I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 371

The terrifying numbers were right before Kang Woo-jin’s eyes.

[Korean All-Time Box Office]

[All-Time Movie Rankings (Integrated)]

-1. Leech / Cumulative Audience: 20,483,558

-2. Island of the Missing / Cumulative Audience: 20,321,451

-3. Naval Battle / Cumulative Audience: 16,715,955

-4. Irresistible Force / Cumulative Audience: 15,557,118

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It wasn’t like this yesterday. But in just one day, everything had changed. ‘Leech,’ which had been in the 19 million range, surpassed 20 million and proudly took the top spot in the history of Korean films. Naturally, ‘Island of the Missing’ was pushed to second place.

Thus, two 20 million-viewer movies were released in a single year.

However, Woo-jin’s expression, witnessing this extraordinary situation, was calm. Even cold. Thanks to the recently acquired ‘Beastification’ ability, he seemed even more detached.

But this was only on the surface.

‘Wow, seriously!! Is this picture really coming together?! This is insane!’

Inside, he was celebrating wildly. And rightfully so. Two years into his debut, though he was about to enter his third year, he had managed to push two of his films to 20 million views before the year was even over. And on top of that, he had overturned the all-time movie rankings in just one year.

Kang Woo-jin was the only one who had pulled off this absurd phenomenon.

It was clear that this would never happen again, either in the past or the future. This was an undeniable truth. So, Woo-jin had every right to dance a traditional mask dance, but with his concept and tough act, he had to remain indifferent, especially at times like this.

But Choi Sung-gun, with his ponytail and phone, couldn’t hold back.

“You rascal!!”

He suddenly hugged Kang Woo-jin and jumped around. Woo-jin just went along with his rhythm.

“Double 20 million! Double 20 million!! Is this real?!! No way! This doesn’t make any sense!”

“……”

“And it’s all within a year! And the top two spots in the all-time Korean movie rankings are both your leading roles!! This is crazy! This is truly insane!!”

In fact, ‘Leech’ had slowed down a bit in the middle. But it quickly recovered. No, it would be more accurate to say it rebounded explosively. Issues surrounding Kang Woo-jin, besides Miley Cara, and Director Ahn Ga-bok’s move to Hollywood, gave it a significant boost in the latter half.

Of course, ‘Leech’s’ success was still ongoing.

It had weakened a lot compared to the beginning, but for a movie that had been released for over a month, this was still monstrous. Well, the real monster was Kang Woo-jin. He had managed to handle such a filming schedule and, as a result, completely changed the history of Korean cinema.

“Hahaha! ‘Island of the Missing’! ‘Leech’! Which actor is going to break these 1st and 2nd place records!! No one but you can break them! You’ll be breaking your own records!”

“…CEO, please calm down.”

“Calm down? Calm doooown?? How can I?!”

Choi Sung-gun’s fit, or rather, his outburst, continued for a while, hugging Woo-jin. For about three minutes.

Then.

“Wow, I can’t believe I’m seeing this.”

Choi Sung-gun, who had barely calmed down, picked up his phone again as if it wasn’t over. Then, the corners of his mouth curved like a bow.

“The truly insane thing is that there’s still a nuclear bomb left.”

He tapped his phone screen a few times. Soon, Japanese, not Korean, began to appear on the screen. And again, there were some pretty impressive numbers.

-[Audience Count for ‘A Stranger’s Bizarre Sacrifice’ as of November 24, 2021]

-[‘A Stranger’s Bizarre Sacrifice’/ Release Date: October 26 / Cumulative Audience: 21,091,784]

It was the result of ‘A Stranger’s Bizarre Sacrifice’. ‘A Stranger’s Bizarre Sacrifice,’ which was released a day before ‘Leech,’ also surpassed 20 million. No, 21 million. Although it had lost quite a bit of steam compared to ‘Leech,’ it was still maintaining its power in Japan, remaining in the top 5 in ticket sales.

And ‘A Stranger’s Bizarre Sacrifice’ also secured a high position in the all-time Japanese movie rankings.

Although animated films dominated the rankings and it couldn’t beat them, it was a very symbolic and great result. ‘A Stranger’s Bizarre Sacrifice’ caused a whirlwind of change in the Japanese theater scene, which was dominated by the animation market, and it was the first time a live-action film had reached 20 million in Japan.

Choi Sung-gun gave a thumbs up.

“It’s not double 20 million.”

Kang Woo-jin replied quietly.

“It’s triple.”

“That’s right!! Triple 20 million!!”

