The Face Reader heads to the small screen for drama adaptation
by javabeans
The Face Reader was one of the year’s biggest film blockbusters, drawing in just under 9 million ticket admissions, and now producers have announced a television adaptation in the works for next year. Y…ay?
Don’t get me wrong, by all accounts the movie is entertaining and worth the price of admission, and the cast is winning: Song Kang-ho, Lee Jung-jae, Jo Jung-seok, Kim Hye-soo, Lee Jong-seok, Baek Yoon-shik. It’s just that every time we get a hit movie made into a drama, I get all excited, and then… well, then I watch the drama. (See: Jeon Woo-chi, Level 7 Civil Servant.) (Though I did like Gourmet.) (But not Tazza.)
Still, maybe The Face Reader will have a luckier fate in dramaland; a producer with its company Jupiter Films confirmed that they had been talking about making a drama series from an early stage, as far as two years ago when they were working on the screenplay. They’ll be co-producing with a production company that specializes in television production (as they are a film company), and are even looking at taking the concept to multiple formats, including novels and more, which they call “one source multi use.” (Um… the last time a project spread itself out over several formats with such hype was IRIS, which thankfully was a hit in one format, though none of its others made much of a dent.)
In the film version of The Face Reader, the plot centers around a Joseon-era man with the ability to read fortunes in people’s faces (played by Song Kang-ho in the film). Lee Jung-jae played the conniving Prince Suyang who wants to know if the throne is in his future (it eventually was, though he helped his fortune along with a whole lotta murder). The drama will actually take as its hero one of the movie’s lesser characters, which is an interesting and possibly smart approach—it’s definitely one way of taking the setup of the world but creating its own story. That character’s name is Han Myung-hoe, played by Kim Eui-sung in the movie, who had a rivalry with main face reader Song Kang-ho.
The TV series will be 24 episodes and is in talks to get a major broadcaster to air it, with hopes to hit TV screens in the latter half of 2014.
Via TV Report
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1 Abbie
October 9, 2013 at 1:46 PM
I haven't seen the movie, so I have no reference for this. But I want to see the movie, mostly because of Jo Jung-seok and Lee Jong-seok (though mostly JJS). But this does seem like an interesting idea, as long as it isn't the movie simply stretched into a loooooong 24 episode format, but it doesn't sound like it will be based on the description. So, I'll be waiting for this next year, and secretly hope that Jo Jung-seok will be in it in some way.
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Shadow-chan
October 9, 2013 at 5:54 PM
"So, I’ll be waiting for this next year, and secretly hope that Jo Jung-seok will be in it in some way."
Yes yes yes, a thousand times yes! xD
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2 lovehaydn
October 9, 2013 at 1:53 PM
My mom and brother both loved the movie (which says a lot to me as they are the most pickiest movie watchers ever) so i'm anticipating it greatly. (it was playing in theaters in the US so it has yet to come out *coughillegallycough* online... while i'm stuck in europe)
I'm VERYYYYY iffy about the TV adaption as well as i'm on the same page as JB. the only movie-tv adaption i really liked was probably Gourmet too. :/
I really hope they don't screw this one up. But I do think the fact that it's a sageuk could have better results than the other movie-tv adaptions that have happened so far.
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lovehaydn
October 9, 2013 at 1:54 PM
*** btw, i don't really consider Jeonwoochi a full-on sageuk. LOL it's more fusion to me.
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Kiara
October 11, 2013 at 7:39 AM
Clearly a fantasy fusion.
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PlumWine
October 9, 2013 at 8:13 PM
Thank you! I was wondering how your family got to see it, looked it up and am now trying to figure out when I'll have time for 90 min drive. I know it will be worth it.
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3 Lux
October 9, 2013 at 1:57 PM
I don't know about the drama but lemme try it for Lee Jong-seok! Hopefully the series wouldn't ruin the image of the movie..
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4 DayDreamer
October 9, 2013 at 2:08 PM
I haven't watched the movie yet (waiting for subs) but I think it will be a good thing to make a story out of a minor character. That would have more potential and less comparisons going on.
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5 kumi
October 9, 2013 at 2:17 PM
I'd like to watch the movie, not drama.
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Kiara
October 11, 2013 at 8:00 AM
Same here. They have actors who can act with years of experience. Getting tired of Dramaland lately and it's influx of idol actors. They are in every damn drama.
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6 Cindy
October 9, 2013 at 2:24 PM
sorry i know my comment is totally unrelated. i just want to know when "heirs" will air in korea and when the recaps will be available. i'm as confused as hell because i'm from west africa and i want to flow with the world's excitement :D i don't want the remnant :( plzzzzzzz *_*
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fab
October 9, 2013 at 2:36 PM
Heirs is airing today(Wednesday) and tomorrow. Expecting it to get subbed very fast, perhaps a day after. About the recap, I don't if any recapper is interested. Although judging from the many many attention the drama got from DB someone might at least recap the first episode for impressions...
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Cindy
October 9, 2013 at 2:56 PM
oh thanks a lot for the clarification. i think it has aired already from what i'm seeing on other websites. i just hope dramabeans recaps it :( @javabeans @girlfriday love ya both :)
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Lara
October 9, 2013 at 4:14 PM
Hi cindy,
try koalasplayground :)
I am both a fan of the girls of DB and koala
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kumi
October 9, 2013 at 7:31 PM
I graze on Dramabeans, and my brother on Koala's Playground. He told me the recaps were already there about 4 hours ago.
