Ji Chang-wook is returning to a familiar universe ― but not the same guy. The star explained why he signed on to headline Disney+ original series "The Manipulated" after leading the 2017 action film "Fabricated City."
At a press conference for "The Manipulated" (written by Oh Sang-ho and directed by Park Shin-woo) held Nov. 3 at the Conrad Seoul in Yeouido, Ji said, “When I first read the script, I immediately thought, ‘I have to do this.’ It was a blast to read, and the characters felt so unique and compelling.”
"The Manipulated" follows Tae-jung (Ji), an ordinary man who’s framed for a brutal crime and sent to prison. He learns the whole setup was orchestrated by Yohan (D.O.) ― and sets out on a revenge mission. The series shares an expanded universe with "Fabricated City," penned by the same writer, Oh Sang-ho. Ji led both projects, playing Kwon Yoo in "Fabricated City" and now Tae-jung in "The Manipulated".
Director Park Shin-woo said casting Ji again was a no-brainer. “When we discussed turning this into a series, Ji Chang-wook showed his commitment even before a script existed,” Park noted. “He waited through the long development and financing process and showed real affection for the project. He was terrific in 'Fabricated City,' so no other actor came to mind.”
Despite the shared universe, Ji stressed he didn’t connect the two roles in his approach. “I didn’t try to match Kwon Yoo from 'Fabricated City' with Tae-jung in 'The Manipulated,' so what came out is a completely different character,” he explained. “The ensemble around Tae-jung is also entirely new, which changes the relationships and the situations he’s thrown into.”
He added that a note from the writer guided his performance: “The writer told me, ‘I want Tae-jung to feel like a tree.’ That was my biggest assignment from start to finish.”
As for how the series sets itself apart from the film, Park said, “Because it’s episodic, each stage escalates and makes you need to see what’s next. We focused on fresh turns and unpredictable character clashes to bring out what’s fun about the series format.”
"The Manipulated" comes from Oh Sang-ho, the writer behind the hit "Taxi Driver" franchise, and is expected to deliver tight storytelling and the cathartic punch of a revenge thriller. The series launches Nov. 5 with four episodes, followed by two episodes weekly, for a 12-episode run.
[Photo by Baik Seung-Chul]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)