Don Lee back in the game! Korean superstar to clash with Prabhas in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit: Reports

When Sandeep Reddy Vanga announced his ambitious film Spirit starring Prabhas, fans began speculating about the rest of the cast. Early reports suggested that Korean action icon Don Lee (aka Ma Dong-seok), famed for Train to Busan and Marvel’s Eternals, would play the film’s antagonist.

But that excitement dimmed recently when Vanga dropped a teaser revealing the key cast, and Don Lee’s name was nowhere to be seen. Many assumed the international collaboration had fallen through.

Must Read: Prabhas' Spirit: Vanga hires Ma Dong-Seok as lead villain, Korean stunt choreographers for pan Asian release

However, just when the chatter began to fade, Korean media reignited the buzz with a major update.

Korean Reports Confirm Don Lee’s Role

According to a report from Korea’s drama and entertainment community Muko, Don Lee is indeed part of Spirit and will be going head-to-head with Prabhas. 

The translation of the post on X read, “This film, titled Spirit, is directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and stars Prabhas, famous for Baahubali, in a dark-toned detective crime drama. It is only known that Ma Dong-seok’s role in this film is a character who stands in opposition to the one played by Prabhas.” (sic)

마동석 인도영화 진출

 《범죄도시》 시리즈의 천만 배우 마동석의 인도행이 확정 되었습니다. 

 《Spirit》라는 제목의 이 영화는 산딥 레디 방가 감독이 연출하고 《바후발리》로 유명한 스타 프라바스가 주연을 맡은 어두운 톤의 형사 범죄물이라고 합니다. 이 영화에서 마동석의 역할은… pic.twitter.com/ZBQKUx83Wg

— 무코 (@muko_kr) October 28, 2025

The post effectively confirmed the global crossover fans were hoping for.

Don Lee’s India Connection

Adding weight to the claims, reports point out that Don Lee’s recent travel updates were linked to Spirit.

“Recently, Ma Dong-seok has been spotted posting on Instagram and other platforms, showing himself boarding a flight to India, and it turns out it was for this film,” read one note.

However, neither Vanga nor the production team has commented on the development yet - possibly keeping the reveal as a surprise for later.

A Collision of Titans

The Korean report mentioned Vanga as “one of the most controversial commercial directors in recent times,” citing the roaring success of Arjun Reddy and Animal. With his signature raw storytelling now meeting Don Lee’s powerhouse presence, Spirit is shaping up to be a monumental action spectacle.

Related Story: Rebel Star Prabhas’ ‘Bad Habit’ teased as Spirit cast revealed, Vivek Oberoi on board; watch

About Spirit

Spirit is described as a cop action drama featuring Prabhas in the lead, alongside Triptii Dimri, Vivek Oberoi, and Prakash Raj. Earlier this month, Vanga celebrated Prabhas’ birthday with a “sound story” - an audio teaser offering the first glimpse into the film’s intense world. Set for a 2026 theatrical release, Spirit promises to redefine the scale of Indian action cinema - now with a thrilling Korean twist.