Cindy
October 9, 2013 at 10:14 PM
oh thanks really. it's on dramabeans now tho but I'll check koalasplayground in case of next time :D
PlumWine
October 9, 2013 at 8:56 PM
I am watching it on gooddrama.net. I'm not sure that you have it, but I hope so. Also, dramabeans seems to have the recap now! WOW, talk about fast!
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Ek Ladhki Thi
October 10, 2013 at 2:38 PM
Hi Cindy, I'm also from West Africa. The recaps are usually up the day after the episode airs. And since this is a weds-thurs drama, the recaps will be up thurs-fri respectively. Around 5 am-ish. I'm in Nigeria, so that's the time it goes up here.
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7 fab
October 9, 2013 at 2:31 PM
Well its certainly interesting. While I usually watch either the movie or the drama (same with books adaptations), but I really want to watch this movie and perhaps the drama too, so I better hurry up. I am only hoping that they won't make this drama too soon after the movie came out.
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PlumWine
October 9, 2013 at 8:10 PM
I too want to see the movie first.
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8 CaroleMcDonnell
October 9, 2013 at 2:48 PM
I'm up for both. Thanks. I was so confused about whether this was a drama or a movie.
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9 Requiem
October 9, 2013 at 3:28 PM
"It’s just that every time we get a hit movie made into a drama, I get all excited, and then… well, then I watch the drama."
Cyrano Dating Agency? Or was that not a hit movie?
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ffiza
October 9, 2013 at 3:58 PM
The movie was a hit, but I myself found it a bit dull.
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wag-a-muffin
October 9, 2013 at 6:14 PM
I liked both Cyrano Dating Agency, the movie and the tv serial. I will give Face Readers a try.
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10 Jo
October 9, 2013 at 4:52 PM
Lol, I was like Level 7 Civil Servant was made into a drama?
I blocked it out of my memory apparently.
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11 daria
October 9, 2013 at 5:03 PM
on movie translated to drama:
jang donggun's 'friends' & its TV incarnation binnie's 'friends, our legend'... love both very much :)
but i guess this is a little different because both are the babies of the same director.
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12 queencircles
October 9, 2013 at 5:53 PM
I just saw this movie last night in Chicago! It was pretty good. Too long. Though, conversely, I felt that the set up was rushed.
Anyone who's waiting to see it... some of my takeaways:
Lee Jungjae was fan-freakin-tastic as Prince Suyang. The only other thing I've seen him in is Theives, and I sort of forgot he was in it, but yeah.. he nailed it. He brought a different side to Suyang that I haven't really seen in drama adaptions of him. Loved it. (I was basically rooting for him to take-over the crown..)
Jo Jung-seok was not as much of a scene-stealer, but he did have a pretty big hand in things. For the most part he was mostly comic relief-and I love his timing and his awkwardness
Lee Jong-seok was underused unfortunately, you don't see all that much of him. Not much development.
Overall, I thought it was good, but lacking in any deep character development for any of the characters, and the story set up was too rushed, even though it took a lot of screen time (which I guess is just bad writing in that regard).
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Shadow-chan
October 9, 2013 at 6:03 PM
Ahh, I wanna watch it in cinema, too... I'm never able to watch all the good asian movies on the big screen, such a shame T^T
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13 Petmink
October 9, 2013 at 6:37 PM
I am planning to watch it at the theater this weekend. Turns out the only theater playing it in the state of Georgia is just 10 miles away.
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14 SHINeeGirl
October 9, 2013 at 6:43 PM
I would love to watch the movie. Just as everyone else, the only reason being JJS and LJS :)
I don't think i'd watch the drama. Though i'll make the final decision after watching the movie. But unless they cast someone whom i love, this one is a no-no.
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15 Annie
October 9, 2013 at 7:17 PM
Is there a loveline in the movie? Imagine having a drama with both an interesting premise and no hanky panky on the side... I'm in!
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queencircles
October 9, 2013 at 7:25 PM
Not really, no.
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16 KDaddict
October 9, 2013 at 7:51 PM
If they keep the original cast, I'm all excited. Fingers crossed!
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Kiara
October 11, 2013 at 8:02 AM
Fingers and toes :).
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17 Angeliam
October 9, 2013 at 8:53 PM
Don't forgot to cast baby Jo jung seok too
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18 elvira
October 9, 2013 at 9:20 PM
Will LJS also star the small screen version?
Song Kang ho and Kim Hye soo again.
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19 eny
October 10, 2013 at 2:12 AM
I think remake it to drama in just ayear is too fast
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20 Rovi
October 10, 2013 at 6:54 AM
Why, of all lesser characters to be made into the show's lead, should it be the notorious Han Myeong-hwoe, Grand Prince Suyang/Sejo's famous lackey, out of all people?
This would be like that drama way back in the '80's or '90s, (I forgot if it was in "500 Years of the Joseon Dynasty") where controversy arose when Sejo's coup and Han Myeong-hwoe were treated in a positive light.
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21 Tulipsaki
October 10, 2013 at 6:29 PM
Any place to watch the movie online?
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22 Inji
October 10, 2013 at 10:34 PM
I was hoping to get the story of mysterious guy that worked for Prince Su.
Now. I would really wanna watch this drama even without the lead actors.
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23 Amanda
October 11, 2013 at 5:02 AM
Literally the only thing I want in life is a drama version of A Werewolf Boy. And yet, nothing....
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moofubaby78
October 11, 2013 at 6:14 PM
Oh, great idea!! I'd watch THAT drama in a heartbeat :D
I liked this film but not sure if I'd stick around for the transition to dramaland...
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