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Lee Jung-jae in promotional photos for 'Squid Game' (left) and 'Star Wars: The Acolyte.' Photos from Netflix K-content on X and Star Wars on Instagram

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How ‘Squid Game’ led to Lee Jung-jae’s ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ casting

Paul Xavier Jaehwa Bernardo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171791208663620240609 ljj.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Lee Jung-jae in promotional photos for &#x27;Squid Game&#x27; (left) and &#x27;Star Wars: The Acolyte.&#x27; <em>Photos from Netflix K-content on X and Star Wars on Instagram</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Before being propelled to wider international fame with Netflix’s survival drama series “Squid Game,” Lee Jung-jae had already cemented his status as one of South Korea’s most prominent actors.</div><p>But the 51-year-old actor acknowledges that “Squid Game” also paved the way for more opportunities, particularly the chance to explore projects beyond his homeland, such as the new Disney+ series “Star Wars: The Acolyte.”</p><p>“The biggest change is that many offers for global projects came, including ‘Star Wars,’” Jung-jae said through an interpreter at a recent online press conference for “The Acolyte,” when asked about the changes brought by “Squid Game.”</p><p>“Aside from that, I don’t feel like much has changed. Of course, [what I mentioned] is the biggest change and it is very important. It has definitely transformed the environment in which I work in,” he stressed.</p><p>The eight-episode series “The Acolyte,” which premiered last June 4, tells the story of a Jedi master who investigates a series of crimes, leading to his reunion with a warrior from his past.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/6/6/lee-jung-jae-sees-the-acolyte-as-an-entry-point-to-star-wars-1437"><strong>READ: Lee Jung-jae sees ‘The Acolyte’ as an entry point to Star Wars<br/></strong></a></div><p>In the latest addition to the phenomenal “Star Wars” franchise, Jung-jae plays Sol, a respected Jedi master who has a complicated relationship with the warrior portrayed by American actress Amandla Stenberg.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-active" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B0WxdRadrm8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>In a video featured on the Star Wars YouTube channel, “The Acolyte” creator and showrunner Leslye Headland recalled how she immediately recognized Jung-jae as the ideal choice to play Sol upon seeing his performance in “Squid Game.”</p><p>“I was writing the character of Sol when ‘Squid Game’ came out. I said, ‘That’s Sol,’” Leslye said, referring to Jung-jae.</p><p>“Lee Jung-jae just ran the gamut of every single emotion,” she said of his acting.</p><p>Jung-jae still underwent an “audition” for “The Acolyte” following a couple of Zoom meetings with Leslye.</p><p>“I used the word ‘audition’ but it was more like a camera test… so [Leslye] gave me scripts for two scenes, but I didn’t know what role I was going to play,” he recounted at the press conference.</p><p>“So I practiced the dialogues and together with Amandla Stenberg, we did the camera testing. I also did it alone. I did a lot of preparations. And the set [for the camera test] was very well prepared and meticulously made as if it were a real shoot… I didn’t really know what this camera test was supposed to mean and how I should take it,” he said.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1717912243456Snapinsta.app_445783418_1478873992729876_8277168188737813044_n_1080.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The cast and crew of &#x27;The Acolyte.&#x27; <em>Photo from Star Wars on Instagram</em></span></span></span>After the session, he learned from crew members “that there were two or three people waiting for the camera test,” he said.</div><p>“I eavesdropped on that. They were very famous people, those who were taking the camera test. So I thought, ‘Okay, this is a camera test but this is actually an audition.’”</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/5/29/manny-jacinto-shares-star-wars-stardom-spotlight-with-filipino-parents-2344"><strong>READ: Manny Jacinto shares &#x27;Star Wars&#x27; stardom spotlight with Pinoy parents<br/></strong></a></div><p>Jung-jae rose to prominence in South Korea following his breakout role in the 1995 series “Sandglass.” He solidified his position in the film industry with his performances in movies like “An Affair,” “City of the Rising Sun,” “Il Mare,” and “The Housemaid,” among numerous others.</p><p>In 2021, Jung-jae soared to greater heights of international stardom for his portrayal of Song Gi-hun, a gambling addict and the central character of “Squid Game,” which follows financially-struggling individuals who risk their lives in deadly versions of children’s games for a chance to win billions of won in prize money.</p><p>His portrayal of Gi-hun earned Jung-jae a Primetime Emmy award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series, making him the first Korean and Asian actor to win an Emmy.</p><p>Jung-jae is set to reprise his role as Gi-hun in the highly anticipated second season of “Squid Game,” slated for release later this year.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/2/2/netflix-offers-first-look-at-squid-game-season-2-1435"><strong>READ: Netflix offers first look at &#x27;Squid Game&#x27; Season 2<br/></strong></a></div><div><em>For more news and features on K-pop, K-drama, and K-stars, visit the </em><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/kcontents"><em>Hallyu Corner </em></a><em>microsite.</em></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UrdhgH4CQmQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Lee Jung-jae acknowledges that 'Squid Game' opened more opportunities for him, particularly the chance to explore projects beyond his homeland.</p>

Lee Jung-jae acknowledges that 'Squid Game' opened more opportunities for him, particularly the chance to explore projects beyond his homeland.