Director Jang Hang-jun has revealed the shocking backstory behind casting actor Park Ji-hoon.
In an interview on the 23rd, he said he was deeply impressed by Park Ji-hoon's acting while directing the film The King's Warden.
'The King's Warden' is set in 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo and tells the story of a self-appointed village head striving to revive his town and a young former king, Danjong, who was deposed and exiled. Jang explained that, unlike previous portrayals that focused on Grand Prince Suyang's usurpation of the throne, this film takes a new approach.
He decided to cast Park after watching his previous work Weak Hero Class 1. As the biggest reason, he said, "I loved the depth in his eyes. I kept thinking, 'At that age, you shouldn't be able to do that.' There was anger simmering beneath the surface, ready to explode—when it burst out, I saw Danjong." He added, "The Danjong we wanted to portray was not a weak figure."
Jang candidly shared that he was taken aback when Park showed up to their first meeting having put on weight. "At first I was like, 'Huh?' He had gained so much weight I almost thought he was a different person. I even thought, 'We're doomed,'" he recalled. He continued, "It looked like fat over muscle, so I asked why, and he said it was his 'vacation period.' When I asked what he'd do if we went ahead with the project, he said, 'I'll lose it,' so we met a few more times." But, he joked, "Even after multiple meetings, the weight wasn't coming off. Inside, I thought, 'This film is going to end up being my posthumous work,'" bursting into laughter.
However, once Park committed to the project, he returned just a week later having visibly slimmed down, and Jang said he was struck by Park's decisiveness. "After our third or fourth meeting, Ji-hoon decided to do it," he said. "His attitude—making that change in such a short time—was impressive."
"Up until then, he kept saying he wasn't sure. I kept asking to meet, and we really did keep meeting as I persuaded him," Jang detailed. He added, "I asked if he worked out, and he said no. Danjong isn't a muscular character, so he shouldn't work out," praising Park's effort to maintain the right physique for the role.
'The King's Warden' opens on February 4.