JAKARTA – Before sharing the screen in the upcoming Viu Original series kiDnap GAME, Lee Joon Gi had already been hoping for the chance to work with Japanese actor Sakaguchi Kentaro.

That wish began after the South Korean actor watched Sakaguchi’s performance in the film Tonight, at the Romance Theater—a performance that unexpectedly brought Lee Joon Gi to tears.

Lee Joon Gi admitted that he is not usually the type to cry while watching movies or dramas. But Sakaguchi’s performance was different.“His acting felt so natural, as if it came from deep within him. There was a certain power that immediately pulled me into the story. While watching it and crying, I thought, ‘I want to act with this person,’” Lee Joon Gi said in an interview published by Mezamashi Media, Fuji Television’s digital entertainment news channel and one of the key producers behind kiDnap GAME.

Years later, that wish finally became a reality.

For Lee Joon Gi, meeting and working with Sakaguchi feels almost like fate.“I don’t know whether it was coincidence or destiny, but I’m very happy that I got to meet Kentaro and act with him,” he said.

Interestingly, the admiration goes both ways.

Sakaguchi had already been familiar with Lee Joon Gi’s acting before the two stars worked together. One of the performances that left the strongest impression on him was Lee Joon Gi’s role in the acclaimed drama Flower of Evil.

Sakaguchi was particularly fascinated by Lee Joon Gi’s ability to communicate layers of emotion through nothing more than his eyes.“His eyes seem to be able to tell so many stories. Even behind a happy expression, you can see sadness. Even when he is simply silent, you feel that there is something going on inside his mind,” Sakaguchi said.

According to Sakaguchi, Lee Joon Gi’s emotional performance can even make a scene feel different when watched for a second time. So when he learned that they would finally share the screen in kiDnap GAME, he was immediately excited about the opportunity.

Lee Joon Gi’s Eyes Bring Sakaguchi to Tears

In kiDnap GAME, Sakaguchi plays Niide Toshiro, a detective whose wife becomes a kidnapping victim. Meanwhile, Lee Joon Gi stars as Han Ki-joo, a former surgeon who is determined to save his daughter.

Their characters do not always stand on the same side. At certain moments, Niide Toshiro and Han Ki-joo become allies, while the dangerous game can also put them directly against each other.

The emotional intensity between the two characters even affected Sakaguchi himself.

During one scene, Sakaguchi had to stand face-to-face with Lee Joon Gi as Han Ki-joo displayed his character’s desperation. What happened next was something Sakaguchi did not expect.“I rarely cry. But when I stood in front of him and looked into his eyes, an emotion suddenly came over me,” Sakaguchi revealed.

He believes that reaction came from the honesty and depth Lee Joon Gi brought to the character. Working opposite him also opened up new possibilities for how they could build their scenes together.

Lee Joon Gi, meanwhile, was impressed by Sakaguchi’s strong leadership on set. He noted that Sakaguchi did not simply focus on his own performance, but also actively looked for solutions whenever the production faced challenges.“Watching him try to fix things and build this project made me wonder whether I would be able to do the same at his age. Honestly, I probably couldn’t have done it back then,” Lee Joon Gi said.

Tested by Extreme Filming Conditions in Korea

Their connection grew even stronger while filming in South Korea.

One of their most memorable experiences came while shooting on a bridge near the Han River. With freezing temperatures and strong winds blowing from the river, Sakaguchi and Lee Joon Gi had to deliver a lengthy dialogue scene with only limited action.

The sequence was filmed as a long take, meaning the two actors had to maintain their performances continuously as the camera slowly moved closer to them.

Sakaguchi even worried that the camera might capture his hands shaking from the cold.

As soon as the director called cut, both actors reportedly shouted to release the tension.

Despite the harsh conditions, the experience gave them a sense of shared accomplishment. Lee Joon Gi said he kept pushing himself to bring even more energy to the scene and stay in character alongside Sakaguchi for as long as possible.

Language was another challenge.

Sakaguchi began filming in Korea and made it through his first day without delivering a single line in Japanese, despite kiDnap GAME being led by a Japanese creative team.

The two actors were able to understand each other well enough to communicate directly. However, they still relied on interpreters when they needed to discuss the more detailed emotions and nuances of their performances.

A Pan-Asian Kidnapping Thriller

kiDnap GAME centers on a series of kidnappings that take place simultaneously across seven Asian cities: Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok, Naha, and Manila.

The families of the victims then receive mysterious messages forcing them to participate in a dangerous game in exchange for a chance to save their loved ones.

Produced through a collaboration between Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong, the series brings together a star-studded Asian cast, including Sakaguchi Kentaro, Lee Joon Gi, Alice Ko, Stanley Yau, Carrie Wong, Joel Torre, and Praew Narupornkamol Chaisang.

With its high-stakes premise and the highly anticipated on-screen pairing of Lee Joon Gi and Sakaguchi Kentaro, kiDnap GAME is set to bring together two actors who had admired each other long before they finally shared the same set.

Viu Original kiDnap GAME premieres October 6, 2026.