Blood looks to Jung Il-woo for vampire doc lead

69 November 24, 2014November 24, 2014

by javabeans

Yoo Yeon-seok (Answer Me 1994) won’t be taking on KBS’s upcoming fantasy-medical vampire drama Blood after all — his schedule didn’t work out, which is no surprise given how jam-packed that sucker is — but at least Jung Il-woo is in the mix to take the leading role, which dulls the disappointment a bit.

I’m still conflicted about the casting switcheroo because I was all excited for Yoo Yeon-seok to get his first drama leading role, but on the other hand, I won’t ever be sad about more Jung Il-woo. Plus, I haven’t been thrilled with Jung’s latest couple of projects (Records of a Night Watchman, Gold Rainbow), so I’d love for him to take something I’d actually watch. He still has to decide on the drama, though, and is currently “considering favorably.”

Blood comes from the PD of Good Doctor and the writer of God’s Quiz, which means that they’ve got the medical-thriller quotient covered. The hero is both a vamp and a surgeon, who doesn’t let his vampire nature prevent him from trying to save people’s lives. It’s not clear yet what kind of vampire he’ll be — we’ve seen vamps in dramaland here and there but the mythology isn’t consistent across shows — so we’ll have to wait to see whether he’ll need to drink blood, or whether he’ll be more evolved and have figured out how to suppress the urge. In any case, he’ll have to deal with antagonism from both the human and vampire quarters, with one offer currently out to Ji Jin-hee (A Warm Word) to play the human antagonist, a “devilish” ambitious surgeon in the same department as our hero. And Kwon Hyun-sang (Mandate of Heaven) once again plays a bad vampire after doing a pretty creditable job as a baddie in Vampire Prosecutor 2.

Blood is planning for a February premiere on KBS.

Via MBN

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Tags: Jung Il-woo

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1 coffeenlucia

November 24, 2014 at 3:21 AM

"The hero is both a vamp and a surgeon, who doesn’t let his vampire nature prevent him from trying to save people’s lives."

Hm. Interesting occupation.

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Alinka

November 24, 2014 at 3:24 AM

So Carlisle-Cullen-like *drooling over the goodness that is Peter Facinelli

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Nessie

November 24, 2014 at 12:50 PM

Yesss just as long as they don't give me full on K-version of Twilight.

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Jaeminuf

November 24, 2014 at 5:21 PM

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fgb4877

November 24, 2014 at 6:20 PM

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2 glowry

November 24, 2014 at 3:31 AM

Yoo Yeon Seok... sobsssss =(

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nomad

November 25, 2014 at 6:34 AM

I miss him…I really really miss him...

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3 Rachel

November 24, 2014 at 3:33 AM

Wonder why Jung Il Woo's recent projects haven't been that great. It's like they start well and show great promise, then just go downhill from there. I enjoyed Flower Boy Ramyun Shop but that was some time ago too.

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kanz

November 24, 2014 at 4:10 AM

49 Days is one of my favorite dramas and I enjoyed FBRS a lot, but after that I can't finish GR and didn't watch NW.

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pearl3101

November 24, 2014 at 6:24 AM

Also cannot forget 'return of illijimae'..

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4 HeartFelt(ed)

November 24, 2014 at 3:37 AM

I keep expecting him to announce he is enlisting. Part of me wants him to hurry up and go so he can be back sooner.

A vampire surgeon is a conflict of interests if i have ever heard one. All that blood...and surgeons probably miss lunch all the time.

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rinoak

November 24, 2014 at 5:27 AM

Ha! I was just thinking the same thing! They probably won't have to go to subway so much in this drama. After a surgery he'll be like, "You guys go on ahead, I'll finish up here."

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Rachel

November 24, 2014 at 6:29 AM

LOL it shows that the product placement has been done well. We all remember Subway.

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Fun-Lugha

November 24, 2014 at 1:14 PM

Ha ha! The PPL curse! If there's one drama overdoing it for me at the momeht its Birth of a beuty-Good Lord! They showed one with a vacuum cleaner and kept taking multiple closeups of the product and the brand name that it got a leeetle bit annoying.

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nomad

November 25, 2014 at 6:35 AM

and Dunkin Donuts…like that's all they're eating!!

Hwari

November 24, 2014 at 8:36 AM

Nah, since this drama will be air on KBS. Of course there will be Subway.

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5 kanz

November 24, 2014 at 3:54 AM

This surprises me a bit because early description stated the male lead character would be 37 yo. Although it maybe no problem if he's a vampire...

Anyway it's Jung Il Woo!! Please be good drama!

