Lee Jung-jae will be starring in the upcoming Star Wars series “The Acolyte” and said he is excited to be part of the franchise.
The star of the hit series “Squid Game” will be playing Jedi Master Sol in the series that will premiere on Disney+ on June 5 with the first two episodes.
In “The Acolyte," an investigation into a crime spree pits Jedi Maste Sol against Mae (Amandla Stenberg), a dangerous warrior from his past.
Poster for the Star Wars series "The Acolyte" (Disney+)
The series also stars Filipino-Canadian actor Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo, and Carrie-Anne Moss.
In a video released by Disney+ Korea, Lee Jung-jae expressed his excitement about “The Acolyte.”
“I still can’t believe the fact that I’m in Star Wars. I can still remember, as a kid, being in awe seeing Star Wars for the first time on the big screen," he said.
Leslye Headland, who created the series and directed the premiere episodes, praised Lee Jung-jae.
“I was writing the character of Sol when ‘Squid Game’ came out. I said, ‘That’s Sol.' He just ran the gamut of every single emotion. JJ knows how to switch from being formidable and then switch to being heartbreaking. I don’t know many actors that can do that,” she said.
Director Kogonada said, “He has been really a legendary actor for years. He has real ownership of his character.”
Lee Jung-jae as Master Jedi Sol in "The Acolyte" (Disney+)
"The Acolyte" (Disney+)
According to Lee Jung-jae, “Sol has a great sense of responsibility. As a Jedi Master, he is a highly skilled fighter, but he is also someone who is willing to risk everything to protect peace. Many times, Sol tries to keep his feelings in-check. He does what he can to contain his emotions and not reveal what he is really feeling inside.”
Co-star Stenberg praised Lee Jung-jae, saying, “Lee Jung-jae just shines so beautifully in this role. And he looks fantastic when he’s fighting. It’s really like dancing. JJ is just a cool Jedi.”
“In Korea, I’ve had quite a lot of experience in sword fighting action sequences. But I soon realized the skill of working with a lightsaber is a unique challenge! ‘The Acolyte’ is an original Star Wars story filled with mystery and suspense,” said Lee Jung-jae.
Lee Jung-jae participating in the Star Wars Day in Busan, South Korea on May 4 (Instagram)