There’s no one like Don Lee.
Also known as Ma Dong-seok, the hulking Korean action star has made a name for himself with his massive stature, punishing blows, and easygoing charm. After a long and successful home career, he found international attention with his scene-stealing role in Train to Busan before Marvel cast him as Gilgamesh Eternals.
Lee’s last, The collection: no way outis the third (and best) entry in the highly popular Roundup crime thriller franchise, which has made waves not only at the Korean box office, but around the world.
Polygon exchanged questions with the star via email, discussing his acting philosophy and influences, the time he was close to being in a John Wick movie, and his thoughts on the upcoming Train to Busan redo.
Polygon: Your boxing background is well reflected in these films. I read that you wanted to be a boxer when you were younger. Can you tell me what that boxing experience brings to a role?
Don Lee: I have been boxing all my life and through boxing I have learned about endurance and humility in life. Furthermore, the action is here [Roundup] series is also largely designed based on boxing. Watching the movie Rocky inspired me to dream of becoming a boxer. And I also started dreaming of becoming an actor while learning boxing.
Image: BA Entertainment
What is most crucial to you in creating compelling action in the modern age?
There are different types of action in movies. Action with weapons, car chases, fantasy elements and more. Among them, I am most focused on bare-handed action without any weapons. I have been boxing for a long time and was even trained once to become a professional boxer. So the core of the action sequences for The collection: no way out is boxing. Applying real boxing techniques to action movies is no easy task.
Because it is challenging, coordination and synergy with the stunt team are crucial. Heo Myeong-haeng, the martial arts director, and the stunt teams in this movie have been working with me for 20 years, and they understand my intentions very well. That allows us to create more realistic action scenes. I still train daily in boxing and I do sparring sessions with professional boxers.
Which action filmmakers and stars do you think do it best? Do you have any favorite recent action movies?
I started boxing after watching Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky series in my youth. So Rocky is an action movie that is irreplaceable for me. I’ve noticed lately that director Chad Stahelski, known for directing the John Wick series, delivers stylish action sequences. I maintained a long-standing friendship with him and was also offered a role in [a] John Wick, who unfortunately did not come through. [Ed. note: The role was in John Wick 3, which conflicted with his filming schedule for 2019’s The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil.] JJ Perry, who was in charge of the stunts for John Wick, also created incredible action sequences. Chris Hemsworths extraction also had some really impressive plays.
Image: BA Entertainment
The Roundup movies pack a lot of power punches, with the action, camera work, and sound design all working together to suggest you’re really fools. How much contact is actually in these films? What is your philosophy on full-contact action?
Looking realistic is important, but safety comes first. While we never actually touch a co-star’s face, there are shots where we have to touch each other’s bodies. Actors do wear safety gear in such cases. But even if we’re careful, the blow is strong enough to almost hit the organs. These are challenging types of action, but I did my best to make it look real and enjoyable for the audience.
How does a difference in physicality determine how you approach a fight scene? Most of the people you fight are smaller than you, but then you also fight the bigger bouncer No way out. How do you change your approach?
In this movie, actors of different weight classes, from middleweight to super-heavyweight, appear as my opponents. Because I prioritize realism in boxing action, in certain scenes I move fast like a boxer does, while in others I focus on the power like a slugger does. In boxing matches, there are cases when the opponent is knocked out with just one or two punches. In real life, if you get hit barehanded without gloves, you’ll be instantly knocked out. That’s what I wanted to convey in that scene. I always try to create realistic action scenes for the audience to enjoy.
Does the fact that a global audience can now easily access and watch your films change your approach?
The universal film language makes it possible to communicate cinematically all over the world, transcending language barriers. When it comes to producing or planning a movie, I try not to limit my imagination based on scale or budget. By exploring and imagining without being constrained by production constraints and practicalities, I believe more compelling content can emerge. And such content can move audiences worldwide.
Image: Marvel Studios
After Eternals, are you interested in future Hollywood projects? Are there certain franchises that appeal to you?
The Korean movie industry and Hollywood are the same in that all the actors and employees work hard together to make a good movie. Basically, the most noticeable difference is language. Hollywood movies use English, but Korean movies use the Korean language. But under the common language called ‘movie’, people can communicate with each other beyond the language barrier. And Marvel Pictures experiences have greatly inspired me to design and expand the fictional universe when I make the movie.
Did you have any reaction when you heard there was going to be a Hollywood? Train to Busan remake, directed by Timo Tjahjanto?
Train to Busan has a special place in my heart. I hope it is well reproduced.