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6 Ev

November 24, 2014 at 5:07 AM

Jung Il Woo!!! He looks the part. I was disappointed with his last drama. I really, really hope this one will be a good one!

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Ella

November 24, 2014 at 9:22 AM

I'm with you. I like this casting and think he'll be great. Third time's a charm?.. Since it can't be as bad as Golden Rainbow and Night Watchman? :)

It's an unpopular opinion here at DB but I find Yoo Yoon Seok's acting to be dull and forgettable. He was adorable in Youth Over Flowers, and I enjoy his interviews and real life persona, but have yet to enjoy him in any acting projects. And I did watch Reply 1994 and felt nothing.

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7 harmonyfb

November 24, 2014 at 5:17 AM

Lead actor: whatever. ::hand-wave of disinterest::

Because, people: Kwon Hyun-Sang will be another evil vampire! (::has priorities straight::)

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museofmanymasks

November 24, 2014 at 7:05 AM

+1 (and Ji Jin hee!) Oh and, would it be weird if Kwon Hyun-sang rocked dreads as a vampire (He looked good in them in MOH)? Or is a Rasta-vampire too off the wall for a OCN drama? "Too many vampires not enough blood". Okay I'll stop now; clearly I haven't had enough coffee this morning.

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harmonyfb

November 24, 2014 at 8:02 AM

He's going to be an evil vampire boxer, so dreads are probably out, alas. But vampire boxer means lots of slo-mo fighting scenes where his muscle-y upper arms glisten with sweat.

::fans self::

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mrs.jung

November 24, 2014 at 8:03 AM

@harmonyfb
My advice to you is try to go to KBS, make your self look stupid and starts to have a rally there and tell them that your Kwon Hyun-Sang is deserving for the lead role, let see if KBS will bite your suggestion, since they doesn't have interest to give the role to kwon hyun sang...
You want an opinion from us? Honestly Kwon Hyun Sang didn't fit for the role... Just try to imagine it by reading the personality of the character of Blood korean drama..
it's a good idea that they give the role to Jung Il Woo, since he is super duper handsome, and of the best actor in korea too..he really fits for the role!
If you are not interested to Jung Il Woo, then stop commenting and saying bad things about him, because someday those bad things that you did will return to your idol kwon hyun sang...
Just like you we are not interested to kwon hyun sang, duh! his image is very common, he is not handsome, he is super duper UGLY.. oopps SORRY! i just want to insult you back, so that you feel the pain too..

If you want to reply my comment feel free to do it.. but I'm not going to read it anymore, coz I don't like to waste my time fighting back with you..!
GET LOST HATERS!

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harmonyfb

November 24, 2014 at 8:13 AM

What on earth? ::shakes head::

Yes, I'm excited that an actor whose work I enjoy will be reprising a type of role that I particularly enjoyed him in. I fail to see how that sparked such a venomous reply.

Perhaps you need to take a deep breath and step away from the internet for a bit? Sometimes one can become so emotionally invested in a fan-passion that one confuses the stated likes and dislikes of others with attacks on one's person. Go make a cup of tea and do something off-line for a while; you'll feel better.

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nomad

November 25, 2014 at 6:39 AM

Wow…I find myself LOL-ing at harmonyfb cause I think she's totally joking around..and gasped at mrs.jung cause I think she's completely missing the point...

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harmonyfb

November 25, 2014 at 6:51 AM

I was joking around (though I am super-excited about seeing KHS in the evil-vampire role. ::squeeeee::).

MrsJung is wound a bit too tight. (Still chuckling over her assumption that insulting an actor's looks would cause me pain. Does she think I'm secretly KHS?)

Mandy

November 24, 2014 at 8:32 AM

@mrs.jung - Seriously... you're just embarrassing yourself. I dunno if anyone else is insulted by the childishness, but you sure as heck are insulting your own intelligence. Chill a little!

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vhk89

November 24, 2014 at 8:54 AM

mrsjung,
you need to watch urself...ur comment shows you're bitter, narrow-minded and just wanna brutally attack people just bcuz their opinion different from yours...everyone got their own opinion....you can't expect everyone to think the same bcuz some people are not fans of JIW and do not like him. that's reality.

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Lixie

November 24, 2014 at 12:57 PM

This is what gives fangirls a bad name.

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8 jeny

November 24, 2014 at 5:20 AM

@harmonyfb
"Lead actor: whatever. ::hand-wave of disinterest".......Agreed.
Here's my un-biased perspective. Jung IL Woo is a good actor, but not great. He's not one of the best compared to the A-list actors.

