'Concrete Utopia' sequel underway with star-studded cast

From left, actors Lee Jun-young, Ma Dong-seok and Roh Jeong-eui / Korea Times file

By Kwak Yeon-soo

“The Wilderness” (working title), which is known to be the sequel to the dystopian blockbuster “Concrete Utopia,” is shaping up to have a star-studded cast. Actors Lee Jun-young and Roh Jeong-eui have joined the cast which includes Ma Dong-seok, also known by his English name Don Lee.

The roles have not yet been confirmed but production is expected to begin in the first half of this year.

“The Wilderness” is a post-apocalyptic dystopian film that follows the lives of a few survivors who are left in an abandoned land after a massive earthquake. Heo Myeong-haeng, the martial arts director of “The Good, The Bad, The Weird” and “New World,” will make his directorial debut with the film.

The upcoming film takes place in the same cinematic universe as “Concrete Utopia,” which revolves around a few survivors who gather in an apartment complex after a massive earthquake demolishes Seoul.

Fronted by actors Lee Byung-hun and Park Seo-jun, “Concrete Utopia” wrapped up filming last August and is currently in the post-production stage. Um Tae-hwa, who was behind “Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned,” directed the film. The production company is reportedly preparing to submit the film to the Cannes film festival.

Climax Studio, known for producing Netflix series “D.P” and “Hellbound,” has been experimenting with a “one source, multi-use” concept by working on a film adaptation of the tvN series “The Cursed.”

Likewise, it will be making a TV series adaptation of “Concrete Utopia.” Tentatively titled “Concrete Market,” it keeps the shared universe and depicts a world that has been devastated after a massive earthquake, where an apartment that has not collapsed turns into a barter market. The drama, featuring actors Lee Jae-in and Hong Kyung, started filming last November.

Ma debuted as an actor in 2004 with the film “Dance with the Wind” and rose to stardom for his supporting roles in the 2012 thriller “The Neighbors” and “Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time.” He has some 60 films under his belt, including several box-office hits such as “Train to Busan” (2016) and “Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds” (2017).

He has three films, “Apgujeong Report,” “Holy Night: Demon Hunters” and “The Roundup,” set for release this year.

Lee debuted as a member of the now-disbanded K-pop boy band U-Kiss in 2014 and made his way into acting with the comedy series, “Avengers Social Club” (2017). He has starred in various series, including “D.P.” on Netflix. Roh, who debuted with the 2011 drama “Bachelor’s Vegetable Store,” recently starred in the SBS’s drama “Our Beloved Summer.”