Chapter 41
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: The Post-Credits Surprise
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Park Sungwon went to the theater showing the very first screening of *Redbone 2*. The inside of the theater was buzzing with noise.
No one was hiding their excitement for *Redbone 2*. He had meticulously avoided any online reviews from the premiere.
Since Park Sungwon was watching the first public screening, there was no one who could spoil it for him.
He hated spoilers more than anything.
When the time came, everyone got up and headed to Theater 1. Park Sungwon followed suit.
After the commercials, the Marine Company signature appeared on the screen. Then, the *Redbone 2* OST began to play.
Oh!
Oh!
Flash!
The lights came on in the theater. It had been two hours he couldn't take his eyes off the screen. Marine, as expected! Redbone, as expected! Park Sungwon, a wide smile on his face, was about to get up when he looked at the aisle.
The audience members in the front rows were leaving first, causing a bottleneck.
“Should I wait a bit before leaving?”
It seemed nice to sit back and listen to the *Redbone* OST. He looked around and saw other people still seated, seemingly having the same idea.
He was listening to the music and watching the end credits, when…
The names that had been scrolling smoothly suddenly vanished, and the screen went black. The *Redbone* OST that had been filling Theater 1 also stopped.
“What’s this? An accident?”
“Shouldn’t we call an employee?”
The audience murmured, and those who had been leaving stopped in their tracks.
It was then.
*Thump!*
*Thump-thump!*
Park Sungwon lifted his head to look at the screen. The screen was still black. The music continued to play.
The moviegoers who were leaving Theater 1 heard the music and came back inside, wondering what was happening. Everyone was bewildered.
Park Sungwon opened his mouth without realizing it.
“Shadowman?”
In Theater 1, where only the *Shadowman* OST was playing, Park Sungwon's voice echoed loudly. Everyone gasped. And then,
light appeared on the screen.
A teddy bear sat on a wooden table. And a person's shadow fell over the table.
[William?]
As if hearing the woman's voice, the shadow moved.
*Thump!*
The *Shadowman* OST ended, and the *Redbone* OST started playing again. The end credits for *Redbone 2*, which had disappeared, began to scroll up slowly.
The audience members who had been leaving, those who were awkwardly standing to get ready, and those who had been leisurely listening to the *Redbone* OST—all of them stared with their mouths agape at the screen where white text was scrolling.
What? What was that just now? What I saw was…?
“Huh?”
Starting with Park Sungwon's exclamation, Theater 1 erupted.
Back home, Park Sungwon immediately turned on his computer. He didn't even remember how he got home. He then looked up a spoiler-free review on a site he frequented. Before watching *Redbone 2*, he hadn't understood what it meant.
[Redbone 2 Premiere Review]
Huh. (the music)
Huh? (the video)
HUH! (the realization)
-Same.
>Crazy.
“It really was crazy.”
It was exactly as the review said. He felt like his heart was still pounding.
Title: (Spoiler) Redbone 2 Post-Credits Scene Spoiler
Author: MarineFan
Wow. *Redbone 2* was fun, but the post-credits scene was the biggest shock.
I kind of expected *Shadowman 2* to come out… but wow… what a shock…
When I heard the music, I was just happy thinking, *Shadowman 2* is coming out!
But then I saw the teddy bear in the video,
and I was like, wow, I've seen that somewhere! (I've seen *Shadowman* 10 times
And the woman's voice. William.
I thought I misheard it, so I looked at the subtitles. The subtitles also said [William?]
lololol I heard that and left the theater in a daze? Then the sunlight hit me and I had a realization! And it seemed like everyone else who watched the movie came to their senses at the same time. I kept hearing gasps of "Heok! Heol?!" lolol
Seriously. Marine Company… take all my money!! My god. Such a shocking trailer!
Someone tell me about William and the *Shadowman* comic. I can't predict how this will unfold!!
-So shocking. I thought he was an extra.
-Is he a hero or a villain!
=Seems too young to be a villain.
=Isn't he too young to be a hero, too?
-The *Shadowman* comic came out 20 years ago. It wasn't popular even then, so it's out of print. It might be in the Marine Company history museum or something.
Park Sungwon, who was reading the post, wrote his own.
[(Spoiler) Redbone 2, then….]
Does this mean Lee Seojun will be in the Marine Company series this time?
-Won't they use a different actor for *Shadowman 2*?
=Right. He was an extra in *Shadowman 1*, so they used a Korean, but now it's a pretty significant role, so won't they cast a new actor?
“Is that so?”
Park Sungwon scratched his head.
-Then they should have used an American from the start. Isn't that racial discrimination?
=The *Shadowman* director would never. He's made a lot of movies against racism.
-Just from the fact that Lee Seojun didn't appear in the post-credits scene, only his shadow, it seems like it's not him.
[(Spoiler) Redbone 2, but wouldn't it be awesome if he did?]
I didn't write the subject in the title, so it's not a title spoiler.
But if Lee Seojun plays William, wouldn't that be awesome?
It seems they plan to make a *Shadowman* series, and if it's a really important role, he'll keep appearing. In a Marine Company movie, no less.
Marine Company movies don't just release in the US, they release worldwide, so he'd make a huge name for himself. Guaranteed box office success, guaranteed fame. There probably hasn't been a Korean actor who succeeded in Hollywood to this extent.
-But he won't be in it.
-The problem is he won't be. 100% not happening.
Public opinion was leaning negative. More and more posts appeared with people who had seen the *Redbone 2* post-credits scene debating back and forth.
In the US, too, the *Redbone 2* post-credits scene was a hot topic. It's Seojun Lee, it's not. They should cast a new actor. The original actor is fine. There was a lot of talk.
And a week after *Redbone 2*'s release, a post went up on Marine Company's website and social media.
[Marine's heroes are everyone's heroes, and no one will be excluded from 'everyone'.]
-Of course!
-Everyone's hero! That's cool.
“—is what they're saying?”
At Pailan’s words, Richard Bowen clutched his head. Just thinking about a few months ago gave him a headache.
“You should have seen that look in his eyes.”
“Director Ryan Will's? I heard it was intense.”
A few months ago. While Pailan was away on a business trip, a meeting was held. It was because of the synopsis Director Ryan Will brought after they proposed a *Shadowman* series to him.
Shadowman's adversary, 'William'. The role they thought was just an extra turned out to be one that would appear throughout the *Shadowman* series.
Age aside, the discussion turned to whether to cast an Asian or a Westerner for such a role.
Director Ryan Will, who was attending the meeting, folded his arms and silently stared only at Richard Bowen, who was sitting at the head of the table.
The people in the conference room, who had been debating fiercely, gradually quieted down at the sight of Director Ryan Will just staring without offering an opinion. The conference room fell silent.
It was dreadful even thinking about it now. Richard Bowen rubbed his dry face.
“That was definitely the look of a man who would, if I didn't listen to him, make a movie about Marine Company's racism, just like the words that came out of this conference room.”
“Hahaha. Director Ryan Will is sharp when it comes to things like that. He might have even won the grand prize this time.”
“…Are you siding with Director Will because you're Korean too?”
At Richard Bowen's words, his full name, Pailan Park, shrugged.
“In this global era, there's nothing as foolish as getting hung up on nationality. More importantly, this.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“The box office revenue and audience numbers for *Redbone 2* by country. Well, with numbers like these, don't you think it's fine to have a Korean actor?”
“…What did you say the population of South Korea was?”
“Ten times that.”
“…Incredible.”
*Redbone 2* release, one week.
It surpassed 5 million viewers.
Park Sungwon turned on the television. He wanted to watch his favorite variety show, but his timing was off, and a commercial came on.
“Is this a new movie?”
A man appeared on the black screen, running hard. Covered in wounds, he kept looking back. The actor's name appeared at the bottom of the screen. Lee Jiseok.
“Ah, Lee Jiseok. Movies he stars in tend to flop…”
The fleeing man arrived at a certain village. Crows cawed, and a large wooden gate slammed shut! Then the screen suddenly went black. The tense music also stopped at the same time.
Staring at the suddenly black screen, Park Sungwon felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
*Jingle!*
“Huh?”
He heard the sound of a bell. Park Sungwon, not taking his eyes off the television screen, slowly sat down in front of it.
*Jingle!*
On a wooden table sat a bell that looked like a fruit hanging from a branch. He had seen videos on television of shamans holding such bells while performing rituals. Park Sungwon didn't even realize his mouth was hanging open.
*Jingle!*
And a person's shadow appeared over the table.
[Little one.]
The shadow moved.
The screen changed, and text that looked like it was on fire appeared.
[*Akryeong*, Grand Opening in Early August!]
And until several more commercials passed and the variety show came on, Park Sungwon just stared blankly at the television screen.
Title: (Redbone 2 Spoiler) Is that for real?
Author: MarineFan
Not sure if I should tag this as a *Redbone 2* spoiler or not. Decided to tag it just in case.
First off, if you haven't seen the *Akryeong* trailer, it's on N-tube, so go watch it.
There are two possibilities:
1. *Akryeong* plagiarized it.
2. Marine Company gave them permission.
If it's plagiarism, the production company for *Akryeong* is in big trouble. I don't need to say more.
Welcome :) This is the land of lawsuits, America ;)
And, if Marine Company gave permission…
Lee Seojun!!!
It must be Lee Seojun!!
Post-credits shadow = *Akryeong* shadow = Lee Seojun
That's why Marine Company gave them permission!
Wow. I've been blindsided twice in one week.
Seriously, if Lee Seojun is in *Akryeong*, that automatically means Lee Seojun will also play William in the upcoming *Shadowman*.
+) I emailed Marine Company, and they said they did it with permission! Wow… wow…
-Marine Company and *Akryeong*'s master plan… Chills…
-Seriously, you'd need some serious guts to plagiarize. So then…!?
-Wow. I have to go see *Akryeong* just to confirm if it's Lee Seojun.
Two days after the *Akryeong* trailer aired, South Korea was once again ablaze with 'Lee Seojun'.
[What is Korean Hollywood Child Actor Lee Seojun's Next Project?]
[*Akryeong*, What Kind of Movie Is It?]
[What Kind of Actor is Lee Seojun in Hollywood?]
[Is Lee Seojun in Korea Now? Or the US?]
-At this point, you could really call him a Hollywood star.
-Wow. My god. Isn't Lee Seojun 6 now?
-He's 5 years and 5 months old in American age.
The N-tuber Moviegoer uploaded a video. Moviegoer laughed, shrugging his shoulders as if in disbelief.
“Actor Lee Seojun has really solved it perfectly. I never imagined it. To confirm a role in a series for a Hollywood movie, a Marine Company movie at that, and then also film a Korean movie in the meantime. I'm truly excited to see what kind of actor he'll become.”
-lolol You were wrong about him coming back in 2 years lol
-???: America? Korea? Why not do both?
And in early August, *Akryeong* was released.
Park Sungwon, who once again didn't miss the first screening on the first day, entered the theater.
“It's gotta be Lee Seojun, right?”
“100 percent Lee Seojun.”
Listening to people's conversations, he looked at the pamphlet for *Akryeong*. Here, too, Lee Seojun's name and photo were nowhere to be found. There was only a picture of the table, the bell, and the shadow from the trailer.
“All guests for *Akryeong* in Theater 9, please begin entering!”
Following the employee's guidance, Park Sungwon went to his seat. Soon, the lights went out, and fiery letters appeared.
*Akryeong*.
Soohyuk, who works at an antique shop, one day acquires a valuable-looking jewelry box. He planned to clean it up and sell it, but that was a mistake. An evil spirit emerged from the jewelry box and attached itself to Soohyuk.
The evil spirit caused all sorts of trouble using Soohyuk's body. At first, they were minor accidents, but soon it even set fire to the antique shop.
Soohyuk went to all sorts of places—churches, cathedrals, temples—to exorcise the spirit, but far from getting rid of it, he ended up endangering the life of a pastor who tried to help.
The pastor, being carried away in an ambulance, gave Soohyuk a piece of paper. Soohyuk set off, determined to end it all if this place didn't work either.
And in the village he arrived at, Soohyuk saw a little boy in a hanbok. The boy, with an indifferent expression, gave him a chilling look before closing the door. Not long after, an old man came out and rented him a room.
The next day, the old man, who had prepared breakfast for Soohyuk and suggested they go for a walk, brought up the story of the little boy.
The boy, now seven, had lost his parents to an evil spirit when he was four and received a divine possession on the same day. At the god's suggestion, he was undergoing a vow of silence. He had lived for three years without crying, laughing, or speaking. The old man who took care of the boy was not his biological family either.
Soohyuk saw the boy standing in front of the village shrine, staring blankly at a tree. The little shaman was the same age as Soohyuk's troublemaker nephew, yet he ate, bowed, and meditated without any expression.
“The evil spirit covets the child's body.”
At the old man's words, Soohyuk's face stiffened. And he tried to leave the village. There was no way that small child could defeat this evil spirit.
A fight broke out between the evil spirit, which wanted to stay in the village, and Soohyuk, who wanted to leave.
In the end, Soohyuk lost.
Late at night. The evil spirit invaded the boy's house. There was the boy, looking as if he had been waiting. Soohyuk grabbed onto the evil spirit and held on.
The night filled with screams passed.
Soohyuk's eyes flew open. The old man who had been nursing him chuckled softly.
“Won't you go see him off with me?”
“See him off, you say?”
“Yes.”
Leading his strangely refreshed body, he followed the old man across the yard. A week had already passed since Soohyuk collapsed. The old man said he had nursed him at home because it was his soul, not his body, that had taken the blow, so a hospital couldn't have treated him.
“I'm very grateful to you.”
“Huh?”
The old man smiled and opened the large wooden gate. There.
“Hi, Soohyuk hyung?”
A little boy in a yellow kindergarten uniform with a backpack stood there, smiling brightly. Soohyuk looked at the boy and the old man with a bewildered face.
“The evil spirit has been exorcised, and the god within has used up its power. The god wasn't bad, but it placed a heavy burden on the child. Now, this child will live an ordinary life, laughing and crying like other kids. He can even go to kindergarten now. It's all thanks to you.”
“No. It wasn't me.”
Seeing the boy smile brightly and take his hand, something surged up inside him. The image of the little shaman who had fought the evil spirit while crying all night was nowhere to be seen.
Soohyuk knelt down to meet the boy's eyes.
“Hey, kid. What's your name?”
At Soohyuk's question, the boy smiled brightly.
***
Title: Is it just me, or does he seem like he was actually possessed?
Author: It's Akryeong
Honestly, I watched it because I was curious if it was Lee Seojun or not, but I think I'll watch it a few more times.
His performance as William was so impressive that I couldn't imagine Lee Seojun acting any other way, but I guess I was the fool.
Lee Jiseok's possession acting was amazing, but Lee Seojun's shaman acting was just… incredible.
If Lee Jiseok's acting felt like 'multiple personalities + alpha', Lee Seojun's acting felt like there was really something inside him.
When Lee Seojun looked Soohyuk up and down, I got goosebumps, thinking he was seeing right through me.
And what's more, after Lee Seojun appeared, it felt like Lee Jiseok, and the whole movie, went crazy.
Lee Seojun seemed like he was really harboring a god of immense power, Lee Jiseok seemed like he was genuinely possessed by an evil spirit and fighting it, and the directing and CG matched the uncanny atmosphere, making it all look real.
Anyway, it was awesome.
-Awesome. I really didn't expect anything, but it was awesome.
-The movie's atmosphere definitely changes when Lee Seojun appears. Before he shows up, it's like a cutesy human world story, but after he appears, it feels like THIS is the other side!!
-The CG during the fight was the best. I want to make a GIF of it later.
And after the movie was released, the confidentiality agreements were automatically lifted, and staff and related personnel all began posting on social media and the internet at once.
Photos taken with Seojun in his regular clothes and pictures of Seojun's autograph began to appear.