The anticipation for Lucas and Jennifer's Running Man appearance wasn't just limited to Korea. Fans across the world were buzzing with excitement, especially those who followed the couple's every move.
Even casual fans, who weren't usually into Korean entertainment, were suddenly curious about why two of Hollywood's biggest stars were guesting on a variety show outside of the U.S.
On Reddit, discussions were already taking over multiple threads, with fans speculating about what might happen on the show.
"So… Lucas Knight is really about to play Korean variety games? This man has no limits."
"I just KNOW he's gonna take it too seriously. He's way too competitive for his own good."
"This is the most random guest appearance ever. Like, what are they even promoting?"
"I wanna see them doing dumb challenges with Yoo Jae-suk and Kwang-soo."
Twitter wasn't any quieter. The moment the Running Man social media accounts confirmed their guest appearance, both Lucas Knight and Jennifer Lawrence shot up to the top of the trending list.
"What is Lucas even doing lately? He's been weirdly active outside the U.S. These past few months have been insane."
"They're going on a Korean show… for no reason at all? No movie? No promo? Just vibes?"
"I respect the power couple for taking over Hollywood and now casually taking over Asia too."
The curiosity of international fans was quickly drowned out by videos of Lucas and Jennifer being swarmed by fans in South Korea, along with clips of their past interviews and casual moments together.
"Seeing Hollywood stars in Korea isn't that rare, but the way the locals are reacting to Lucas and Jennifer is insane."
"I didn't realize how famous they were worldwide until now. It's crazy."
Someone posted a video of Lucas and Jennifer getting surrounded in Seoul, captioning it: "I swear, seeing a Hollywood star is enough to make Asians lose their minds."
A reply quickly came from a Korean fan: "If it was just any Hollywood star, I wouldn't care. But this is LUCAS KNIGHT."
Another video was making rounds, showing the couple casually strolling through a street market, trying local food, and laughing together.
"It looks like they just wanted a quiet trip outside the U.S., but there's no escaping the attention—not even in Asia."
Fans watching these clips could easily tell that the power couple was searching for a moment of peace, yet no matter where they went, their presence alone was enough to turn heads.
---
In South Korea, two days had passed since Running Man announced the guest appearance of Lucas and Jennifer, and excitement was at an all-time high. At the SBS Headquarters, the couple was discreetly escorted into an office, avoiding unnecessary attention.
Waiting for them inside was Kim Sung-soo, the CEO of SBS, who had personally come to greet them. His expression was warm and welcoming, a wide smile never leaving his face.
"Lucas, Jennifer, welcome to SBS. It's truly an honor to have you here."
Jennifer smiled politely. "Thank you for having us. We're really looking forward to the show."
Beside the CEO stood Choi Bo-pil, the newly appointed main producer of Running Man. He was young, only a year or two older than Lucas and Jennifer, and had recently taken over the role from Jung Chul-min, who had previously led the show.
Though he had experience working on Running Man, this was his first major responsibility as the lead producer, and he still wasn't fully used to the weight of the position.
And now, handling an episode with two of the biggest Hollywood stars? The pressure was enormous.
Bo-pil cleared his throat, bowing respectfully. "It's a pleasure to meet you both. I'll be overseeing your episode."
Jennifer nodded, her interest already piqued as she glanced at the papers detailing the missions and challenges for their episode.
"I accepted this guest appearance because of these missions, challenges, and races," she said, eyes glimmering with excitement. "It sounds like a lot of fun."
Lucas simply nodded along, letting Jennifer take the lead. In truth, it had been her decision to appear on the show. If she was going to join a variety program without promoting anything, she wanted it to be one she found genuinely fun.
Sung-soo and Bo-pil exchanged relieved glances. They had been worried about whether the Hollywood stars would enjoy the experience, but Jennifer's enthusiasm reassured them.
Bo-pil continued explaining the structure of the show, with translators assisting to ensure there were no misunderstandings.
Lucas listened quietly, occasionally glancing at the mission details. He wasn't unfamiliar with Running Man, but he didn't let it show. Jennifer, on the other hand, was openly curious, asking questions about how the games worked and what the usual penalties were.
After some final discussions, Lucas and Jennifer left the office, escorted to their waiting vehicle.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Sung-soo turned to Bo-pil, his tone shifting from welcoming to serious.
"Do not mess this up," he warned.
Bo-pil straightened, feeling the weight of the words. "I understand, sir."
Sung-soo folded his arms. "Also, remind the cast to be careful. Make sure they don't make Lucas or Jennifer uncomfortable. They're here for fun, not stress."
Bo-pil nodded. "I'll handle everything, sajang-nim."
