[Limelight] Ma Dong-seok Reborn as a Boxer Detective "Like Brothers Stallone and Cruise..."

Masukdo, the Crime Punisher, Returns with 'The Outlaws 3'
Mysterious Super Strength Combined with Agility and Speed
Busy Killing Schedule Including US Remake
"I'm Glad People Enjoy and Feel Thrilled"

"Ah, what's the reason! When catching a bastard who killed someone. You just catch the bad guy!" This line instantly introduces Detective Ma Seok-do from the movie series 'The Outlaws.' When a criminal appears, he immediately starts the investigation. Even if they come at him in a group wielding weapons, he doesn't care. With heavy fists and superhuman willpower, he quickly takes them all down. That doesn't mean he has a harsh personality. He exudes such composure and vocabulary that even the worst villains are left disarmed. "Need money? How about sharing some? Shall we split it 5 to 5?" "Who's the 5?"

The charming man who punishes immoral villains returns after about a year with 'The Outlaws 3.' He moves from Geumcheon Police Station to the Metropolitan Investigation Unit, delving into murder and drug cases. Detective Ma Seok-do's unique charm remains unchanged. At the forefront of cases, he bulldozes criminals relentlessly. Though stubborn and inflexible, he steadfastly overturns disadvantages, providing a catharsis rarely felt in reality. This effect was intended by actor Ma Dong-seok, who designed and portrayed the role.

"After talking with detectives, I learned that investigating criminals is very challenging. For example, even in dangerous moments, they endure the boiling rage deep inside to make arrests. If they didn't, they'd face legal punishment. They were all grateful, saying their frustrations were relieved watching Ma Seok-do's exploits that break away from that mold."

No matter how thrilling a role is, it can become tiresome if the same formula repeats. The 'The Outlaws' series is formulaic from the structure. Detective Ma Seok-do follows the trail of a minor case and ends up confronting a powerful criminal mastermind behind it. To avoid a binary approach, another force threatening the criminals is also introduced. In 'The Outlaws 3,' that's Ricky (Aoki Munetaka). Unlike previous films, he is spotlighted almost equally with the main villain Joo Seong-cheol (Lee Joon-hyuk), which reduces tension.

More impressive changes are found in Ma Seok-do himself. The mysterious brute strength from previous films is now combined with agility and speed. He employs various boxing techniques such as guard, jab, straight punch, and weaving. However, since the impact may appear less on screen, he generally swings his fists widely. Ma Dong-seok said, "In reality, even a jab hurts enough to make your head ring. I directed the action diversely for effective expression."

Boxing is like life to him. As a child, he prepared to become a professional boxer inspired by Sylvester Stallone's 'Rocky (1977).' Although frequent injuries prevented him from achieving that dream, he still sweats in front of the sandbag. Ma Dong-seok revealed, "I have a strong desire to promote boxing widely through action films including the 'The Outlaws' series."

"I owe a lot to it. I broke both shoulders, spine, ankles, etc., in accidents like motorcycle crashes and falls, but I was able to overcome them through boxing rehabilitation. Practicing almost daily even eliminated aftereffects of respiratory disorders caused by autonomic nervous system damage. It's such a great sport, but it's unfortunate that its popularity has declined. It's a national sport anyone can do. You can choose to learn it as a competitive or recreational sport. I hope my films can contribute even a little to its revival."

His ambitions are quite grand. He has already planned up to 'The Outlaws 8.' A Hollywood version is also in preparation. Discussions are ongoing about whether Ma Seok-do will move to the U.S. or if a new local detective role will be created. He is also producing and starring in the U.S. remake of 'The Villainess (2019).' Additionally, he must shoot two more Marvel Studios films after his debut with 'Eternals (2021).' Ma Dong-seok handles his relentless schedule without complaints. Each day is a continuous series of excitement and meaningful moments.

"Working with director Chlo? Zhao on 'Eternals,' I got to glimpse the process of creating a grand universe. It was an invaluable learning experience as a producer of the 'The Outlaws' series. It made me think more about connectivity and variation. Honestly, filming was very tough. Scenes that would take a day or two in Korea took six weeks. Repeating punches in the air countless times caused my shoulder pain to flare up immediately. So, I had to devote every weekend to rehabilitation exercises. Even during rare breaks, I had to adapt the 'The Outlaws' script. Truly, this is a work into which I poured my cartilage, bones, fists, and soul."

The fruits of his intense physical battles are sweet. On its opening day (May 31), 'The Outlaws 3' attracted 740,489 viewers across 2,352 screens (12,718 screenings). It is the highest opening record among this year's releases. It aims to surpass the records of 'The Outlaws (2017, 6,879,841 viewers)' and 'The Outlaws 2 (2022, 12,693,175 viewers).' Ma Dong-seok smiled, saying, "Numbers are important, but above all, I'm happy that people enjoy my films and feel exhilarated."

"Sylvester Stallone hyung is seventy-seven but recently filmed the action movie 'Samaritan (2022).' Tom Cruise hyung, who is sixty-one, will release 'Mission: Impossible ? Dead Reckoning Part One' next month. Isn't it because audiences want it so much? I'll also work hard to maintain myself and create. I can't hang from a plane like Cruise hyung, but I can hang onto bad guys (laughs)."