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mrs.jung

November 24, 2014 at 7:41 AM

@jeny if you are not going to say anything Nice to my actor Jung Il Woo.. Well you please just shut up?
He maybe not the best actor, but that is just only your own stupid opinion, nobody cares your own opinion, because everyone knows that Jung Il Woo is one of the best actor in korea, the writer and the director of blood are interested to give the lead role to Jung Il Woo..

You know? if you don't like Jung Il Woo, then don't watch the drama! Just try to make your own vampire korean drama starring those A-list actors, that you mention. Let see if your drama will be a big hit, and let see if your starlets A-list actors won't give up their roles.. hahaha!

You know what? you are not a director, a writer or a talent manager to judge the acting of Jung Il Woo...

GET LOST HATER!

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passerby

November 24, 2014 at 8:04 AM

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Nesma Kazem

November 24, 2014 at 8:13 AM

i love Jung Il Woo and really happy because he take this role and hope this be great drama like 49 Days
but mrs.jung tha's her opinion does he have to be director or a writer to judge the acting ? spectator more important

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kara

November 24, 2014 at 8:49 AM

@mrsjung,

Why don't you shut up! I'm appalled by your rude, nasty, obnoxious attitude! Jeny said he's a good actor...but not one of the best. She never called him a bad actor. In his own country Korea does not consider IL Woo one of the top actors...Jung il woo's die hard fans are so butthurt and over-rate him too much. Can't take any criticism and have No respect for people's objective perception.

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neri

November 24, 2014 at 1:02 PM

his past two dramas did suck. but you can't also overlook the fact that the night watchman although full-blast suckie was a hit with the audience, and so was gold rainbow. il woo may not be the best actor but give him a good script and he does deliver.

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aley

November 24, 2014 at 5:57 PM

Night watchman had good ratings domestically in Korea, but it was NOT a big hit internationally. Some of JIW's fans stopped watching it in the middle of the drama. Golden Rainbow did not get enough hype and was not a big hit either. The ratings were not even that good in Korea.

aley

November 24, 2014 at 6:02 PM

On social network, for people's comments I've seen..... because those 2 dramas were subpar and poorly written, some non-fans in the general audience lost interest, gave up on the drama after only the first few episodes.

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neri

November 24, 2014 at 9:59 PM

does his management not read the scripts offered to him? it's time he eyes the international set and really fight it out with the rest. he has the talent, the looks and the determination. I just finished watching unstoppable high kick and fell in love all over again with him. his character was well thought out compared with the rest and the writers gave his yunho a happy ending. he was also fabulous in flower boy ramen shop as well as captivating in 49 days so it's not talent that is lacking but the quality of the scripts.

heidi

November 25, 2014 at 6:09 AM

@neri
jung il woo Can act, pretty good but I gotta agree w/ the other folks, he's Not great actor. no offense, i never did and still do not find him attractive in any way. that's my opinion, i met some people who think the same way. beauty in eye of beholder.

xchx

November 25, 2014 at 7:40 AM

heidi,

same here, i think JIW is not good looking or hot. im not that impressed by his acting either IMO

jadie

November 25, 2014 at 8:37 AM

I concur. Jung IL Woo is not cute to me either. he can act but not amazing.

Kookie

November 25, 2014 at 7:36 AM

mrs.jung's lack of self-awareness is pretty astounding...unless she is a troll.

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gurl21

November 25, 2014 at 10:13 AM

I disagree. JIW is one of the best actors there is. you know why I know? because after months of resisting watching flower boy ramen shop (I hated the poster) I finally sat down, clicked the program in hulu and was mesmerized against my will. that's a classic example of judging a movie by its ugly poster. no one can even come close to playing cha chi soo as jung il woo did it. it was his role and he owned it body and soul.

the same thing happened to me with unstoppable high kick. it's a sitcom, with over a hundred episodes and he wasn't even the star in it. but again, he caught me by surprise. his lee yunho is tough, cool, childish and impish at the start of the show. then he grew up and il woo's acting changed as well.

it's in his eyes. it can become steely or soft as when staring at a girl he likes but never glassy or empty when delivering his lines. the actor is aware of the scene and the person sharing it with him.

but sadly, these qualities have been missing in his shows lately. he's fallen back on "comfort acting" and seemed to have lost the edge that made him so mesmerizing and a great presence in high kick, 49 days, ilmijae and flower boy.

it's the script and the quality of the projects he's agreed to sign in. how can an actor be great in iljimae and be wishy-washy in night watchman? it doesn't make sense. he woke up one day and told himself he's just a middling actor and not to bother at all?

I hope if he does sign up on this new project that he gets to use his talents like in his old shows. I miss that jung il woo.

