YONHAP NEWS

Lee Byung-hun says Koreans should be 'nonchalant' about his role in G.I. Joe film

(ATTN: photos available)
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- While Hollywood colleagues called it an "honor" and "great opportunity" to have worked with him in Paramount Picture's upcoming "G.I. Joe," South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun fears too much attention by fans at home toward his character may take away from the film.

"This movie will bring before your eyes all actions and adventures you have ever imagined," Lee said at a Seoul press conference with cast and creators of the movie Wednesday. "I hope you will not pay too much attention to my appearance. It's a great film as it is."

   "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" is the first episode in the live-action adaptation of the popular TV series and classic comic book from the 1980s. Lee plays Storm Shadow, a key villain in the Cobra society, a role praised by critics as his successful Hollywood debut.

   "Lee Byung-hun is the only one we went for," said director Stephen Sommers, explaining how his team decided to cast the South Korean star in the role almost immediately. "I watched some of his movies and fell in love with them. It was his eyes. They showed he's a fantastic actor."

   "The energy here is amazing," Sommers added. "With this guy (Lee) here, it's like traveling with Elvis."

   Actress Sienna Miller, who plays the villainous Baroness, thanked Korea for "lending Lee" to Hollywood.

   "I saw him in 'Bittersweet Life' and thought he was incredibly talented and handsome," she said. "What you might not know is that he is also incredibly funny, silly and kind. It must have been intimidating for him to work in a different environment, but he didn't let it show. It was a huge opportunity to work with someone like him."

   Lee is considered a leading actor in the South Korean film industry, the winner of dozens of local awards for his roles in "Joint Security Area (2000)," "Bittersweet Life (2005)," "The Good, the Bad and the Weird (2008)" and more.

   Although he is not the first local actor to break into Hollywood -- coming after Jeon Ji-hyun in "Blood: The Last Vampire" and Daniel Henney in "X-men Origins: Wolverine" -- Lee is considered to be the most successful so far, starring in a leading role and one of the most eye-catching characters in the film. Lee has already signed with Paramount to appear in the two sequels for the "G.I. Joe" series.

   "I have to admit I had a difficult time at first trying to adapt to a different language, culture and environment," the South Korean actor said. "But with these guys being so down-to-earth and kind, I could make myself at home, enjoy myself and learn something all the while."

   Lorenzo di Bonaventura, producer of the movie, said it was "interesting to watch Lee getting used to" the U.S.-style shooting.

   "Storm Shadow is an iconic character. We needed someone with grace and style and the sureness to make the character striking," he said. "We're lucky Lee joined us. We learned something from him and I hope he was able to learn something from us."

   Bonaventura picked the showdown between Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes, his main rival, as one of the most compelling scenes in the movie.

   Set in the fictional Brussels-based G.I. Joe, an acronym for the Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity, the movie revolves around an international co-ed force of operatives who use high-tech equipment to battle Cobra, an criminal organization headed by a notorious Scottish arms dealer.

   G.I. Joe is originally a line of military-themed articulated "action figures" produced by the toy company Hasbro in 1964.

   "I thought the story was about an incredible visual world, where I could have a huge cast from a lot of different countries," said director Sommers. "It's okay if you know nothing about G.I. Joe. You are still guaranteed a great time."

   "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" will open simultaneously in South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong, Australia and Russia on Aug. 6.

   hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)