South Korean star Don Lee’s latest film projects, ‘Pig Village’ and ‘The Roundup: Punishment’, have officially entered the global marketplace, launching their international pre-sales at the 20th Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM). The move signals a major push for the actor’s productions onto the world stage, handled by ABO Entertainment, the investment and distribution company behind the phenomenally successful ‘The Roundup’ franchise. The ACFM, a cornerstone of the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), stands as Asia’s largest content business platform, attracting over 2,700 industry professionals from 1,000 companies across 52 countries.
Hollywood Meets Korean Production in ‘Pig Village’
Garnering significant attention from international buyers is ‘Pig Village’, a unique project set on the US-Mexico border. The film not only stars Don Lee but is also produced by him, reuniting him with director Lee Sang-yong, who helmed the second and third instalments of ‘The Roundup’ series. What makes ‘Pig Village’ particularly noteworthy is its cast of seasoned Hollywood actors, including Michael Rooker of the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ franchise, Colin Woodell from the Netflix series ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’, and rising stars Lisseth Chavez and Ali Ahn. The film is being highlighted as a Hollywood production made entirely in South Korea, a strategy that has already piqued the interest of overseas distributors.
‘The Roundup’ Franchise Continues its Global Expansion
Simultaneously, pre-sales have commenced for ‘The Roundup: Punishment’, the fifth entry in the powerhouse action franchise. News of the sequel has already been circulated by prominent international media outlets like Screen Daily, reaffirming the series’ status as South Korea’s premier action brand. The franchise is a domestic juggernaut, having sold over 40 million tickets and achieving three consecutive years with a film surpassing the 10 million admissions mark. Following the success of the fourth film, which was pre-sold to 164 countries including North America, expectations are high for the international performance of the fifth instalment. Filming for ‘The Roundup: Punishment’ is scheduled to begin next year, with a theatrical release targeted for 2027.