Actor Lee Jung Jae has entered the Star Wars universe. He stayed overseas for 10 months, performing entirely in English from start to finish, demonstrating his passion in portraying Jedi Master Sol.

On the afternoon of the 4th, a press conference and media screening for episodes 1 and 2 of Disney+ original series 'The Acolyte' was held at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall, with Lee Jung Jae attending as the representative.

Rising to global stardom through Netflix's original series 'Squid Game,' Lee Jung Jae was cast as the lead in 'The Acolyte' series, becoming the first Asian actor to portray a Jedi Master in the 'Star Wars' series, drawing attention from the casting process. Lee Jung Jae plays Jedi Master Sol, who tracks down a series of murders, handling everything from lightsaber action to the character's emotional shifts.

Lee Jung Jae stated, "Nothing has changed significantly since 'Squid Game.' However, there are more overseas projects, expanding the range of my work. Even if you haven't seen the previous 'Star Wars' series, the story doesn't continue, which is an advantage. I could express myself more freely while acting. The entry barrier is low, allowing easy and light engagement with the series."

He revealed that it was his first time staying abroad for 10 months due to filming. "There were minor inconveniences and difficulties, but the most important thing was how to develop a character that could contribute to the project. One challenge was performing in English, which is not my first language. Issues with accent, pronunciation, and intonation could miscommunicate expressions. Acting entirely in English required much attention. I met two excellent coaches and two English teachers and started training four months in advance. We combined face-to-face and Zoom training daily, which helped me get accustomed. Although there were occasional nuances or directorial adjustments needed, the production team was understanding, knowing JJ wasn't comfortable with English, making it a pleasant filming experience," he said with a bright smile.

When asked about his thoughts on entering the 'Star Wars' universe, he replied, "The overall system was almost identical to the Korean system. Since I have experience in film production and direction, I thought I should learn a lot, but it was very similar. This made me realize how advanced the Korean film system is. However, 'Star Wars' has built up expertise since the 1970s, continuously improving props and set designs, making 'The Acolyte' set feel like a product of this long history of refinement."

He added, "Initially, I had many worries, but once I immersed myself in the role of Sol, I focused on performing well within the 'Star Wars' universe. During the initial training camp, all the actors gathered were from different nationalities. Though I had a personal desire to perform well, I focused on expressing and immersing myself in the character suitable for the project."

When asked about his focus in acting, Lee Jung Jae said, "I wanted to portray Sol as a warm character. The director wanted Sol to be respected for his warm heart, which naturally resonated with me, so I thought it was right to express a closer and deeper relationship with Osha. The director is a warm, loving person with a great sense of humor, creating a friendly atmosphere on set," he recalled.

Lee Jung Jae found the logline of a Jedi committing serial murders intriguing. "It's a genre focused on mystery action thriller. The director's effort to amplify curiosity is evident in the script. The story unfolds with past and present intersecting, revealing hidden truths behind the murders and gradually exposing the positions and emotions of each character, making it increasingly engaging."

His performance, aiming to depict the Jedi closest to human emotions in the earliest era of the 'Star Wars' stories, can be seen in 'The Acolyte.'

'The Acolyte' is a mystery action thriller set during the golden age of the Jedi Order, involving an unprecedented series of Jedi murders and the emerging dark forces behind the secrets and truths. Starting with the release of episodes 1 and 2 on the 5th, a new episode will be released every Wednesday on Disney+.

SEE ALSO: Lee Jeong Jae, 'I practiced English to the point where my tongue was so worn out that it was difficult to eat.'