The Tyrant (TV series)

2024 South Korean web series by Disney+

The Tyrant

Hangul|

Hanja|

Revised Romanization| Pok-gun
McCune–Reischauer| P'okkun
Written by| Park Hoon-jung
Directed by| Park Hoon-jung
Starring|

* Cha Seung-won
* Kim Seon-ho
* Kim Kang-woo
* Cho Yun-soo
* Kim Joo-hun

Country of origin| South Korea
Original language| Korean
No. of episodes| 4
Production
Production companies|

* Sageumwol Film (Goldmoon Film)
* Studio&NEW
* Acemaker Movieworks

Original release
Network| Disney+

The Tyrant (Korean: 폭군) is an upcoming South Korean television series directed by Park Hoon-jung, starring Cha Seung-won, Kim Seon-ho, and Kim Kang-woo. It is scheduled for release worldwide on Disney+ in the second half of 2024.[1] The series tells the thrilling story of the race to find a bioweapon that is stolen during a secret handover between Korean and US intelligence agencies.[2]

## Synopsis[edit]

A US intelligence agency discovered a secretive initiative called The Tyrant Project. The plan of the Korean government to develop bioweapon that can enhance human abilities was exposed, prompting the US to demand the program's immediate termination and the handover of all samples. After dismantling the project, the bioweapon was supposed to be handed over to the US. However, an unknown party attacks during the covert handover.[2][3]

It was Director Choi, a member of a government agency secretly running The Tyrant Project, who instructed his operational staff Ja-kyung and Mo-yong. They successfully secure the bioweapon. Upon learning of the incident, US intelligence agent Paul becomes determined to personally retrieve the bioweapon. Additionally, Lim Sang-won, a former agent entrusted with neutralizing individuals associated with The Tyrant Project, enters the picture.[3][4][5]

## Cast[edit]

* Cha Seung-won as Lim Sang-won, a former agent tasked with eliminating the forces related to The Tyrant Project.[4][6]
* Kim Seon-ho as Director Choi, a member of a Korean government agency who has been running The Tyrant Project unofficially.[4][6]
* Kim Kang-woo as Paul, a member of the US intelligence agency trying to dispose of the last sample of The Tyrant Project.[7]
* Cho Yun-soo as Ja-kyung, a technician who has been asked to steal the last sample of The Tyrant Project.[8][9]
* Kim Joo-hun as Mo-yong.
* Justin John Harvey [ko] as Crocodile 1, Paul's enhanced, super-human right hand.
* Kim Ho-jun[10]

## Production[edit]

### Concept[edit]

According to Park Hoon-jung, The Tyrant is a story on a larger scale compared to the smaller narrative structures of The Childe. It involves the emergence of multiple nations and highly skilled individuals. It shares a worldview to The Witch franchise,[5] and depict story from the opposite side's perspective. The Tyrant will be a film that has elements of science fiction and fantasy.[11][12][13]

Later, Park Hoon-jung expressed his thoughts on the release of Disney+'s original series, saying, "I thought Disney+ was the best platform to present The Tyrant because it respects the original expression of the work and shows bold steps."[14]

### Casting[edit]

On October 19, 2023, S.A.L.T. Entertainment [ko]'s representative disclosed to the press that Kim Seon-ho was confirmed to star in the film Tyrant.[15] Simultaneously, an industry insider informed the press that Cha Seung-won would play the lead role in the film. YG Entertainment's representative confirmed that Cha Seung-won had received an offer to appear and was positively considering.[16] In November 23 of the same year, Kim Kang-woo confirmed his appearance in Tyrant and reunited with director Park Hoon-jung and Kim Seon-ho, after their prior collaboration in The Childe.[17]

Ace Maker Movie Works, the film distributor, made an announcement on January 9, 2023, confirming the casting of three actors for the film.[18] Kim Seonho's character, Choi Gukjang, undergoes a 180-degree transformation from his previous role as Gwigongja in The Childe.[19] The media has taken notice of Kim Seon-ho's commitment to lose weight for his character in the new movie, which has increased excitement and anticipation for this upcoming role.[20]

