Ji Chang-wook on Reuniting for Disney+’s ‘The Manipulated’

Actor Ji Chang-wook recently shared his thoughts on his experience re-entering a familiar world in Disney+’s series “The Manipulated.” During a roundtable interview in central Seoul, Ji revealed that when he first heard rumors about the series being developed from the film “Fabricated City,” in which he played the lead, he was intrigued. After reading the script, he found it so engaging that he immediately wanted to be a part of it.

Ji explained that the series offered him an opportunity to explore a character in a similar universe to one he worked on about a decade ago, which brought a mix of curiosity and pressure. Released on Nov. 5, the action thriller stars Ji as Park Tae-joong, an ordinary food deliveryman whose life takes a drastic turn after being framed for a crime. Ji focused on portraying Tae-joong’s emotional journey convincingly, a task he deemed his “first and biggest assignment” for the show.

The role demanded a physical and emotional commitment from Ji as he navigated challenging scenes depicting Tae-joong’s struggles in prison. Despite the grueling nature of the role, Ji expressed gratitude for the opportunity and the positive response the series received. He acknowledged the physically demanding nature of the role and hinted that he might take a break from action-oriented projects in the future.

“The Manipulated” marks Ji’s third Disney+ original series, following his previous works, “The Worst of Evil” (2023) and “Gangnam B-Side” (2024). Ji, often referred to as the “son of Disney+” for his frequent collaborations with the platform, is already gearing up for another Korea-Japan project called “Merry Berry Love,” set to be released next year. Reflecting on his experiences working with teams from different countries, Ji expressed his enthusiasm for exploring new collaborations and finding the unique elements each culture brings to the table.