Actor Choi Min-sik has responded to taking on the role previously played by Robert De Niro in the film
The Intern
, calling any comparison "out of the question."
Attending the press and distribution screening for the movie
The Intern
held at Yongsan CGV in Seoul on the afternoon of September 4, Choi addressed the high level of interest surrounding the project. "From the brief moment I hesitated about whether or not to take on this project, I expected this kind of phenomenon to occur. Since the original work is so famous, I figured that the media and the public would inevitably make comparisons," he said.
He added with a laugh, "I don't even want to compare myself to our big brother De Niro, and I think it's sacrilegious to even mention that older brother."
Choi confessed to being a fan of the original film, stating, "
The Intern
(2015), directed by Nancy Meyers, is such a wonderful work. I also watched it when it was first released and received great healing from it."
In the Koreanized version of
The Intern
, Choi plays Ki-ho, the senior intern character originally played by Robert De Niro. Regarding the character, Choi said, "I tried to act like water. Acting is all about action and reaction. Ki-ho enters a company called 'Ututu' where many actions are directed at him, and I react to the actions of various characters. Those combine to produce this result."
Choi shared, "No matter how great the original work is, to reference it? That would be like looking at an answer sheet during an exam, a form of cheating. As a creator, that's something you shouldn't do; it's a matter of conscience. There was never any such thing. Before filming, director Kim Do-young and the actors gathered for drinks. I remember us fiercely debating back then that we should just briefly hold onto the fragrance of the original work and tell our own story from then on. That mindset lasted until crank-up."
He also spared no praise for junior actor Han So-hee, his co-star. Choi said, "Anne Hathaway is a great actor. However, Han So-hee has her own unique strengths. Seeing Han So-hee on the big screen today, I could see another Jules, another Sun-woo."
He also picked a scene performed by Han So-hee as a memorable highlight of the film. Choi mentioned, "In the latter part of the movie, there is a scene where Sun-woo talks about her personal story at a bar. Han So-hee did a fantastic job with those long lines. I was just listening, but it naturally drew my complete attention. That scene remains in my memory until the very end."
The Intern
depicts an office life that transcends generations and job ranks, beginning when Ki-ho (Choi Min-sik), a 37-year veteran silver intern, joins the company of Sun-woo (Han So-hee), who rapidly emerged as a dark horse in the fashion industry three years after launch. It is a remake of the Hollywood film of the same name released in 2015, which grossed more than five times its production budget and was loved by audiences worldwide. Choi Min-sik took on the role of the 37-year veteran intern played by Robert De Niro in the original, while Han So-hee transformed into the rookie CEO played by Anne Hathaway.
The film is scheduled to open in theaters on September 16.
(Photo: Baek Seung-철 기자)
(SBS Entertainment News, reporter Kim Ji-hye)
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