New cinematic universe incoming? The 'Crime City' star blends action and horror in his latest genre twist

Ma Dong-seok—a.k.a. Korea's action powerhouse—is back, but this time with a supernatural twist. Following the massive success of the The Roundup series, he's diving into the occult action genre with Holy Night: Demon Hunters.

🔮 Welcome to the Ma Dong-seok Universe… Now with Demons

At a press conference held on April 2 at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University in Seoul, Ma Dong-seok revealed that Holy Night is more than just a film—it's the start of a potential cinematic universe.

"We're also publishing a webtoon version of Holy Night," he said. "The worldbuilding is already in place, so if the film is loved, we can definitely expand it—maybe into a series, game, or even animation."

🧨 The Story: Blessed With Power, Fighting Evil

Directed by Lim Dae-hee, Holy Night: Demon Hunters follows a secret group of demon hunters with special abilities: Bau (Ma Dong-seok), Sharon (Seohyun), and Kim-gun (Lee David).

Ma plays Bau, a man with fists of steel and a mysterious past. "It's my typical action character," he admitted, "but with fantasy layers and hidden secrets that'll unfold in the movie."

⚔️ Fantasy Meets Boxing: A New Kind of Action

Though Ma's signature boxing-style combat returns, the action scenes also incorporate fantasy elements—think wires, VFX, and supernatural stunts.

"I wanted the action to feel somewhere between grounded and magical," he said. "We worked hard to make even the familiar moves feel new and fantastical."

As a producer and co-writer, Ma added, "We spent years refining the script and watched literally thousands of horror films for research. I think I'm officially over horror now," he joked.

👁️ Seohyun as a Cold-but-Warm Exorcist

Seohyun plays Sharon, a stoic demon hunter who senses evil and performs exorcisms using ancient incantations.

"I wanted Sharon to be totally original," Seohyun explained. "I listened to the ancient chants all day—even while sleeping—to make them sound natural."

She also worked with invented phrases to capture the emotional weight of the rituals, saying, "Even if the meaning isn't real, the emotion has to be."

🎥 Lee David's Comic Relief… and Close Calls

Lee David plays Kim-gun, the team's multi-tasking tech guy who documents every mission with his camcorder. Though he's appeared in other occult-themed films (Svaha, Exhuma), this is his first occult-action hybrid.

"Kim-gun's quirky, a bit clumsy, and adds lightness to the story," he shared. "While Ma Dong-seok goes full beast mode, I'm dodging blows like my life depends on it—which, in the story, it does."

🎞️ Not Just Another Genre Film—A Genre Mix

Director Lim Dae-hee, a well-known occult film scholar, infused the film with rich layers of Eastern shamanism and horror theory. "Blending the tension of horror with the thrill of action creates a fun and fresh experience," he said.

Ma Dong-seok echoed that vision: "Just like we helped establish action cinema with The Roundup, I hope this opens the door for more genre-mixed films in Korea."

📅 Release Date: May 30

Holy Night: Demon Hunters hits theaters on May 30. Whether it becomes a blockbuster or a full-blown universe, Ma Dong-seok and team are ready—with stories waiting in the wings.