Ma Dong Seok’s upcoming feature, Pig Village, has revealed its impressive ensemble cast.
The film, primarily shot in South Korea but told entirely in English, features an international cast that includes Ma Dong Seok himself, Michael Rooker, Colin Woodell, Lisette Olivera, Ali Ahn, and Abraham Popoola.
Produced by Plus M Entertainment, Pig Village is directed by Lee Sang Yong, known for his work on The Roundup series, and written by Cha Woo Jin, who also worked on The Roundup: No Way Out. The film is based on an original story by Ma Dong Seok.
Set against the backdrop of the U.S.-Mexico border, Pig Village follows Hammer (played by Ma Dong Seok), a bare-knuckle boxer who gets caught in a dangerous web of crime and corruption after failing a fixed fight in San Diego. His mistake leads him to Pig Village, a chaotic hotel near the border where criminals, cartel fugitives and corrupt lawmen all chase the same fortune. The story dives into the gritty and high-stakes world of organized crime.
Michael Rooker portrays Steve, a crooked detective with a ruthless streak who holds the key to Hammer’s only weakness. Colin Woodell plays Randy, a psychopathic killer on a bloody rampage.
Since his breakout role in Train to Busan (2016), Ma Dong Seok has become one of South Korea’s top stars, known for his work in The Outlaws (2017) and its sequels, as well as the Roundup films. In 2021, he made his Hollywood debut in Marvel’s Eternals as Gilgamesh.
One of the film’s most notable aspects is that Pig Village will be primarily shot in South Korea, with a brief exterior shoot in Southern California. It marks the first large-scale English-language action film to be produced almost entirely in South Korea.
In a statement, Ma Dong Seok expressed his excitement, saying, “Designing and making a true Hollywood action film through the Korean production system has been a dream of mine for years. Pig Village brings together top-tier talent from both Hollywood and Korea, blending the strengths of both industries into something totally original and globally exciting.”
Other notable cast members include K-pop star Nancy from MOMOLAND, Alex Meraz (known for The Suicide Squad and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse), Darri Ingolfsson (from Dexter and Banshee), Emeraude Toubia (With Love, Shadowhunters), Griffin Gluck (Locke & Key), and Daniel Velez.
Plus M Entertainment, the powerhouse studio behind The Roundup series and the highly successful 12.12: The Day, is financing and distributing Pig Village in Korea, while also handling international sales, which will kick off at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Production is expected to wrap in the first half of 2025, with a global release to follow.
Rooker shared his excitement for the project, adding, “The moment I read Pig Village, I was in. Ma Dong Seok is a force, and the chance to work with him and this badass Korean production team was something I couldn’t pass up. This film is wild, original — and I think audiences around the world are gonna eat it up.”
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