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Korean action star Ma Dong-seok returns to the big screen as the "beast cop" in the third installment of the crime action franchise, "The Roundup: No Way Out." The film features new types of villains, promising viewers an adrenaline rush with intriguing narratives and upgraded action scenes. Ma, also known by his English name Don Lee, is not only the lead cast member but also the producer of the gritty action series that began with "The Outlaws" in 2017.

In the latest movie, Ma reprises his role as Ma Seok-do, a tough cop who partners with the Regional Investigation Unit to take down a local drug cartel. The film showcases Lee Joon-hyuk, who plays Joo Sung-cheol, a mysterious drug kingpin, and Japanese actor Aoki Munetaka, who plays a Japanese gangster named Riki, smuggling new types of drugs into Seoul.

"The Roundup: No Way Out" is directed by Lee Sang-young, who helmed the second edition of the franchise. The third movie expands the universe of the series, introducing new types of crimes and villains, and showing new elements in terms of story and action scenes.

Ma said that in the first two films, he mostly showed one-punch scenes, but in the latest movie, he throws more rhythmical, successive punches. This time, he fights with villains of different personalities, which he said would be fun for viewers to watch. Unlike the first two films, which were rated R, "The Roundup: No Way Out" will be available to those aged 15 and older.

Lee, who starred in the blockbuster fantasy "Along With the Gods" and its 2018 sequel, said he bulked up more than 20 kilograms to match up with the muscular cop character. He said his character, Joo Sung-cheol, is a mastermind of drug crimes who largely lives in the shadows. He is smart and violent, and Lee said that if this kind of person were around you, it would be very scary.

Ma and Lee spoke at a press conference on Tuesday, where they discussed the making of the movie. "The Roundup: No Way Out" hits local theaters on May 31, and fans of the franchise are excited to see what Ma and his team have in store for them.

Sayart.net 

Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com