Milla Jovovich, renowned for her role as a fierce warrior in 'Resident Evil', is set to unveil her latest film, 'The Protector', created in collaboration with a Korean team. This marks the 10th project she has worked on with her husband, producer Paul Anderson. Jovovich describes the film as a labor of love.
On October 19, the outdoor stage greeting for 'The Protector', invited to the 'Midnight Passion' section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival, took place at the Busan Cinema Center. Attendees included actress Milla Jovovich, director Adrian Grunberg, writer Moon Bong-seop, producer Paul Anderson, and producer Hosung Park.
'The Protector' tells the gripping story of Nikki Halstead, a former U.S. Special Forces operative, who must rescue her kidnapped daughter Chloe within 72 hours from a criminal syndicate.
Milla Jovovich takes on the role of Nikki Halstead. She explained, "It's a role of a former soldier whose only daughter is kidnapped by human traffickers. My mission is to rescue her. It's an emotional and action-packed film, unlike anything seen before." Jovovich is well-known for her roles in 'The Fifth Element' and 'Resident Evil'.
In this film, Nikki Halstead showcases both her warrior strength and the struggles of motherhood. As a mother of three daughters, Jovovich shared, "The script itself drew me to this film. The actress playing my daughter is the same age as one of my own daughters, which made me feel compelled to make this movie." She added, "The abduction of a child is every parent's worst nightmare, yet many have imagined how they would seek revenge. This film taps into that fantasy, making it both mentally and physically challenging. We all poured our souls into it. It's emotionally raw and action-heavy."
Director Adrian Grunberg expressed, "I hope you love it. It features a lot of Korea, so I would appreciate your support." Writer Moon Bong-seop added, "This project has created an opportunity for Hollywood collaborations in Korea. I hope many more writers will have the chance to work on Hollywood projects." Jovovich noted, "While Seoul doesn't appear in the film, the Korean writer has infused it with Korean emotions and storytelling. You will feel the essence of Korea."
Producer Paul Anderson, who is married to Jovovich, remarked, "This is our 10th film together, reaching double digits. Milla approached me to do this project." He emphasized, "It's special because it started in Korea but was filmed in Mexico and the U.S. It's a global production involving a Ukrainian woman and a British man."
Producer Hosung Park stated, "I grew up in the U.S., and Milla was our number one choice for this film." He continued, "This film is a beautiful collaboration of people from various countries, including Korea and the U.S. It's a cultural bridge."
Producer Joo Bang-ok shared, "We began planning this seven years ago. Writer Moon's dream of entering Hollywood started 20 years ago. After preparation, the talented Milla joined early last year, leading to collaboration with Hollywood capital, staff, and actors. We are grateful for this opportunity." He highlighted the film's key points, "It features excellent action and Korean storytelling, so we hope for your interest."
Busan=Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr