Park Sung-won found the cinema where Redbone 2 would be screened first. The cinema was bustling with activity.
Everyone was openly showing their anticipation for Redbone 2. He had deliberately avoided reading any reviews from the preview screenings online.
Since this was the first screening Park Sung-won was watching, there was no one to spoil it for him.
He absolutely hated spoilers.
When the time came, everyone got up from their seats and headed to Auditorium 1. Park Sung-won followed.
After the advertisements ended, Marine's signature logo appeared on the screen, followed by the Redbone 2 soundtrack.
Oh!
Oh!
Flash!
The lights in the auditorium came on. It was a two-hour experience that he couldn't take his eyes off. Indeed, Marine! Indeed, Redbone! Park Sung-won smiled broadly as he slowly got up from his seat, but then he looked at the aisle.
The audience in the front rows had already left, causing a bottleneck.
"Should I wait a bit before leaving?"
He thought it might be nice to sit back and listen to the Redbone soundtrack. Looking around, he saw that some people seemed to have the same idea, as they were still seated.
While listening to the music and watching the end credits, the names that were appearing suddenly disappeared, and the screen turned completely black. The Redbone 2 soundtrack, which had been playing in Auditorium 1, also stopped.
"What's going on? An accident?"
"Should we call a staff member?"
The audience began to murmur, and those who were leaving stopped in their tracks.
At that moment,
Ding!
Ding-ding!
Park Sung-won looked up at the screen. The screen was still pitch black, but the music continued to play.
The audience who had been leaving Auditorium 1, hearing the music and wondering what was happening, came back inside. Everyone was puzzled.
Without realizing it, Park Sung-won spoke out loud.
"Shadowman?"
Park Sung-won's voice echoed loudly in Auditorium 1, where only the Shadowman soundtrack was playing. Everyone gasped. Then,
Light appeared on the screen.
On a wooden table, a teddy bear was placed. A human shadow covered the table.
[William?]
It seemed a woman's voice was heard, and the shadow moved.
Ding!
The Shadowman soundtrack ended, and the Redbone soundtrack started playing again. The end credits of Redbone 2, which had disappeared, slowly began to roll.
The audience who were leaving Auditorium 1, those who were hesitantly standing to leave, and those who were leisurely listening to the Redbone soundtrack, all stood with their mouths open, watching the white text on the screen.
What? What was that just now? What did I see...?
"Wow?"
Park Sung-won's exclamation sparked an explosion in Auditorium 1.
After returning home, Park Sung-won immediately turned on his computer. He didn't even remember how he got home. He read a review post on a site he frequently visited, which had no spoilers before watching Redbone 2.
[Redbone 2 Preview Review]
Wow. (Music)
Wow? (Visual)
Wow! (Realization)
-Agreed.
>Insane.
"Really, it's insane."
It was really just as the review post described. His heart was still racing.
Title: (Spoilers) Redbone 2 Cookie Scene Spoilers
Author: Marine Fan
Wow. Redbone 2 was fun, but the shock came from the cookie scene.
I thought Shadowman 2 might appear... Wow... Shock...
While listening to the music, I was happy that Shadowman 2 was coming out.
When I saw the teddy bear in the video,
Wow. Where have I seen this before? (Watched Shadowman 10 times < Stupid)
And the woman's voice. William.
When I heard that, I thought I might have misheard and checked the subtitles. The subtitles also said [William?]
Haha, after hearing that, I left the cinema in a daze and felt a shock when I stepped into the sunlight. It seemed the people I watched the movie with also snapped out of it at that moment. I kept hearing "Huh!" and "Wow?!" sounds. Haha.
Really. Marine... Take all my money!! Seriously, such a shocking trailer!
Can someone tell me the story of William and the Shadowman comic? I can't predict the plot!
-Really shocking. I thought it was an extra scene.
-Hero or villain?
=Too young to be a villain.
=Not too young to be a hero?
-Shadowman comic came out 20 years ago. It was unpopular and went out of print. It might be in a Marine history museum.
While reading the post, Park Sung-won wrote a comment.
[(Spoilers) Redbone 2, so...]
If it's Lee Seo-joon, will he appear in the Marine series this time?
-Will a different actor play the role in Shadowman 2?
=That's right. Lee Seo-joon was an extra in Shadowman 1, but now it's a significant role, so they might cast a new actor.
"Is that so?"
Park Sung-won scratched his head.
-Then they should have used an American actor from the beginning. Isn't that racial discrimination?
=Not the Shadowman director. He has made many films against racial discrimination.
-The fact that only the shadow appeared in the cookie scene and not Lee Seo-joon suggests it's not him.
[(Spoilers) Redbone 2, but wouldn't it be a big deal if he did appear?]
The title doesn't mention the subject, so it's not a spoiler.
But if Lee Seo-joon appears as William, wouldn't it be a big deal?
It seems they plan to make a Shadowman series. If it's a significant role, he would appear in all the films, especially in Marine films.
Marine films are not just released in the U.S. but worldwide. It seems he would become incredibly famous. Box office success and fame guaranteed. There might not be another Korean actor who has succeeded this much in Hollywood.
-But he won't appear.
-That's the problem. 100% he won't appear.
Public opinion turned negative. More and more posts appeared with heated debates from people who saw the cookie scene in Redbone 2.
In the U.S., the cookie scene of Redbone 2 was also a hot topic. Some said it was Seo-joon Lee, others said it wasn't. Some said they should cast a new actor, others said the existing actor was fine. There was a lot of discussion.
A week after the release of Redbone 2, a post appeared on Marine's website and SNS.
[Marine's hero is everyone's hero, and no one is excluded from 'everyone.']
-Of course!
-Everyone's hero! Great.
"What does that mean?"
At Paleon's words, Richard Bowen clutched his head. Just thinking about a few months ago made his head hurt.
"You had to see that look in his eyes."
"Director Ryan Will? I heard he was impressive."
A few months ago, while Paleon was on a business trip, a meeting was held. When the proposal to make a Shadowman series was presented to Director Ryan Will, it was because of the synopsis he brought.
"William," the antagonist of Shadowman, was a role that appeared throughout the series, not just an extra.
Regardless of age, the discussion was whether to cast an Asian or a Western actor for such a role.
Director Ryan Will, who attended the meeting, crossed his arms and silently stared at Richard Bowen, who was sitting at the head of the table.
The people in the meeting room, who were debating, gradually fell silent as they saw Director Ryan Will staring at Richard Bowen without any opinion. The meeting room fell into silence.
It was still terrifying to think about. Richard Bowen rubbed his temples.
"That look in his eyes was clearly saying that if I didn't listen to him, he would make a movie about racial discrimination at Marine, just as he had said in the meeting room."
"Haha. Director Ryan Will is very good at that. Maybe he'll win an award this time."
"…Are you taking Director Will's side because you're Korean?"
At Richard Bowen's words, Paleon Park shrugged.
"In this global era, there's nothing as stupid as distinguishing by nationality. But more importantly, this."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"The box office and audience numbers for Redbone 2 by country. Don't you think it's fine for a Korean actor to appear with these numbers?"
"…What's the population of Korea?"
"Ten times that."
"…Impressive."
A week after the release of Redbone 2,
It surpassed 5 million viewers.
Park Sung-won turned on the TV. He wanted to watch his favorite variety show, but it seemed the timing was bad as an advertisement was playing.
"Is this a new movie?"
A man was running hard on a black screen. He was covered in wounds and kept looking back. The actor's name appeared at the bottom of the screen. Lee Ji-seok.
"Oh, Lee Ji-seok. I heard that if he's the lead, the movie will fail..."
The man running arrived at a village. Crows cawed, and a large wooden gate slammed shut. Suddenly, the screen turned black, and the tense music stopped.
The sudden black screen gave Park Sung-won a sense of déjà vu.
Ding!
"Huh?"
A bell sound was heard. Park Sung-won didn't take his eyes off the TV screen and slowly sat down in front of it.
Ding!
On the wooden table, a bell that looked like a fruit hanging from a branch was placed. He had seen a shaman holding such a bell in a TV show. Park Sung-won didn't realize his mouth was open.
Ding!
Then, a human shadow appeared on the table.
[Little boy.]
The shadow moved.
The screen changed, and burned-looking text appeared.
[The Spirit, coming soon in early August!]
After several ads, Park Sung-won stared blankly at the TV screen until the variety show started.
Title: (Redbone 2 Spoilers) Is this real?
Author: Marine Fan
I'm not sure whether to add spoilers for Redbone 2, but I'll do it anyway.
First, if you haven't seen the trailer for "The Spirit," check it out on YouTube.
There are two possibilities:
1. "The Spirit" plagiarized.
2. Marine gave permission.
If it's plagiarism, the production company of "The Spirit" is in big trouble. You know what I mean.
Welcome :) This is the land of lawsuits, America.
And if Marine gave permission...
Lee Seo-joon!!!
It seems to be Lee Seo-joon!!
Cookie scene shadow = "The Spirit" shadow = Lee Seo-joon
That's why Marine gave permission!
Wow. I've been blindsided twice in a week.
Really, if Lee Seo-joon appears in "The Spirit," it means he will automatically play William in the upcoming Shadowman.
+) I sent an email to Marine, and they said they gave permission! Wow... Wow...
-Marine and "The Spirit" have a big plan... Chills...
-Really, it doesn't seem like plagiarism without a lot of courage. So...!?
-Wow. I have to see "The Spirit" to confirm if it's Lee Seo-joon.
Two days after the "The Spirit" trailer was released, South Korea was once again set ablaze by "Lee Seo-joon."
[What's the next project for Korean Hollywood child actor Lee Seo-joon?]
[What kind of movie is "The Spirit"?]
[What kind of actor is Lee Seo-joon in Hollywood?]
[Is Lee Seo-joon in Korea now or in the U.S.?]
-At this point, he could be called a real Hollywood star.
-Wow. Seriously. Isn't Lee Seo-joon only 6 years old now?
-He's 5 years and 5 months old by American age.
A YouTuber named Moviegoer uploaded a video. Moviegoer shrugged and laughed, looking exasperated.
"Actor Lee Seo-joon has really solved everything perfectly. I never imagined he would be confirmed to appear in a Hollywood series, especially a Marine series, and also shoot a Korean film. I really look forward to what kind of actor he will become in the future."
-LOL, the prediction that he would appear two years later was wrong LOL
-???: U.S.? Korea? Can't he do both?
And in early August, "The Spirit" was released.
Park Sung-won, who didn't miss the first screening on the first day, entered the cinema.
"It's Lee Seo-joon, right?"
"100% Lee Seo-joon."
While listening to people's conversations and looking at the pamphlet for "The Spirit," he noticed that Lee Seo-joon's name and photo were not listed. Only the table, bell, and shadow from the trailer were shown.
"Please enter Auditorium 9 for 'The Spirit'!"
Park Sung-won followed the staff's guidance and sat down. Soon, the lights went out, and burning-like text appeared.
The Spirit.
Soo-hyuk, who works at an antique shop, one day acquires an expensive-looking jewelry box. He planned to clean it and sell it, but that was a mistake. A spirit came out of the jewelry box and attached itself to Soo-hyuk.
The spirit caused all sorts of accidents through Soo-hyuk's body. At first, they were minor incidents, but soon it even set fire to the antique shop.
To exorcise the spirit, Soo-hyuk visited various places like churches, cathedrals, and temples, but not only did he fail to exorcise it, he even put the life of a pastor who tried to help him in danger.
As the pastor was being taken to the ambulance, he gave Soo-hyuk a piece of paper. With the resolve to end it if nothing else worked, Soo-hyuk set out on a journey.
When he arrived at the village, Soo-hyuk saw a child in hanbok. The child, with a blank expression, looked at him with a chilling gaze and closed the door. Soon, an old man came out and offered him a room.
The next day, while the old man was preparing breakfast and suggested a walk, he began to talk about the child.
The child, now 7 years old, lost his parents to a spirit at the age of 4 and received a shamanic calling on the same day. Following the advice of the gods, he was undergoing a silent retreat. He couldn't laugh, cry, or speak, and had been living like this for 3 years. The old man, who took care of the child's daily life, was not his biological family.
Soo-hyuk saw the child standing in front of the shrine, staring blankly at a tree.
The child shaman, the same age as Soo-hyuk's troublesome nephew, ate, bowed, and meditated without any expression.
"The spirit is coveting the child's body."
At the old man's words, Soo-hyuk's face hardened. He tried to leave the village. There was no way a small child could defeat this spirit.
A fight broke out between the spirit, who wanted to stay in the village, and Soo-hyuk, who wanted to leave.
In the end, Soo-hyuk lost.
Late at night, the spirit invaded the child's house. There, the child was waiting as if expecting it. Soo-hyuk clung to the spirit.
The night was filled with screams.
Soo-hyuk opened his eyes suddenly. The old man, who had been nursing him, smiled faintly.
"Would you like to go and meet him?"
"Meet who?"
"Yes."
Feeling refreshed, Soo-hyuk followed the old man into the yard. It had been a week since Soo-hyuk collapsed. They said he had suffered a spiritual blow, so the hospital couldn't treat him, and he was nursed at home.
"I'm very grateful to you."
"Huh?"
The old man smiled and opened the large wooden gate. There,
"Hello, Hyuk-ssi?"
A child in a yellow kindergarten uniform, holding a school bag, stood there, smiling brightly. Soo-hyuk looked at the child and the old man, bewildered.
"The spirit has been exorcised, and the inner god has used up all its power. The god isn't bad, but it put a lot of burden on the child. Now, this child will live a normal life, laughing and crying like other children. He can even go to kindergarten. It's all thanks to you."
"No, no."
Seeing the child smiling brightly and holding his hand, something welled