Oldboy star Choi Min-sik signs on to Disney+ series King of Savvy; Squid Game actors also linked to the K-drama production

Disney+ lures Choi Min-sik back to TV for the first time in 24 years for King of Savvy, a crime action drama reported to have a budget of over US$16 million

Choi is the only confirmed cast member so far, but other actors reported to be in talks to appear included Heo Sung-tae and Kim Joo-ryung of Squid Game fame

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Choi Min-sik, who starred in hit 2003 film Oldboy, is the first confirmed cast member to appear in Disney+ original series King of Savvy.

Published: 1:45pm, 11 Jan 2022Updated: 4:02pm, 10 May 2022

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Choi Min-sik, one of the most successful movie stars in Korea, has officially signed on to star in the Disney+ original series King of Savvy, previously reported to be titled Casino.

King of Savvy is a crime action drama about a casino mogul who takes risks and tries to get back into the game. It will be written and directed by Kang Yoon-sung, who directed 2017 film The Outlaws, and is reported to have a budget of over 20 billion won (US$16.7 million).

While Choi has remained active in the film industry, King of Savvy is Choi’s first television project in 24 years. He last starred in 1997-98 drama Love and Separation on Korean broadcasting channel MBC.

While Choi has remained active in the film industry, King of Savvy is his first television project in 24 years. Photo: Getty Images

The 59-year-old actor received critical acclaim for his role in the 2003 action thriller Oldboy, and achieved commercial success with his role in the 2014 film Roaring Currents, which is by far the highest-grossing film in Korea, with over 17 million admissions.

Most recently, Choi played a terminally ill prisoner in Heaven: To the Land of Happiness, which was in the official selection for the 2020 Cannes Film Festival.