Jo Jung-suk Talks About His New Film 'Zombie Daughter' and His Journey as an Actor

Jo Jung-suk, often dubbed the 'Man of Summer' due to his success with summer comedy hits like 'Exit' and 'Pilot', is set to charm audiences once again with his upcoming film 'Zombie Daughter', releasing on the 30th. The film is a comedic drama about a devoted father who undergoes secret training to protect his daughter, the last remaining zombie in the world. Jo takes on the role of Jung-hwan, a doting father who transitions from a wild animal trainer to a zombie daughter trainer.

"I didn't choose the release date, but it just happened to be this way," Jo shared. "The response from the preview screenings has been positive, which feels great. We've been checking out reviews among ourselves, and they're not bad, so we're cheering each other on. Although we have to wait and see, it feels like a good start. It's a film that captures both laughter and emotion, a classic description but it fits perfectly."

Upon reading the script, Jo found it captivating and relatable, especially as a father to a five-year-old daughter himself. "I chose 'Zombie Daughter' because I had just become a father, and the story resonated with me," he explained. Jo admitted that filming scenes showcasing Jung-hwan's paternal love was emotionally challenging, sometimes requiring breaks during shooting. When asked about the kind of father he aspires to be, Jo replied, "I want to be a good father. I don't know what the standard for a good father is, but I want to be devoted to my family."

"I don't really know how paternal love develops," Jo confessed. "If you ask if my love for my daughter grew while making this film, I'd say there was no change. I'm just always there as her dad. There's no special reason; it's just because she's my daughter. Becoming a father means taking responsibility for your child, and naturally, paternal love follows. It's like how animals care for their young without prior experience. I feel the same way. When a child is born, love for them naturally develops."

This summer, Jo will be competing with his 'Exit' co-star Im Yoon-ah and director Lee Sang-geun, who are releasing their new film 'The Devil Moved In' next month. Jo expressed his support, saying, "Yoon-ah is like family to me, and the same goes for director Lee. We worked together on 'Exit'. We genuinely wish each other success."

"Yoon-ah said, 'Since your film is releasing first, if it does well, ours will follow suit.' We talked about supporting each other. The theater scene feels a bit stagnant, so we hope our films can help revive it. Yoon-ah mentioned in an interview that releasing at the same time is meaningful, and I agree."

Jo believes that comedy acting is about not trying too hard to be funny. Despite his reputation for excelling in comedy, he isn't worried about being typecast. "If I had concerns, I wouldn't have chosen these roles. I think I select projects that align with the natural flow of my life as I age," he said.

Having played a villain in 'Weak Hero 2' released in April, Jo is open to exploring different genres. "I don't know what projects I'll choose next, but I want to follow the natural flow of life. I've always wanted to transform and challenge myself with new genres since I started acting, and that won't change. There will be choices like 'Weak Hero 2' alongside comedies."

Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr