Actor Um Tae-goo opened up about his shocking performance makeover.
On the 18th, the film Wild Things held a press screening and media conference. Um Tae-goo, Kang Dong-won, and Park Ji-hyun attended, sharing pre-release excitement and behind-the-scenes stories.
Wild Things is a feel-good comedy about Triangle, a three-member co-ed dance group that once rocked the music scene but disbanded overnight after an unexpected incident. Twenty years later, they stage one reckless shot at a comeback.
Widely known as one of the industry’s extreme introverts, Um transforms into Sang-gu, Triangle’s youngest member and a fearless, high-energy, rapid-fire rapper—showcasing a complete 180 in charm.
Speaking about the bold shift, Um said, "To be honest, every step of this project was a massive challenge for me." He continued, "From rapping and choreography to sustaining the character’s high energy, none of it was easy."
As for why he still took the plunge, he credited the power of the script and his senior co-star, Kang Dong-won. Um said, "At first, I was afraid I couldn’t pull it off, but the script was so fun I couldn’t take my eyes off a single page," adding, "Above all, because Kang Dong-won, whom I deeply respect, had already been cast, my desire to finally work with him on the same project beat out my fear."
Meanwhile, the uproarious comic caper Wild Things, already drawing buzz for Um’s next-level rapper transformation and his chemistry with Kang Dong-won, is slated to hit theaters on June 3.