Joel Torre joins Lee Joon-gi, Kentaro Sakaguchi in ‘kiDnap Game’

Filipino veteran actor Joel Torre has joined the cast of the upcoming Asian crime-thriller series “kiDnap Game”  attaching his name to the multinational production.

Torre, 64, stars alongside Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi and South Korean actor Lee Joon-gi, who lead the ensemble cast. Also joining the series are Taiwanese actress Alice Ko, Hong Kong actor Stanley Yau, Singaporean actress Carrie Wong, and Thai actress Narupornkamol Chaisang.

The crime drama is a co-production between Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, with filming taking place across seven Asian cities — Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok, Naha, and Manila.

According to Fuji TV, the story follows a series of simultaneous kidnappings across those cities. Families of the victims receive a chilling message saying: “You have been entered into the kidnap game. How far will you go to save your loved one? Only one person can be saved.” Each participant is given a different task, and to rescue their loved one, they must complete the instruction before the others do.

In the same report, producer and director Hiroaki Kato of Fuji Television said the team searched across different regions to find actors who best matched the characters. With help from MakerVille (Hong Kong) and SimStory (South Korea), they were able to directly connect with stars from each country and build what he described as the ideal cast.

Kato also praised Lee Joon-gi’s past performances and described Torre and the rest of the cast as fascinating both on and off screen, saying their shared passion for acting and filmmaking transcends language and cultural differences. He added that it was a great honor to work with them.

Torre plays Miguel, a friendly taxi driver who grew up in poverty and became determined to provide a better life for his family. His world is turned upside down when his beloved grandchild is kidnapped.

Torre is widely regarded as one of the Philippines’ most respected actors, known for his acclaimed work in film and television including “José Rizal,” “Oro, Plata, Mata,” “Dirty Linen,” and “Lolo and the Kid.” He is currently appearing in the thriller series “A Secret in Prague.”

His accolades include three Gawad Urian Awards, a FAMAS Award and Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival Award.