Lee Byung-hun trained hard to play revived character in upcoming ‘GI Joe’ film

HONG KONG – Lee Byung-hun says he had to train hard to do justice to his character in “G.I. Joe: Retaliation.”

The upcoming sequel to “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” has his character Storm Shadow rising from the dead, which required the South Korean actor develop a stronger build.

Lee says, “I try to make (my muscles) bigger and look stronger, because he survives death” and wants revenge.

He trained rigorously and followed a strict diet, which he said proved difficult while filming in New Orleans.

“New Orleans has a lot of good food,” he explained, and he couldn’t visit the city’s bars either.

Fans will be able to see the results of his hard work in 3D when “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” opens in March.