'Fast and Furious' star Sung Kang revs up new racing drama at Canadian International AutoShow
· Toronto Sun
Sung Kang, best known for his role as the fan favourite Han Lue in Universal’s billion-dollar Fast & Furious franchise didn’t have to look far when trying to secure funds to make his latest movie, Drifter .
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The upcoming film, which Kang, 53, directs and stars in, centres on a janitor at California’s Willow Springs Raceway who dreams of being a drift racer.
“He wants to get out of the shadows and be a part of something. And he gets a chance … It’s essentially like Rocky 1, but you take out the boxing and put in the drifting,” Kang said, smiling.
Kang was able to finance the project with the help of the car community that fell in love with the Fast flicks worldwide.
“I went the traditional route and talked to a few production companies … but they didn’t understand what I was doing,” Kang told Postmedia in an interview at the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto this week.
Studio heads also didn’t appreciate the passion of the car enthusiasts. The Georgia native became immersed in car culture after he joined the Fast franchise 20 years ago in the third instalment, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift , and he says their passion is infectious.
“There’s an audience out there that’s hungry for this type of material,” Kang said. “Every year, it’s fascinating how Tokyo Drift becomes more and more popular. Generations, younger and younger have grown into it.”
Calling Drifter his “passion project,” Kang says the film came together alongside his shared love of motorsports with Fast fans.
“I’d be hanging out in the garage with my friends and someone would roll through and talk to me about the story and they’d ask how they could help,” he said. “It was a dollar here, a dollar there. Then when I needed these Toyota Corollas, someone would say, ‘I’ve got a few,’ and they’d be offering me parts.”
“Every element of the movie happened because of the car community,” he added.
In between meeting fans inside the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Kang spoke more about the forthcoming film and reflected on the enduring popularity of the Fast & Furious franchise.
As one of the stars of the Fast franchise, you’re no stranger to car movies. How did Drifter come together?
Drifter is a love letter to the car community. It’s a community that’s supported me throughout my career, and has been there for me in my darkest moments. And it’s an underdog story. You don’t have to be a car person to follow the journey of this character … The fact that there’s a community in the world that’s interested in the stories I’m telling is an honour.
Tell me about your love of drifting. Did it start when you starred in Tokyo Drift or does it go back even further?
Pre- Tokyo Drift I knew nothing about drifting. I would see it here and there, but … my access into that world was stuff that I would see in videos. Even when I did Tokyo Drift , I didn’t understand it. It seemed like it was just people going in circles and burning tires … Then, I got to hang out with the community. The people behind the events … It’s like a barbecue. It’s like a family event. It’s really different from other motorsports … It’s a motorsport that anyone can participate in. If you have a manual car, you can start drifting … There’s form, a lot of style is involved … Drifters hate being compared to figure skaters, but there are certain marks you have to hit.
How did your experience making the Fast movies impact what you’re able to do on Drifter?
It’s a privilege to be on those big movies because it is film school if you want it to be … That access is invaluable if you want to be a filmmaker. I used those opportunities to be a fly on the wall.
The character you play in the Fast movies, Han Lue, was killed off in Tokyo Drift. But fans petitioned to bring him back. What did you think of that campaign?
It made me realize that movies are made by the audience and for the audience … They will determine where your career will go. The fact that the whole campaign to bring Han back was from the audience, (series star) Vin (Diesel) and the studio listened to that. It’s an actor’s dream to have a role like that. But it taught me a lot. It changed how I approach my work … We make movies for the people.
Do you have a favourite memory from making those Fast movies so far?
Fast Five took place in Brazil. That was the best experience for me. It was when we were all still together. We lived together and ate together. The movie was just getting big. It was still sincere.
When is the 11th film in the series getting underway?
They don’t talk to me about that stuff. But I think it’s all over social media. If the fans want it, it’ll happen.
The Canadian International AutoShow runs through Feb. 22 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. For more info, visit autoshow.ca .