Marvel Movie 'Eternals'
Ma Dong-seok as Gilgamesh
First Challenge as a Marvel Hero
Plans for Overseas Activities
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Actor Ma Dong-seok has become the first male actor to join Marvel. He is the first to play a superhero role in Hollywood. He expressed his determination, saying, "I feel that interest in K-content is hotter than ever," and "I will work hard without feeling ashamed."
At the press conference for the movie Eternals (directed by Chlo? Zhao) held on the morning of the 22nd, Ma Dong-seok said, "I was a fan of Marvel movies," and proudly stated, "I think K-content will become the best in the world." During a video call greeting from the U.S., actress Angelina Jolie made a surprise appearance and showed special affection, saying, "In the movie, he was my protector, but now he has become a beloved friend."
Ma Dong-seok has been steadily preparing to enter Hollywood. Before debuting as an actor, he dreamed early on of working overseas based on his experience working as Don Lee in the U.S. After establishing a unique character in Korea, offers started coming in one by one. He recalled, "After the movie Train to Busan became well known overseas, I received various offers from Hollywood for six years. I also received offers for other superhero films, but the schedules and timing with domestic projects didn’t match." He added, "A few years ago, a casting director brought the role of Gilgamesh from Eternals and told me, 'You must try this.'
Afterwards, Ma Dong-seok talked with director Chlo? Zhao and the film producers via video call. There was no audition. "Director Chlo? watched and analyzed several of my movies before starting the conversation. She created the character by applying a boxing style based on my real personality and the characters I played in other films. Gilgamesh is not Asian in the comics. She changed the mythical figure to be Asian and altered many other settings. The director said she hoped the character would suit Ma Dong-seok well and we discussed it a lot."
Domestic fans showed great interest in the Eternals trailer. Attention was also focused on Gilgamesh, the powerful Asian hero. Ma Dong-seok explained, "Gilgamesh is an immortal being. He has lived for over 7,000 years. I had to portray both his human side and a figure close to a being beyond humans. He is warm-hearted and righteous. He is also a protector of his family and humans. Especially as the protector of the character played by Angelina Jolie, he has warm and fun traits. When fighting the Deviants, he becomes a fierce and powerful warrior and fighter. The core of the character is having a balance of warmth, humor, and fierce warrior traits."
Chlo? Zhao, who swept hundreds of awards worldwide including this year’s Academy Awards with Nomadland, directed Eternals. Ma Dong-seok said they shared not only artistic communication but also a human connection. "She is a director who understands both artistic and commercial aspects well. She is talented but humble and communicates a lot. She didn’t pretend to know things she didn’t and spoke humbly. She became a smart and good director as well as a friend."
Ma Dong-seok said he sympathizes with the message of Eternals. While the superhero film is entertaining, it also emphasizes the message it carries. "The movie says it’s important to look at people as individuals without prejudice based on nationality, skin color, gender, or age. The heroes each have different personalities and powers, but they become strongest when they unite. I hope the message of looking at each other with a broad mind and living in harmony is well conveyed."
Ma Dong-seok became a real family with actors Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Salma Hayek, and others during filming. Like the movie’s setting, multinational actors gathered and worked toward one project. He recalled, "Maybe because we opened our hearts from the start, we lived like a family. We cared for and considered each other more and became close. It was the first time I experienced people from different backgrounds becoming a family in a short time, and it was amazing."
He said he truly felt his Hollywood debut when entering the outdoor set in the U.S. "Passion is the same in Hollywood or Chungmuro. But I was surprised at the outdoor set. Originally, the outdoor set was a barren field. When I visited again, they had made trees and a forest. I was shocked. Also, scenes that would normally be shot on a blue screen were filmed on an actual seaside cliff. There were about 200 security guards, and I was amazed that hundreds of people united for one movie. Seeing how well everyone harmonized made me feel it was amazing."
Recently, interest in K-content has been hot. Director Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite surprised the world by winning the highest awards at the Academy Awards and Cannes Film Festival as the first Korean film, and the Netflix original series Squid Game has attracted global attention immediately after its release.
Regarding this, Ma Dong-seok said, "Recently, many good works like those by director Bong Joon-ho have appeared, but I thought there were many good K-contents even before. However, there was no OTT platform, and domestic works were not well known. Now many opportunities are arising, and interest will continue. I hope Korea continues to maintain the image of being the biggest country in the world."
Ma Dong-seok plans to continue working on overseas stages. "There are many planned global projects. There are films I am producing and Hollywood movies I am scheduled to appear in. I want to make fun movies that more people can watch in the future. I will work hard so you won’t be ashamed. I will always act humbly and quietly without being swayed by ups and downs."
Photo = Walt Disney Company Korea
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