
K-pop Star Lee Gi-kwang Makes His Big Screen Debut - And We're So Here For It
From Stage to Screen - The Ultimate Career Glow-Up
Remember when our Bollywood stars like Priyanka Chopra and Diljit Dosanjh crossed over to international projects? Well, K-pop is serving us the same energy!
Lee Gi-kwang
from the legendary boy band
Highlight
is making his silver screen debut with the thriller "
I Kill U
". And honestly, we're getting major goosebumps thinking about this career transition.
The film hit theaters on July 23rd, which has already happened. What makes this even more exciting is that "I Kill U" isn't just any random debut - it already made waves at the 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival and bagged the Best Asian Film award from the Melies International Festivals Federation. Talk about starting strong!
The Plot That's Got Everyone Talking
"I Kill U" follows Sun-woo (played by Kang Ji-young), a former taekwondo prospect who now works part-time jobs. She becomes entangled in a massive conspiracy while trying to raise money for her mother's medical bills. The thriller showcases intense action sequences that would make even our Bollywood action directors proud.
Here's where it gets juicy - Lee Gi-kwang plays Ho-jung, who's Ji-yeon's half-brother and the film's main antagonist. Seeing a K-pop idol take on a villain role is like watching Shah Rukh Khan play the bad guy in "Darr" - unexpected but absolutely brilliant. The main poster and trailer revealed Gi-kwang's transformation into this cruel character, showing a gentle exterior hiding savage brutality.
Master Director Behind the Action
This isn't just any debut film - it's directed by Yoo Ha, the mastermind behind iconic Korean films like "Marriage Is a Crazy Thing," "Once Upon a Time in High School," and "A Dirty Carnival". Having such an established action genre master helm Gi-kwang's debut adds serious credibility to this career transition. It's similar to how our top directors in Bollywood often launch new talent - the backing of experience makes all the difference.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Wall to Wall review: Netflix delivers a Squid Game-flavoured darkly comedic satire
Do you also hate your noisy neighbours? Kang Ha Neul's new psychological thriller on Netflix, Wall to Wall, spotlights the brutal reality of a world consumed by ambition, greed, and the race to get ahead, whatever it takes. In a bustling metropolis where owning an apartment, a hollow 84 square meters, is sold as a badge of success, what you really get is a ticking time bomb. In South Korea's development model, these cookie-cutter complexes are less homes and more pressure cookers for modern madness. If you've ever dreamed of owning a shoebox in the heart of a packed city, congratulations, you're exactly who this film is talking to. It's less a movie, more a public service warning presented in the skin of a psychological thriller. Netflix's Wall to Wall, or more accurately, 84 Square Meters, if you prefer a triggering Korean title, tells the story of a guy named Woo Sung, played by Kang Ha Neul. Working as an assistant manager in some corporate maze, he invests all his savings to buy a tiny concrete apartment in the heart of Seoul. He thinks he has found success, a stable job, a fiancée, and his mother's proud smile. Three years in, and he's a wreck as he is drowning in debt, juggling jobs, ghosted by his bank, falling for a crypto scam. Then comes the constant, maddening noise. He can't tell if it's from upstairs or downstairs, it just doesn't stop. It keeps him up at night and wears him down. He tries everything to fix it. Turns out, he's becoming the fall guy for a bitter journalist (Seo Hyun Woo) upstairs, hellbent on revenge against prosecutor Eun Hwa (Yeom Hye Ran), who once stopped his story by bribing the system. The very same story about paper-thin walls in high-rise hell. What follows is a blood-filled game of revenge, ruining the seemingly perfect life of a man who once dreamed of a peaceful Seoul life. Also read: S Line review: K-Drama that's freaking viewers out with its dark take on shame and surveillance Netflix's rising favourite Kang Ha Neul portrays the quintessential modern man in Wall to Wall. Having built a reputation for staying true to his character, he does it again, holding up a mirror to that part of us which still dares to think that owning a small, overpriced, box-sized space will somehow bring peace. It's a cruel joke, one only a society obsessed with property ownership could truly laugh at. For director Kim Tae Joon, who exposed digital paranoia and surveillance in Unlocked (2023), using a cat-and-mouse premise, this latest story feels like a natural next step. It's one of the stronger post-Squid Game narratives about how the system quietly chews you up and spits you out. Kim knows how to frame torment: scattered things, piling dishes, Woo Sung refusing to turn on the electricity just to save the bill and thus 80 per cent of the movie is shot in the darkness. He