### Filming[edit]

On December 28, 2023, it was reported that the filming of The Tyrant would begin on January 2. Originally the plan was to start filming at the end of December, but it was delayed due to certain circumstances.[21] On January 9, 2023, the film distributor, Ace Maker Movie Works, officially announced the start date of filming as January 2, 2023.[18] Filming took place in Busan from January to February 2023.[22] In February, filming was taking place at Doma-keun market in Daejeon Metropolitan City.[23] The remaining filming mostly occurred in Jeju for a duration of four months.[24] The Jeju Indoor Film Studio was one of the locations used for filming thanks to an agreement between the film production company and the Jeju Film and Cultural Industry Promotion Agency. This collaboration allowed the film to benefit from the 'Jeju Location Attraction Support Project,' which provides incentives, location scouting, and administrative support to encourage local film and drama production companies to choose Jeju as their filming destination.[25]

## Release[edit]

At the end of the year 2023, it was reported that The Tyrant is part of the film distributor Ace Maker Movie Works' 2024 lineup.[26] In early 2024, it was also mentioned as a film to be released that year.[27] The Tyrant has secured pre-sales in various regions and platforms, including Germany (Splendid), Taiwan (MovieCloud), Southeast Asia (Purple Plan), Thailand (Neramitnung Film), CIS (Paradise Group), and in-flight entertainment (Eagle).[28]

