With Leo's agreement secured, Jihoon mentally crossed one major objective off his Cannes checklist.
This trip had always carried two goals: first, to chase the Best Actor award with 'BURIED'; and second, to use that momentum to lure Leonardo into taking the lead role in 'THE DEPARTED'.
Now, one was accomplished. Leo was officially in.
All that remained was the award.
Jihoon could only hope Ryan would clinch the Best Actor trophy.
If he didn't, then all the sleepless nights, the endless script adjustments, and the sacrifices he made would feel wasted. Jihoon couldn't afford that.
Especially not when Ryan had pushed himself so far for the role—so far that he had ended up in the hospital from the mental strain he gotten.
Jihoon felt a pang of guilt just thinking about it.
That kind of commitment deserved recognition.
If Ryan could walk away from Cannes with the prize, it wouldn't just validate the project; it would also fuel his career in Hollywood, smoothing the road ahead in ways even Jihoon's memories of his past life couldn't have predicted.
In his mind, Jihoon repeated one of the mottos he half-believed in: make as many friends as possible.
Not exactly the authentic Sun Tzu's Art of War, but Jihoon's own misinterpreted version.
Connections were everything in this industry.
And tonight, he had just secured one of the most powerful ones.
But before he could dwell further, raised voices interrupted his thoughts.
"Director Lee! Director Lee! I'm a reporter from Korea—let me through! Please, just let me in!"
The commotion came from outside the lounge, reporters locked in a tug-of-war with the staff.
Jihoon turned to Leo with an apologetic smile. "Excuse me for a moment. I'll go check it out."
He rose from the sofa, pushed the door open, and immediately found himself face-to-face with a young reporter whose eyes lit up the moment he spotted him.
"Director Lee!" the man blurted out, almost breathless. "I'm with Korea's MBC. Our Sajang-nim, Jung Soonjae-ssi, specifically requested I interview you!"
MBC? Jung Soonjae?
Jihoon paused, stroking his chin as he tried to place the name.
It took a moment to recall—the last time they had crossed paths was when MBC had asked him to compose an OST for one of their dramas.
Since then, contact between them had been virtually nonexistent.
No wonder it didn't come to him right away.
Still, he couldn't ignore the request.
MBC wasn't like the gossip tabloids that thrived on rumor and exaggeration.
Their reports usually leaned toward social issues, carrying a credibility that many other outlets lacked.
That alone made Jihoon curious.
He stepped into the doorway, studying the reporter. "Alright then, let's do it here," Jihoon said with a polite nod.
"But tell me—your Sajang has my number. Why not just call me and arrange an interview properly?"
At Jihoon's approval, the staff member released his grip on the reporter, who quickly straightened his jacket, trying to look professional despite his earlier scuffle.
"Thank you, Director Lee," he said earnestly. "My name is Kimbum. Hehe… our Sajang didn't want to trouble you too much, so he sent me to ask a few simple questions."
Jihoon chuckled softly at the man's nervous enthusiasm. "Alright then," he said, folding his arms with a half-smile. "Go ahead. Ask away."
Kim Bum cleared his throat, glanced down at his notes, then spoke with energy.
"First of all, congratulations, Director Lee, on your successful Hollywood debut with Get Out."
"Thank you," Jihoon replied warmly, a polite smile curling at his lips.
"But just to clarify—Get Out isn't actually my debut film. I was the screenwriter, not the director, the real director is my friend Peli."
"Haha! Still, it's the same, Jihoon-ssi. Your success in Hollywood has made everyone back home proud."
Jihoon gave a small, helpless smile and gestured for Kimbum to continue.
He didn't want to linger on the subject.
To him, 'GET OUT' was the hard work of the crew and its director, Peli—not his.
But people back in Korea didn't seem to see the distinction.
Sensing Jihoon wasn't going to add more, Kimbum quickly moved on. "As far as I know, this is your first formal sit-down interview with the media. Am I right?"
Jihoon rubbed his chin, giving it some thought. "Hmm… now that you mention it, I suppose it is."
"Then may I ask why? With your reputation both in Korea and now in America, surely you've received countless interview requests. Why turn them all down?"
Jihoon leaned slightly against the doorframe, speaking with his usual calm.
"To be honest, I prefer keeping my life private. Filmmaking is a passion of mine, yes—but it's also just one part of who I am. I'd rather the public focus on the films themselves, not on me. I don't want to become the story."
Kim Bum blinked, caught off guard.
For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
Back in Korea, people already had a label for Jihoon: the introverted director who disliked publicity.
And yet, despite his introversion, audiences adored him.
His appearance year ago on the variety show 'Family Outing' had shown a different side of him—witty, sharp-tongued, brutally honest.
Viewers had loved his unscripted remarks, laughing at his deadpan humor and blunt commentary.
Clips of those episodes were still circulating online, with fans replaying them endlessly.
So hearing Jihoon describe himself as someone who preferred privacy felt paradoxical, but oddly consistent. He wasn't shy. He was just… selective.
Trying to move on, Kimbum asked his next question. "Many people back home are curious."
"Rumor has it you'll be staying in Hollywood long-term. Does this mean you won't be returning to Korea to direct films anymore?"
Jihoon shook his head. "That's not true."
"My work in Hollywood exists because of the collaboration with Fox on the HCU."
"The franchise is only beginning, so naturally, it demands most of my focus for now."
"But that doesn't mean I'm abandoning Korean cinema. I'll definitely return in the future."
"Do you have a time frame in mind?" Kimbum pressed on.
Jihoon thought for a moment, then deliberately chose his words. "Hard to say. At the very least, I'll need to complete Phase One of the cinematic universe first."
Kim Bum's eyes widened.
He nearly dropped his recorder. "Phase One?! Are you saying the HCU will continue in multiple parts?"
Jihoon nodded with a calm smile.
"Yes. Phase One is just the opening chapter. If nothing goes wrong, the franchise will keep going for as long as fans want to see more of it."
"We're building something meant to last."
"Daebak!" Kim Bum exclaimed, forgetting his professional composure.
"That's incredibly ambitious. Director Lee, you're the only Korean filmmaker to find such success in Hollywood. Everyone back home is rooting for you. We hope you'll continue to bring pride to Korea!"
Jihoon's expression softened at the reporter's sincerity. "Thank you. I'll do my best."
Just as Kim Bum prepared to fire off another question, Mara appeared at the doorway, a little out of breath. "Boss, the premiere's about to begin. We need to get back to the theater."
Jihoon nodded, then looked back at Kimbum. "I think you've got enough material for your report now, don't you?"
Kimbum smiled and bowed deeply. "Yes, Director Lee. More than enough. Thank you so much for your time."
Jihoon returned the bow lightly and waved. "Alright then. Nice speaking with you."
With that, he followed Mara back inside.
They found their seats just as the theater lights dimmed, the room falling into hush.
The screen flickered to life.
The premiere of 'SAW' had begun.