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| ▲ This photo of actor-film producer Ma Dong-seok is provided by film distriutor Lotte Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, April 25 (Yonhap) -- Producer of the upcoming fantasy-action film Holy Night: Demon Hunters, which follows demon hunter Bau (Ma), along with his companions Sharon (Seohyun) and Kim-gun (Lee Da-wit), as they set out to save Eun-seo (Jung Ji-so), a girl possessed by a demon.
Ma said the idea began with the fusion of two distinct genres: occult and action. The film seeks to deliver something fresh by combining exorcism rituals with Ma’s signature action sequences. The characters are framed as dark heroes, deviating from the archetypal “pure good” portrayals.
“In Hollywood, fantasy films are often made on a massive scale with huge budgets. I wondered if we could create a dark hero narrative with a smaller budget,” he explained.
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| ▲ This still of fantasy-action film "Holy Night: Demon Hunters," produced by and starring Ma Dong-seok, is provided by film distriutor Lotte Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Co-writing the screenplay with director Lim Dae-hee, Ma recalled countless sleepless nights spent watching horror films—from shorts to full-length features—for inspiration.
“I sometimes fell asleep with the remote in hand and woke up around 3 a.m. with the lights off and a character on screen staring right at me,” he laughed.
He added, “In trying to avoid similarities to existing occult films, we ended up deviating quite a bit from the genre’s norms. I didn’t aim to make an art film—my goal was to make it fun.”
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| ▲ This still of fantasy-action film "Holy Night: Demon Hunters," produced by and starring Ma Dong-seok, is provided by film distriutor Lotte Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
The final film takes a serious approach to the occult, with Seohyun as the exorcist Sharon and Jung Ji-so as the possessed girl Eun-seo taking center stage. “I saw their battle as the core of the film,” Ma noted. “My role was more of a bodyguard—dealing with evil spirits interfering with the exorcism.”
On casting Seohyun, he said, “While working with Sooyoung from Girls’ Generation, I heard a lot about Seohyun. She’s someone who avoids unhealthy habits and has a very upright character. I felt that someone like her showing a new side would have even greater impact.”
As for Jung Ji-so, “I wanted the audience to feel a need to save someone sweet and innocent when something bad happens to them. If I were the one possessed, people would probably just want to run,” he quipped.
Ma explained that he deliberately avoids casting actors based on their usual image. “I like to bring out new sides of actors. I believe all actors have that ability—to transform. I want to see something unexpected.”
He also emphasized the importance of a positive set atmosphere, both as an actor and a producer, even going as far as to vet cast and crew based on character. “I believe good people make good work. I try to work with people known to be decent and kind.”
Having surpassed 10 million viewers with three consecutive films in The Roundup franchise (parts 2, 3, and 4), Ma is seen as a key figure in revitalizing Korean cinema amid a post-pandemic slump. Yet he humbly said, “Don’t place too many expectations on me,” laughing.
“Those numbers still don’t make sense to me. I don’t think it’ll happen again. Theaters aren’t seeing the foot traffic they used to. Every filmmaker’s dream right now is just to break even and keep making films. That’s all I hope for too.”
Holy Night is part of a larger universe, Ma revealed, with potential expansions into novels, animations, and more. A prequel is currently being serialized as a webtoon.
Meanwhile, Ma is also juggling four scripts for future The Roundup sequels, with plans to begin filming next year. The franchise is slated to run through eight installments.
“I’ve written all the outlines and am currently working on four scripts at once. We’ll go with whichever is ready first,” he said.
Ma concluded by reiterating his interest in branching out beyond action. “I enjoy all kinds of films. I’m even working on a movie about a heavy metal band. I want to explore many genres.”
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