even reuses the same bathwater for days. Seo Hyun Woo, as the unhinged freelance journalist Jin Ho, brings just the right stubborn, revenge-driven vibe, making Woo Sung his target, chasing that final 'ledger reveal' to his dying breath. And then there's Yeom Hye Ran (When Life Gives You Tangerines), who has mastered on-screen villainy by now. Her character here will make you hate her, and that's how you know how good the acting is. Also read: Wall to wall ending explained: Who's the real noise maker in Kang Ha Neul's Netflix psychological thriller? But, while the concept is brilliant, the only negative part of Wall to Wall is the second half, which loses its momentum and confuses its audience with no real motive behind some of the action scenes. In the first half, you feel Woo Sung's frustration bleeding into you. The noise, the stomping, the false accusations, the question that gnaws: what's so wrong with chasing a metro life? But while we understand that these days directors lean towards realistic endings, deviating from the happy one, the second half of the movie has less impact. There are plenty of twists and action scenes which feel out of place. For some, especially those who don't usually prefer slow burns, it might still be an engaging watch, offering an intense ride through the struggle to escape the claustrophobia of cramped apartment living. But like any other, I would have wanted a satisfying ending for Woo Sung, too. So, in conclusion, Wall to Wall isn't just a thriller. it's a darkly comedic satire. Wall to Wall, through its noisy premise, shows Woo Sung not losing his sleep but losing his grip on reality, his relationships, and ultimately his own self, to the point he wants to take his own life. The ending scene particularly surprised me, as I was left anxious by the last laugh, which felt personal and fully directed towards the viewers. Because in the end, the only thing scarier than the ghosts under your bed are the ones living on the other side of your thin wall, and the bank statement that reminds you exactly how much you paid for the privilege, you can't even enjoy.


Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Varun Tej's ‘#VT15' music in full swing
Mega Prince Varun Tej's highly anticipated film '#VT15', directed by the quirky and talented Merlapaka Gandhi and backed by top production banners UV Creations and First Frame Entertainment, is being made on a lavish scale with high production values and global aesthetics. '#VT15' is shaping up to be one of the most unique and exciting ventures in his career. This genre-defying entertainer blends horror and comedy in a never-before-seen format, set against rich Indian and Korean backdrops. The film promises a refreshing narrative that balances scares and laughs in equal measure. The team has successfully wrapped up three major schedules across India and international locations, capturing stunning visuals and culturally vibrant settings. The film is swiftly moving toward completion. On the musical front, S Thaman is composing the soundtrack, and the sessions are progressing at a rapid pace. After the blockbuster 'Tholi Prema', the Varun Tej–Thaman S combo is set to deliver another potential chartbuster album. Two energetic songs have already been filmed and are expected to become standout moments in the film.


India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
BTS' V and Jungkook's Sojang defamation case moves to trial
In a fresh development in the defamation case filed by BTS members V and Jungkook against YouTuber Sojang, both parties appeared in court on July 21 for a court-led mediation session. However, the attempt at reaching a settlement proved unsuccessful, suggesting that the legal battle is far from reported by Korean media outlet Star Today, the mediation took place at 9:40 am KST (6:10 am IST) at the Seoul Western District Court. The session was held in an effort to settle the dispute without proceeding to a full trial. The case, originally filed in January 2025, was redirected to mediation by the court on June lawsuit revolves around allegations that Sojang, who runs the YouTube channel Taldeok Camp, spread false and damaging content about the BTS duo. Despite the court's involvement in facilitating discussions, both parties failed to reach a compromise. The court has since declared the mediation unsuccessful, meaning the case will now return to the standard trial process. Earlier this year, in February 2025, the Seoul Western District Court had ruled in favour of V and Jungkook, concluding that Sojang had published defamatory content in 23 videos posted between October 2021 and June 2023. The court initially ordered her to pay 76 million KRW (approx. Rs 47 lakh) in damages, slightly lower than the 90 million KRW sought by the BTS members, citing her status as a first-time offender and her expression of has previously lost multiple other defamation suits, including cases involving IVE's Jang Wonyoung and former Wanna One member Kang Daniel.- EndsMust Watch