The CEO's gaze softened slightly. "I know you just stepped into this role, and it's not easy. But you have to prove yourself. This episode isn't just important for the show—it's important for our network."
Bo-pil swallowed but nodded again, bowing deeply before leaving the office.
This episode would be one of the biggest challenges of his career, and he wasn't about to let it go wrong.
---
The next day, Lucas and Jennifer arrived at the SBS headquarters once again, this time being led directly to the green room. Inside, Bo-pil and the production staff were already waiting for them.
As they settled in, Bo-pil enthusiastically briefed them on what to expect.
"So, in Running Man, we joke around a lot. If you want to tease the cast, you can," he explained, flipping through a few notes. "For example, Lee Kwang-soo—he's often called a 'giraffe' because of his height and long neck."
Jennifer chuckled. "Oh, I like that one. I think I'll use it."
Lucas smirked, nodding along.
Once Bo-pil was done explaining the rules of the show, the staff handed the two earpieces for real-time translation.
Jennifer examined hers before glancing at Lucas. She leaned in and whispered, "Do you even need this? You understand Korean, don't you?"
Lucas grinned slightly, pressing a finger to his lips. "Shhh. They don't know that yet. I'm curious to see what they'll say about us."
Jennifer smirked. "So you're planning to surprise them?"
Lucas shrugged playfully. "Maybe."
With their earpieces in place, the two were led to makeup and styling. Meanwhile, on set, the cast members were already gathered in the spacious studio, getting ready to start the episode.
Yoo Jae-suk clapped his hands together, grinning at the camera. "Today is a special day. We're meeting two of Hollywood's biggest stars!"
The others nodded excitedly, though a few looked nervous.
"I should've practiced my English before today," Jae-suk joked, adjusting his glasses. "It would be so embarrassing if I can't even say their names properly!"
The cast members chuckled, and then Jeon So-min, determined to impress, practiced her English on the spot.
"Hi, beauti—beauti-beautiful people!" she said with exaggerated effort.
Yang Se-chan nodded seriously, joining in. "Yes, welcome to Korea, Hollywood people!"
Ji Suk-jin followed up, waving at the camera. "Welcome to Running Man, my best friends!"
The entire studio burst into laughter, even the cameramen shaking their heads.
Despite their playful banter, the cast was genuinely excited. Even though So-min and Se-chan were still fairly new to the show, they blended in well.
Bo-pil observed everything from the production side, feeling relieved. He had worried that the newer cast members might feel intimidated, but instead, they seemed more confident than ever.
He watched as Kwang-soo, Se-chan, and So-min tried to say Lucas and Jennifer's names in an overly fancy accent, making it sound completely ridiculous.
When the staff informed Bo-pil that Lucas and Jennifer were ready, he quickly relayed it to the cast.
As soon as the cast members heard the guests were about to enter, the atmosphere shifted.
There was a mix of excitement and nerves—especially from Kwang-soo, So-min, and Se-chan.
They weren't just excited about meeting Hollywood stars. They were fans.
They kept their cool, but their anticipation was clear.
Finally, the doors slid open, and the first to walk in was Jennifer.
She stepped forward in a sleek red dress, her heels clicking against the floor, smiling brightly as she waved to the cast.
The cast members gasped in awe, their eyes widening.
But then, the gasps grew even louder when Lucas entered, dressed casually, one hand in his pocket and the other giving a relaxed wave to the staff, cameras, and cast.
The two looked effortlessly cool, like they had done this a hundred times before.
Yoo Jae-suk stepped forward first, offering his hand with a warm smile. "Welcome to Running Man! We're so honored to have you!"
Jennifer shook his hand. "Thank you! We're excited to be here!"
Some of the cast members greeted them with handshakes, while others—like Ji Suk-jin and Haha—went straight for friendly hugs.
Then there was Lee Kwang-soo, standing stiffly at the back, his face frozen in awkwardness.
Seeing this, the other cast members immediately picked up on it.
"Why is Kwang-soo standing like that?!" Haha laughed, pointing at him. "Is he broken?!"
Ji Suk-jin nudged him. "What's wrong, Kwang-soo? You were so loud before they came in!"
Kwang-soo forced an awkward smile. "I—I'm fine!"
Lucas turned to him, his eyes scanning the room before pretending to suddenly notice him.
"Oh! I almost didn't see the elephant— I mean, giraffe in the room!"
There was a beat of silence as the joke was translated into the cast's earpieces.
Then, after a brief explanation from the translators, the room exploded into laughter.
Even Kwang-soo, despite being the target of the joke, couldn't help but laugh.