Starting with ‘Island of the Missing,’ ‘Leech’ and ‘A Stranger’s Bizarre Sacrifice’ all surpassed 20 million viewers. Three movies with 20 million views. Looking at both Korea and Japan, Kang Woo-jin was the only actor who had achieved this many milestones in two years.

“Hey, hey, but this isn’t the end, is it?”

“That’s right.”

Choi Sung-gun muttered, with a face that suggested there were still a few more bullets left.

“‘Leech’ will be released in Japan next month, and ‘A Stranger’s Bizarre Sacrifice’ will be released in Korea next month.”

Like a baton pass, each movie.

“If ‘Leech’ in Japan and ‘A Stranger’s Bizarre Sacrifice’ in Korea happen to surpass 10 million.”

Because they were scheduled to be released alternately in Korea and Japan.

“It won’t be 20 million, it’ll be 30 million, 30 million.”

A few days later. Early afternoon on Saturday, November 27th, in LA.

In a large conference room inside a massive film studio in the bustling city of LA, many foreigners were gathered. At least 30 people. Among them, seated around a U-shaped table, the only Korean was visible at the front. An old man. No, it was Director Ahn Ga-bok, with his face full of wrinkles.

Director Ahn Ga-bok had arrived in LA two days ago. This meant that this place was ‘Columbia Studios,’ one of the five major Hollywood film studios, and the foreigners gathered in the conference room were the key staff of the movie ‘Pierrot.’ In front of everyone, including Director Ahn Ga-bok, were tablets and transparent files.

And.

-Swish.

At the front of the conference room, where a small screen was unfolded, stood a foreign woman with slightly longer than bobbed hair and a sharp impression. She was the executive producer of the movie ‘Pierrot.’ Similar to Joseph Felton, she boasted a very high value in Hollywood.

And she said.

“Next, here are the male lead candidates.”

As she moved the remote control, the screen changed. Hollywood’s top male actors appeared. It seemed she was just showing their faces, as the female producer quickly flipped through the actors’ profile screens. One, two, three. In the end, a total of five top male actors appeared, and the sixth was a Korean actor who was most familiar to Director Ahn Ga-bok.

‘There he is, Kang Woo-jin.’

It was Kang Woo-jin.

With him as the last, the female producer turned to the dozens of staff members.

“These are the six.”

The staff members buzzed. Many Hollywood actors had been mentioned and rumors had circulated, but this was the first time the actors had been revealed so openly.

“They’re all heavy hitters.”

“Are those the actors who are going to be attached? It’s a shame that we can only pick one of them.”

“How much are their salaries combined?”

“The tests will be a battlefield.”

“But- Kang Woo-jin at the end? That Korean actor, right? The one who made a fuss at Cannes.”

“That’s right. He said he was aiming for an Academy Award in his acceptance speech. He did do some pretty amazing things- but still, that actor seems a bit out of place.”

“There are rumors among the actors. Hmm, but… in terms of star power, it’s a bit lacking, wouldn’t you say?”

“Director Danny praised him quite a bit.”

“Hmm? That Danny Landis?”

Regardless, the female producer continued her briefing.

“Let me say in advance, the actors’ information should not leak to the outside yet.”

For reference, ‘Columbia Studios’ had only publicly announced the production of a huge new film and that Ahn Ga-bok was the director. The rest of the information, including that the work was ‘Pierrot,’ was kept secret.

Soon, the female producer met Director Ahn Ga-bok’s gaze.

“And Director, I was hoping to schedule the actors’ audition tests for sometime in January. What do you think?”

Meanwhile, in Korea.

It was the afternoon of the 27th in LA, but it was the morning of the 28th in Korea. The location was Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province. The ‘Beneficial Evil’ set was bustling with over a hundred staff members. Of course, Song Man-woo PD, with his beard, was in charge of the overall handling, and several actors, including Hwa-rin, were also visible, standing by.

At that moment.

“Kang Woo-jin has arrived!!”

Kang Woo-jin, wearing a long padded coat, had just entered the set. He had his poker face on as usual, and Song Man-woo PD, who was directing the filming set, ran to Woo-jin. He was holding the ‘Beneficial Evil’ script in one hand.

“Woo-jin.”

Song Man-woo PD’s skin was rough from frequent all-nighters and hellish hard work, and his dark circles were as thick as if he was wearing sunglasses. Kang Woo-jin greeted him calmly.

“Please take care of me again today, PD.”

Song Man-woo PD, who was barely smiling, whispered to Kang Woo-jin.

“We can wrap up filming in ten days.”

The end of filming for Part 1 of ‘Beneficial Evil’ was just around the corner.

