K-Movie to launch ‘The Roundup 5’ starring Don Lee at ACFM

EXCLUSIVE: South Korea’s K-Movie Entertainment is set to launch pre-sales on The Roundup 5 (working title), the latest in the blockbuster action franchise starring Don Lee, at the upcoming Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM).

The feature is set to begin shooting in the first half of 2026 ahead of an anticipated release in 2027.

Plot details are under wraps but the film will again star Lee as Detective Ma Seok-do (close to the actor’s Korean name Ma Dong-seok), aka “the Monster Cop”, known for punching his way through the criminal underworld to serve justice.

This instalment will see him “face a new and even stronger villain whose ruthless presence raises the stakes to unprecedented levels”. No director or further cast have yet been revealed.

The film is produced by Lee’s Big Punch Pictures, Hong Film and B.A. Entertainment, and is presented by ABO Entertainment. K-Movie will handle international sales of the feature.

It marks the latest feature in a series that began with The Outlaws in 2017, which ranked as one of the biggest films in South Korea that year, taking $55m from nearly 7 million admissions.

Sequel The Roundup became the top grossing film at the Korean box office in 2022 with takings of nearly $100m from 13 million admissions – bringing audiences back to cinemas post-pandemic – while The Roundup: No Way Out ranked second in 2023 with $78.5m from nearly 11 million admissions.

Last year, The Roundup: Punishment received its world premiere at the Berlinale before going on to make nearly $80m from 11.5 million admissions as the second biggest film in South Korea of 2024.

Speaking to Screen last year, Lee said: “Every time I make a film in this series, it’s very hard work. There’s action design, character development and story to consider, and a lot of Korean audiences don’t want to lose the comedy element so that needs to be included too.

“I want to evolve this character [of Detective Ma] each time and he finds himself in a more serious situation with more emotional stuff going on this time. This is how we have tried to differentiate it from the previous films.”

Lee, who is also known for Train To Busan and Marvel superhero film Eternals, shot Pig Village earlier this year, an action thriller billed as the biggest English-language feature ever made through the Korean studio system. K-Movie also handles sales for Pig Village in Asia (except Japan, China), Turkey, CIS territories and in-flight. ABO Entertainment also presents that feature.

The ACFM will take place from September 20-23 alongside Busan International Film Festival.

• Adelaide Film Festival unveils 2025 lineup, closing with Warwick Thornton’s ‘Wolfram’