A statement from a representative of the series informed the press that The Tyrant was originally created with theater release in mind, but after filming was completed, it was completed as a four-part series during the editing process. The decision to expand it was made to effectively showcase the individual charm of each character and highlight the directorial expertise of Park Hoon-jung through distinctive and impactful scenes. On February 19, 2024, the series was unveiled as Disney+ 2024 lineup. It will be released on Disney+ in the second half of this year.[29][30]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Kim Na-yeon (February 19, 2024). "차승원X김선호 '폭군', 극장 아닌 디즈니+ 行.."4부작 시리즈 변경"[공식]" (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
2. ^ a b Rahman, Abid (March 6, 2024). "Disney+ Picks Up Korean Spy Drama 'The Tyrant'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
3. ^ a b "THE TYRANT (W.T.)". cinando.com. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
4. ^ a b c Kim, Jeong-jin (January 9, 2023). "차승원·김선호·김강우, 박훈정 감독 신작 '폭군' 주연" [Cha Seung-won, Kim Seon-ho, Kim Kang-woo, starring in the new film 'Tyrant' directed by Park Hoon-jung]. Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2023.
5. ^ a b Hyun, Hye-sun (January 9, 2023). "박훈정 감독 신작 '폭군', 차승원·김선호·김강우 캐스팅...新 세계관 예고" [Director Park Hoon-jung's new film 'Tyrant' casts Cha Seung-won, Kim Seon-ho, and Kim Kang-woo... Notice of new world view]. Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2023.
6. ^ a b Kwak, Yeon-soo (January 9, 2023). "Kim Seon-ho, Cha Seung-won reunite with director Park Hoon-jung in 'Tyrant'". The Korea Times. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
7. ^ Hwang, So-young (November 23, 2022). "김강우, 영화 '폭군' 캐스팅‥김선호·차승원과 호흡" [Kim Kang-woo, cast in the movie 'Tyrant', breathing with Kim Seon-ho and Cha Seung-won] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved November 23, 2022 - via Naver.
8. ^ Moon, Ji-yeon (March 6, 2024). "[공식] 영화에서 시리즈로..박훈정 감독·차승원·김선호 '폭군', 디즈니+서 본다" [[Official] From movie to series...Director Park Hoon-jung, Cha Seung-won, Kim Seon-ho's 'Tyrant' is available on Disney+]. entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved March 6, 2024.
9. ^ "차승원→김선호 '폭군', 영화 아닌 4부작 시리즈 공개 확정 [공식]" [Cha Seung-won→Kim Seon-ho's 'Tyrant', four-part series, not a movie, confirmed to be released [Official]]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). March 6, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
10. ^ Kim, Beom-seok (May 16, 2024). "'범죄도시4' 영업꾼 김호준 "마동석 선배와 투샷, 가문의 영광이죠" [EN:인터뷰]" [‘Crime City 4’ salesman Kim Ho-jun “Two shots with senior Ma Dong-seok, it’s an honor for the family” [EN: Interview]]. m.entertain.naver.com. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
11. ^ "박훈정 감독 "귀공자=김선호, 단 한 명뿐이었죠" [인터뷰]" [Director Park Hoon-jung "Gwigongja = Kim Seon-ho, there was only one person" [Interview]]. 이데일리 (in Korean). July 13, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
12. ^ Cho, Yeon-kyung (June 30, 2023). "박훈정 감독 "김선호·김강우 재회 '폭군', '마녀' 세계관 공유"" [Director Park Hoon-jung "Kim Seon-ho and Kim Kang-woo reunion 'Tyrant', 'Witch' Worldview Sharing"]. JTBC (in Korean). Retrieved December 25, 2023.
13. ^ "차승원X김선호 '폭군', 극장 아닌 디즈니+ 行.."4부작 시리즈 변경"[공식]" [Cha Seung-won X Kim Seon-ho 'Tyrant', not the theatre, but Disney+ 行.." Four-part series changes"[Official]]. 스타뉴스 (in Korean). February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
14. ^ Park, Jin-young (March 6, 2024). "'폭군' 미스터리 김선호->신예 조윤수, 영화 아닌 4부작 시리즈 완성" ['Tyrant' Mystery Kim Seon-ho->Newcomer Cho Yoon-soo, completes a four-part series, not a movie]. 아이뉴스24 (in Korean). Retrieved March 6, 2024.
15. ^ Park, Jin-young (October 19, 2022). "차승원, 김선호 만날까 "'폭군' 출연 긍정 검토 중"(공식)" [Cha Seung-won, should he meet Kim Seon-ho? "'Tyrant' appearance is being reviewed positively"(Official)]. iNews 24 (in Korean). Retrieved December 24, 2023.
16. ^ Park, Jin-young (October 19, 2022). "차승원, 김선호 만날까 "'폭군' 출연 긍정 검토 중"(공식)" [Cha Seung-won, should we meet Kim Seon-ho? "'Tyrant' appearance is being reviewed positively"(Official)]. iNews 24 (in Korean). Retrieved December 24, 2023.
17. ^ Park, Jin-young (November 23, 2022). "김강우, 박훈정 감독 '폭군' 출연 확정...김선호와 재회" [Kim Kang-woo, director Park Hoon-jung's 'Tyrant' confirmed...Reunion with Kim Seon-ho]. 아이뉴스24 (in Korean). Retrieved December 24, 2023.
18. ^ a b Yeon, Hwi-seon (January 9, 2023). "'폭군' 차승원·김선호·김강우 확정, 2일 크랭크인 [공식]" ['Tyrant' Cha Seung-won, Kim Seon-ho, Kim Kang-woo confirmed, crank-in on the 2nd [Official]]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2023.
19. ^ "[핫뉴스③] "벌써부터 기대"...김선호, '폭군'서 180도 변신" [[Hot news③] "I'm already looking forward to it"... Kim Seon-ho transforms 180 degrees for 'Tyrant']. OBS경인TV (in Korean). January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
20. ^ Park, Jin-young (January 2, 2024). "[조이人] 김선호, 영화*드라마 꽉 채운다...믿고보는 '올라운드' 활약" [[Joy People] Kim Seon-ho, movie*drama full...'s 'all-round' activity that you believe in]. iNews 24 (in Korean). Retrieved January 19, 2024.
21. ^ Park, Jin-young (December 28, 2022). "김선호 차기작 '폭군', 1월 초 촬영 돌입...배우 복귀 박차" [Kim Seon-ho's next film 'Tyrant' starts filming in early January...actor's return]. iNews 24 (in Korean). Retrieved January 19, 2024.
22. ^ Lee, Woo-young; Nam, Yoo-jung. "[단독] 영화관 스크린에 사라져 가는 '부산'... OTT는 뜨거운 인기" [[Exclusive] ‘Busan’ disappearing on movie theatre screens... OTT is hot and popular]. Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved April 19, 2023.
23. ^ "공지사항 > 기후환경과 > 부서안내 > 서구소개 >" [Notice > Climate Environment Division > Department Information > Introduction to Seo-gu >]. www.seogu.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved December 24, 2023.
24. ^ "제주 영화 등 촬영 지원, 경제활성화 역할" [Supporting filming of Jeju movies, etc., and revitalising the economy]. Segye Ilbo (세계일보) (in Korean). December 21, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
25. ^ "제주도, 영화 '폭군' 박훈정 감독 명예도민으로 선정" [Jeju Island, selected as an honorary citizen of director Park Hoon-jung of the film 'Tyrant']. 헤드라인제주 (in Korean). April 21, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
26. ^ Kim, Na-ra (December 31, 2023). "2024년 극장가 어떨까? 봉준호 박찬욱 큰 게 온다" [How about a theatre in 2024? Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook are coming.]. Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved December 31, 2023.
27. ^ "[특집] 회심의 한방이 온다, 2024년에 보게 될 한국영화의 이름들" [[Feature] The oriental medicine of conversion is coming, the names of Korean movies you will see in 2024]. 씨네21 (in Korean). January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
28. ^ Noh, Jean (May 20, 2023). "Korea's Acemaker scores sales of 'The Tyrant', 'A Man Of Reason' (exclusive)". Screen. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
29. ^ "박훈정 첫 시리즈물..차승원X김선호 '폭군', 극장→디즈니+ 行[스타이슈]" [Park Hoon-jung's first series.. Cha Seung-won X Kim Seon-ho 'Tyrant', Theatre→Disney+行[Star Issue]]. 스타뉴스 (in Korean). February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
30. ^ Park, Jin-young (February 19, 2024). "차승원x김선호 '폭군', 영화 아닌 4부작 시리즈…디즈니+ 공개 확정" [Cha Seung-won x Kim Seon-ho's 'Tyrant', a four-part series, not a movie, is confirmed to be released in Disney+]. 아이뉴스24 (in Korean). Retrieved February 19, 2024.

