Lee Joon-Gi and Alice Ko Join Kentaro Sakaguchi Drama kiDnap GAME
The casting of Lee Joon-gi and other pan-Asian stars signals Fuji TV's ambition to produce a regionally co-produced thriller that can travel across markets without relying on a single star's domestic pull.
Reporting from 2 sources: Eiga Natalie, Cinema Today.
Fuji TV has announced the overseas cast for its upcoming October drama "kiDnap GAME," starring Kentaro Sakaguchi. The series follows simultaneous kidnappings across seven Asian cities-Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok, Naha, and Manila-where victims' families receive an email inviting them to a deadly game: only one loved one can be saved. Sakaguchi plays detective Toshiro Niide, whose wife is kidnapped. South Korean actor Lee Joon-gi ("The King and the Clown") joins as Han Ki-joo, a top surgeon whose blind daughter is taken. Lee commented that he was happy to be involved in an international drama again and that the scale of the project made him wonder "Can we really film this?" Taipei's Alice Ko ("Lost in Time") plays influencer housewife Christina. Hong Kong's Stanley Yau, a member of boy group MIRROR, plays international lawyer Andy. Singapore's Carrie Wong ("The Journey: Tumultuous Times") plays flight attendant Janice. Manila's Joel Torre ("Jose Rizal") plays taxi driver Miguel. Bangkok's Plearnarponkamol Chaisaeng ("Master of the House") plays hostess Ayun. Filming took place across multiple cities with partner companies in Hong Kong and South Korea. Broadcast and distribution are set for 18 countries and regions. Yusuke Kato produces and directs.
Producer and director Yusuke Kato said he searched for actors by watching works from each city. Local partners MakerVille and SimStory helped secure the cast. Kato said Lee Joon-gi's performances in "Flower of Evil" and "Again My Life," his action work in "Resident Evil: The Final Chapter," and his fluency in English and Japanese made him "the only choice" for the Seoul doctor role.
Lee said he had long admired Kentaro Sakaguchi's work and wanted to act with him. On set, Lee said, "seeing his passionate dedication every day taught me a lot even after many years of acting." Lee described his own character Ki-joo as "more calm and somewhat cold" compared to Sakaguchi's passionate detective, but said he aimed to show depth in the emotional aspects of a father who cherishes his daughter.
Lee previously appeared in Fuji TV's "Hotel Venus." He said reading the script was exciting and that the process of solving the game's clues and mysteries was thrilling. He also said he looked forward to acting with overseas actors.
Kato said Alice Ko, Stanley Yau, Carrie Wong, Joel Torre, and Plearnarponkamol Chaisaeng are "charming as actors and people." He said that despite differences in language and culture, "the passion for acting, visuals, and creating works is universal."
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.