Ten days to finish filming ‘Beneficial Evil’. Upon hearing Song Man-woo PD’s words, Woo-jin’s expression remained unchanged, but inside, he was surprised, ‘Already?’

‘It feels like yesterday that we were filming the long take in Bangkok, time is just melting away.’

Of course, that was just for Part 1, and Part 2 was still left, but it was definitely a fast pace.

‘Well, it was a battle.’

It was a filming schedule that could be well described as ‘filming like crazy.’ Everyone, including Song Man-woo PD in front of him, the hundred or so staff members, the actors, the actors’ staff, and Kang Woo-jin, were all filming frantically to meet the tight schedule.

A grueling march that could kill everyone.

Only Woo-jin was fine. If it weren’t for the grace of the subspace, he would have been groaning as well. Whatever the case, with the wrap-up of ‘Beneficial Evil’ just around the corner, Song Man-woo PD took a short breath and spoke to Kang Woo-jin again.

“Of course, the schedule may change a bit depending on the situation, but if we wrap up Part 1 filming in ten days, we can launch ‘Beneficial Evil’ as expected.”

But is the PD okay? I wonder if he’s going to collapse suddenly. In Woo-jin’s eyes, Song Man-woo PD looked like he could faint at any moment. He had lost a lot of weight too. With his usual concept, he quietly asked Song Man-woo PD.

“Yes, PD. But are you okay?”

“What?”

“You need to be alive to see the filming and the launch.”

Song Man-woo PD blinked his eyes, pointed at himself with his finger, and chuckled.

“Ah- me? Oh my, I’m getting worried about Woo-jin. Haha. Don’t worry, this is nothing for decades of directing. Is this my first project?”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. You saw me when I was a loafer, right?”

“……”

“Actually, well, it’s a bit more intense than that time, but there were many projects that were even tighter than this. In the past, huh? The filming environment was so poor.”

After briefly conveying the pain of the past entertainment industry, he cleared his throat and got back to the point.

“Anyway, the talks with Netflix are over, and usually it would be January, and at the latest, we’ll release it to the world in February. It seems like only Woo-jin is fine on this set, but let’s try a little harder.”

In other words, the official launch of ‘Beneficial Evil’ Part 1 would be in January or February. It was a schedule made possible by Song Man-woo PD’s hard work.

“And before the launch, we have a simple promotional and marketing shoot scheduled for Woo-jin, is that okay?”

“I don’t mind.”

“Miley Cara’s side has also agreed to do it. Whew- we’ll start rolling out character introduction videos, teasers, and trailers. Ah- and I’ve adjusted the filming schedule a bit. You’ll be going overseas soon, and the end of the year will be busy.”

He was talking about Kang Woo-jin.

“We’ll prioritize the scenes with Woo-jin as much as possible.”

Song Man-woo PD, who was briefing, gave a double thumbs up and then walked away to prepare. Watching his back, Woo-jin thought, ‘What kind of reaction will there be when ‘Beneficial Evil’ is released worldwide?’

Kang Woo-jin briefly recalled the rating.

-[9/Script (Title: Beneficial Evil), EX-Grade]

The first outing of an EX-grade.

‘Since it’s EX-grade- will it be something that goes crazy?’

Honestly, he couldn’t even guess, and it was hard to even predict what would happen, but he was still quite excited. ‘Beneficial Evil’ was, in a way, like the first challenge that Kang Woo-jin was throwing to the world.

Thirty minutes later.

The hundred or so staff members were as quiet as mice, and Song Man-woo PD, in front of the monitor, shouted to Kang Woo-jin on the set.

“Hi- Action!!”

December 4th.

Before they knew it, November had ended and December had begun. The first snow had also fallen. Meanwhile, Kang Woo-jin could be found on an airplane. He was sitting by the window, wearing a hat pulled low. However, this airplane was different from the usual ones. There were significantly fewer passengers. Only Woo-jin’s team, including Choi Sung-gun, was visible.

The reason was simple.

This airplane was Kang Woo-jin’s private jet. Outside the window of the private jet, the view was already a sky full of clouds, not the ground, and Woo-jin, with a dignified look on his face, was muttering to himself, slightly excited.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve been to LA- it feels a bit different. Is it because the scale of the scheduled things is different?’

Of course, he wasn’t nervous at all.

‘What are you gonna do, you’re all dead.’

It was the first flight of Kang Woo-jin’s private jet towards Hollywood.

And at this time, in Korea, his hot news had just broken.

『[Exclusive] ‘Kang Woo-jin’ Secretly Takes Private Jet, Sudden Trip to LA Ahead of Year-End! Is it a Flight for Hollywood Advancement?』

End