Jo Jae-hyun teams with Chaser writer for new drama Punch
by girlfriday
Casting has begun on the new drama from rising star writer Park Kyung-soo, of the taut dramatic thrillers The Chaser and Empire of Gold. His third drama for SBS, called Punch, has scored the Monday-Tuesday timeslot this winter. The offer is currently out to TV veteran Jo Jae-hyun (Jung Do-jeon) to star, which kind of makes me think that he and Kim Sang-joong are just trading places — Kim Sang-joong was in The Chaser and is looking at the Jung Do-jeon follow-up sageuk, while Jo Jae-hyun is just going in the opposite direction. Badass ajusshi high-five!
Jo Jae-hyun won’t be the main character of Punch, but that hardly means anything since the award-winning performances in Park’s dramas often come from the supporting cast, especially the villains. The drama will be about prosecutors high-up in the supreme court — the hero is a chief investigative prosecutor who finds out he has six months left to live, and Jo Jae-hyun has been cast as the public prosecutor general (aka attorney general, in the U.S.) who’s neck-deep in corruption.
His character is a jovial man with a thick Kyungsangdo accent who hums trot songs all day long. He’s got the outward appearance and personality of a gregarious village chief, while hiding an ice-cold disposition underneath. He’s famous for stripping countless prosecutors of their jobs, and has a long history of backdoor illegal activity, which he naturally keeps under wraps. He already sounds like a great character, and Jo Jae-hyun is reportedly working out final contract negotiations with producers to take the role.
The drama follows the last six months of the hero’s life after he finds out he’s dying, and is described as “the story of a man who throws his final punch at the world, as he says farewell to this life.” Knowing the writer’s other works, we’re talking about one massive metaphorical punch to tear down a network of corruption, in an I’ll-just-take-you-all-to-hell-with-me sort of way. Let the epic showdown begin.
The writer is pairing up with PD Lee Myung-woo (Two Women’s Room, Fashion King, Ja Myung-go) this time around. Punch will follow Monday-Tuesday drama Secret Door beginning in mid-December.
Via Star News
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Tags: Jo Jae-hyun
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1 larus
October 16, 2014 at 1:15 PM
I can`t wait for this drama. I anticipated this drama because of the writer but the cast will be very good, I dont`t have any doubt.
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2 h3lla
October 16, 2014 at 1:18 PM
He's still in the army but I wish the lead could go to Song Joon Ki... Imagine him as the dying man determined not to go down alone, his deep voice grating out against the injustice of the corrupt system, struggling to punch one last time before his body gives out on him... *sigh* *totally not crying*
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paroles
October 16, 2014 at 1:34 PM
In all honesty, I can't imagine him in this role...
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neverending
October 16, 2014 at 1:35 PM
I don't think the role suits him. The offer is out to Go Soo anyway.
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Annie
October 16, 2014 at 6:03 PM
Too young looking to play a prosecutor convincingly IMO
Just like Kim Soo Hyun and the new medical drama.
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ThoseWhoKnowMe...
October 17, 2014 at 1:26 AM
Exactly. We need veterans for those roles, not flowerboys (who can shine in projects made for them).
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h3lla
October 17, 2014 at 4:25 AM
Hmm...he looks young, but he's around 29, no? I thought of him because of his role in Nice Guy, when he was just super bitter about life and deep growling everywhere. Then again, I'm super biased and like I said, he's in the army anyway </3
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3 Mandy
October 16, 2014 at 1:45 PM
Oh! I was waiting for the news regarding Punch. Empire of Gold was so criminally underrated, I hope this one is as good and recieves all the recognition it can get.
I love the writer and I'm admittedly happy to see the PD being changed. I felt The Chaser's biggest flaw was how it was presented on screen - but that's just me. Although on the hindside, Fashion King isn't particularly a good drama to have on your credentials. Whoever you are. Either way I'm excited!
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Lc
October 16, 2014 at 5:42 PM
I agree with you on Empire of Gold's screen presentation. All the action and conflicts in the drama felt fake, especially in the latter half, when u realise that the actors were just spending their time between drama sets A, B, C etc. At one point I was thinking that Park Kyung Soo was writing a play instead.
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fab
October 17, 2014 at 5:01 AM
Well maybe that's EoG's best appeal: it felt like a play, it's the acting and the writing that was admirable, in that case you don't need exotic locations.
But Chase is a different drama, you need those sets...
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korfan
October 17, 2014 at 9:02 AM
EoG was absolutely fantastic.
The writing and acting were so top-notch, I can't remember another time where I was so riveted watching people drink tea or sitting around the dining room table.
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larus
October 17, 2014 at 10:47 AM
I totally agree. When a drama keeps you interested even when there isn`t much action I say it is a good drama. EoG had a good scriptwriter and they cast the most suitable actors for those roles. I can`t wait for Punch.
Mandy
October 17, 2014 at 8:29 PM
Oh I completely agree with EOG being well brought on screen, I had my issues with the direction in The Chaser. It felt like it could've been riveting and breathtaking in suspense, but the lack of proper creativity in bringing it to the screen ultimately made it seem a little boring.
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4 lovepark
October 16, 2014 at 2:12 PM
So excited for Punch... Park Kyung-soo is amazing!
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5 Meong.
October 16, 2014 at 2:18 PM
Ah, he is spoiling me. A new drama so soon after Jeong Do Jeon... but I'm not complaining! Going from a role like Jeong Do Jeon to a prosecutor humming trot songs... I can't quite picture it right now but they got my interest. Excited already!
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6 kanz
October 16, 2014 at 3:24 PM
I laugh at the description of prosecutor with thick Kyungsangdo accent who hum trot songs all day. It's really cute. But then he's probably the main villain here. He looks nice but actually a wolf in sheep's clothes.
Looking forward to the male lead!
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7 Nicole
October 16, 2014 at 7:17 PM
This guy was one of the only good things about Marine Boy. I usually don't pick up intense dramas like this, but depending on who's cast as the main lead, I'll fancy myself intrigued!
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ys
October 17, 2014 at 7:11 PM
Oh I couldn't take my eyes off him in Marine Boy. So intense and quietly powerful.
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8 dramacf
October 16, 2014 at 8:00 PM
Seems like the start of 2015 is looking mighty awesome!
Just a quick thought though, if Go Soo accepts the main character role of being a prosecutor with having 6 month's to live, this means he dies again in a Park Kyung Soo drama?
And please don't tell me the main character has brain tumor coz that will be almost like Nine minus the time travel part...
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