opera

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