## External links[edit]

* Tyrant Official Website
* The Tyrant at HanCinema
* The Tyrant at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Park Hoon-jung

Films written
and directed|

* The Showdown (2011)
* New World (2013)
* The Tiger (2015)
* V.I.P. (2017)
* The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion (2018)
* Night in Paradise (2020)
* The Witch: Part 2. The Other One (2022)
* The Childe (2023)

Films written only|

* I Saw the Devil (2010)
* The Unjust (2010)

OTT Original Series|

* The Tyrant (2024)

* v
* t
* e

Works by Next Entertainment World

* NEW

TV series|

| 2010s|

* The Beauty Inside (2015)
* Descendants of the Sun (2016)
* Ms. Hammurabi (2018)
* Chief of Staff (2019)

|

2020s|

* Oh My Baby (2020)
* Graceful Friends (2020)
* The Devil Judge (2021)
* Doom at Your Service (2021)
* Rookie Cops (2022)
* Doctor Cha (2023)
* Moving (South Korean TV series) (2023)
* Tell Me That You Love Me (2023)

Film|

| 2000s|

* A Season of Good Rain (2009)

|

2010s|

* Haunters (2010)
* Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2013)
* New World (2013)
* Hide and Seek (2013)
* Sea Fog (2014)
* Northern Limit Line (2015)
* Twenty (2015)
* The Tiger: An Old Hunter's Tale (2015)
* Train to Busan (2016)
* The Villainess (2017)
* Steel Rain (2017)
* Swing Kids (2018)
* Start-Up (2019)

2020s|

* Honest Candidate (2020)
* Night in Paradise (2020)
* Hostage: Missing Celebrity (2021)
* The Witch: Part 2. The Other One (2022)
* Special Delivery (2022)
* Honest Candidate 2 (2022)
* The Night Owl (2022)
* Soulmate (2023)
* Smugglers (2023)
* The Childe (2023)

OTT Original Series|

| 2020s|

* Moving (2023)
* The Tyrant (2024)

|

* v
* t
* e

Star original programming

Current|

* That One Word – Feyenoord (since 2021)
* Boris (season 4; 2022)
* Gannibal (since 2022)
* Wedding Season (since 2022)
* The Zone: Survival Mission (since 2022)
* The Artful Dodger (since 2023)
* Extraordinary (since 2023)
* The Invisible Girl (since 2023)
* The Lions of Sicily (since 2023)
* Sand Land (since 2024)
* Shardlake (since 2024)
* Uncle Samsik (since 2024)

Upcoming|

* Light Shop (2024)
* The Tyrant (2024)
* Last Days of the Space Age (TBA)

Ended|

* Blowing Kisses (2021)
* Connect (2022)
* Grid (2022)
* The Ignorant Angels (2022)
* Kiss Sixth Sense (2022)
* May It Please the Court (2022)
* Oussekine (2022)
* Our Only Chance (2022)
* Revenge of Others (2022)
* Rookie Cops (2022)
* Soundtrack #1 (2022)
* Women in Taipei (2022)
* Big Bet (2023)
* Call It Love (2023)
* The Clearing (2023)
* Culprits (2023)
* Faraway Downs (2023)
* The Full Monty (2023)
* The Good Mothers (2023)
* Moving (2023)
* Soundtrack #2 (2023)
* Taiwan Crime Stories (2023)
* Vigilante (2023)
* The Worst of Evil (2023)
* Blood Free (2024)
* Cristóbal Balenciaga (2024)
* The Impossible Heir (2024)
* See You in Another Life (2024)
* A Shop for Killers (2024)

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