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knmdg

November 25, 2014 at 12:16 PM

Neri,
"you know why I know..." lol, that's your opinion as a hardcore fan, but in south korea his native country, is JIW regarded "one of the best actors" ?....Nope he's not. A whole bunch of non-fans don't think he's fabulous or one of the best. the guy's got skills but other A-listers are much more impressive.

9 Bunters

November 24, 2014 at 5:29 AM

Dam kind of disappointed that the rumours about Jaejoong taking this drama fell through. He would be perfect looks wise

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Chi

November 24, 2014 at 5:35 AM

I read that he confirmed a spy-drama instead.

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10 Chi

November 24, 2014 at 5:34 AM

I just hope the drama will have a consistent mythology and gives us the rules of the world they created early on.

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museofmanymasks

November 24, 2014 at 7:05 AM

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harmonyfb

November 24, 2014 at 8:18 AM

From your lips to the writers' ears!

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4D

November 24, 2014 at 10:52 AM

Yes PLEASE!

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11 kk

November 24, 2014 at 6:08 AM

wow i very happy a lot jung ilwoo fighting'

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12 danna

November 24, 2014 at 6:44 AM

I do love me some Jung Il Woo but he has had his fare share of fantasy related dramas what with being the grim reaper and being able to see dead people...what I've been saying all along is that Kim Woo Bin would make a perfect vampire...why hasn't anyone thought of this?

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Lixie

November 24, 2014 at 7:01 AM

He was already a vamp in Vampire Idol. What actor would play vampire twice? :)

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harmonyfb

November 24, 2014 at 8:04 AM

What actor would play vampire twice?

::cough:: Kwon Hyun-Sang. ;)

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danna

November 24, 2014 at 4:49 PM

He could!!

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13 Abbie

November 24, 2014 at 7:05 AM

Please, please, please let this happen! I need more Jung Il-woo because I haven't been thrilled with his past two dramas either. Sadly, because I love him! I want him to take this, I would love to see him take a turn as the dark, broody vampire surgeon!

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atz

November 25, 2014 at 1:14 AM

I know how you feel. I have not managed to finish the last eps of Nightwatchman...

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14 lay

November 24, 2014 at 7:06 AM

oh! i love jung il woo is vampire doctor.can't wait

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15 jensredshoes

November 24, 2014 at 7:33 AM

Not thrilled about another vampire story, seems like it's been done to death. But I'd love to see Jung Il Woo in something interesting finally. He just needs a really good story!

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16 Adal

November 24, 2014 at 8:10 AM

Jung il woo - count me in! Hopefully it'll be good.

On the other hand - it looks like a lot of 86ers and 87ers are taking on more and more dramas prior to their enlistment date. Not that I'm complaining, but it does seem like a lot of familiar faces in current dramas (Choi Jin Hyuk, Jung Il Woo etc). It makes me wonder about some leading men in their group who seem to be M.I.A. lately.

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17 Mandy

November 24, 2014 at 8:38 AM

I'm secretly kinda glad Yoo Yeon-seok gave up on this. I was so pumped up for the prospect of him being a lead but this isn't all that engrossing. So maybe its for the best.

Jung Il-woo hasn't done a drama worth watching - at least for me that is - since Iljimae! That was eons ago. Nightwatchman was a disaster of epic proportions so he's probably in a hurry to get rid of that before enlisting.

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18 jetsetlag

November 24, 2014 at 12:49 PM

Jung Il Woo, take this. It'd be great to watch you in something good. #sendingtranspacificvibes

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19 houstontwin

November 24, 2014 at 1:21 PM

I really could not stand Good Doctor but God's Quiz has been very entertaining. Who has more influence on the final product , the PD or the writer?

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20 yoo jae suk

November 24, 2014 at 6:20 PM

i like his acting in the night watchman...i think that drama is good...so i hope i can see him more on screen....
ps: my bias is yunho in the night watchman....i love the king also although he is bit psyco and nut in that drama...
opps...sorry....out of the topic....hihihih....=_=

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21 Ennayra

November 24, 2014 at 7:18 PM

Kwon Hyun-sang! He terrifies me b/c of Vampire Prosecutor 2, and yet I love him from The King 2 Hearts. Oh the conflicting emotions. It's almost as bad as looking at Shin Sung-rok after marathoning You From Another Star. I kept flinching, lol.

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harmonyfb

November 25, 2014 at 6:29 AM

I know, right? I'm so excited to see him as another evil vampire!

He was a bad guy in 'Possessed'/'Hon' as well; he played a bullying, remorseless high school student with that same languid style which makes it ten times scarier.

I'm really looking forward to seeing him in "Tattooist", as well (if it will ever get released, grr).