Rick Yune in Mohanlal's Empuraan: Did UK talent agency spoil Prithviraj Sukumaran’s well-laid plans?

Ever since the makers of Prithviraj Sukumaran and Mohanlal’s L2: Empuraan revealed a poster, showing the back of a man with a dragon symbol on his white karategi, speculations have been rife about who the actor is. Several names cropped up including Mammootty, Fahadh Faasil, Korean superstar Don Lee as well as Charles Dance, who played Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones.

Now, in a surprising turn of events, a UK-based talent agency, Internations Artists Management, seems to have leaked the name of the Hollywood actor who could be seen in the role, which many believe is from the Yakuza gang in the Prithviraj directorial.

Prithviraj Sukumaran casts Rick Yune in L2: Empuraan

The agency had shared on their Insta page as well as their official website that two of their clients – Rick Yune and Andrea Tivadar – will be playing “starring roles in the highly anticipated action-thriller sequel L2: Empuraan”. Shortly after the social media post was published, it was taken down by the team, but by then the word had already spread. The report, however, is still on their webpage.

Also read: L2 Empuraan: Rick Yune revealed as mystery man in the dragon poster? 

Rick Yune is best known for his role in the first Fast & Furious film as well as playing the rogue North Korean antagonist in Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond movie, Die Another Day. The 53-year-old Korean-American actor has also done roles in Ninja Assassin, Olympus Has Fallen and Tetris. Andrea Tivadar, meanwhile, was part of TV series such as Snatch, Killing Eve and Bulletproof.

But is Rick Yune the biggest surprise of L2: Empuraan?

In a recent interview, Prithviraj said while casting for the different characters of L2: Empuraan, which also has portions set in a global backdrop in the US and the UK, he had initially made a “wishlist of actors” that he wanted to reach out to. While many of the actors were seemingly happy to come on board, their agents became the hurdles.

Also read: Mammootty in Mohanlal’s L2 Empuraan? Kishkindha Kaandam producer might have confirmed what Prithviraj Sukumaran denied 

That said, Prithviraj has also said in some of his interviews that its recently-released teaser might or might not have portions that are in the movie. “For all you know, this could feature scenes that I might have shot separately for the teaser,” he said. And the actor-director has done this before, for Jana Gana Mana – for which the makers had said that it would be part of its sequel but later Suraj Venjaramoodu had clarified there was never a plan for a second instalment in the first place.

Also, Rick Yune might not even be the biggest surprise in L2: Empuraan. Considering the team behind the film, the audience can expect even bigger tricks up the makers’ sleeves. The team is planning to reveal 36 characters from the movie in the next 18 days, starting from February 9. Apart from Mohanlal and Prithviraj, the movie will also have Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas and Indrajith Sukumaran reprising their roles from Lucifer, which was the first movie in the three-film franchise.