[Exclusive] Lee Jung-jae Becomes Lead in the 'Star Wars' Series

Disney+ 'Acolyte' Cast... Director Leslie Headland Collaborates with Amandla Stenberg, Jodie Turner-Smith, and More

Actor Lee Jung-jae will star in the 'Star Wars' series. According to the American entertainment media Deadline on the 8th (local time), he will play the lead role in the new Disney+ 'Star Wars' series 'Acolyte' produced by Lucasfilm. Detailed information about the role has not been disclosed.

The setting of 'Acolyte' is near the end of the Republic's golden age, about 100 years before the world depicted in 'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)'. It simultaneously reveals the dark secrets of the galaxy and the rise of the Dark Side. Lee Jung-jae will star alongside Amandla Stenberg from 'The Hunger Games (2012)' and 'Dear Evan Hansen (2021)', and Jodie Turner-Smith from 'After Yang (2021)'. The director is Leslye Headland, who directed the films 'Bachelorette (2012)', 'Sleeping with Other People (2015)', and the drama 'Russian Doll (2019)'. The production is led by Kathleen Kennedy, known for the 'Star Wars' series, the 'Indiana Jones' series, 'War of the Worlds (2005)', 'Munich (2005)', 'The Sixth Sense (1999)', and 'A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)'.

Lee Jung-jae rose to global stardom through Netflix's 'Squid Game'. He gave a passionate performance as Seong Gi-hun, becoming the first Asian actor to win awards at the Critics' Choice Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. He is also a strong contender for the Best Actor award at the Emmy Awards, the most prestigious American television awards ceremony, held on the 12th.

His activities in Hollywood became concrete after signing with CAA (Creative Artists Agency) in February. CAA is one of the top three agencies in the U.S., representing directors like Steven Spielberg and actors such as Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and George Clooney. In a recent interview, Lee Jung-jae said, "I have received various offers both domestically and internationally," and added, "I am considering which projects to participate in before filming 'Squid Game' Season 2."

Lee Jung-jae is also busy as the director of the film 'Hunt'. His high-level directing skills have earned him love calls from major international film festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival and the Sitges Film Festival. 'Hunt' premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival in May. It was released domestically on the 10th of last month and attracted 4,177,981 viewers by the 8th. In North America, it will be released in December through Magnolia Pictures.