Nico Antonio plays a significant role in the South Korean crime-action series Big Bet, which premieres exclusively on Disney+ today.

The Tandem and Big Night actor is also joined by Filipino acting veterans Bembol Roco and Ronnie Lazaro, based on the trailer of the K-drama topbilled by Old Boy star Choi Minsik, Reply 1988’s Lee Donghwi, My Liberation Notes’ Son Sukku and Squid Game’s Heo Sungtae. The series has been drawing special attention from K-fans because it is Choi’s first TV comeback in over 25 years. Kang Yoonsung, who is behind the mega-hit actioner The Outlaws (2017) and its high-grossing sequel The Roundup (2022), is the director.

Big Bet tells the story of a man (Choi) who struggles and then succeeds to become a “casino king” in the Philippines. He eventually encounters a series of unfortunate events that leads him to hitting rock bottom. But determined not to lose, he’s willing to risk everything just to return to the game.

Nico plays a police officer who works with Son’s police character to investigate a series of killings in the Philippines involving Koreans.

In a recent one-on-one, Nico revealed screening for the part sans expectations of being hired for the job. It was his mom, lawyer-producer Joji Alonso, who informed him about the auditions.