Wanted secures cast in Kim Ah-joong, Uhm Tae-woong, Ji Hyun-woo
by javabeans
Well, phew! Wanted has a cast, which is a relief because a few possible castings fell through (Kim Hyun-joo, Jin Gu) with just over a month until its premiere, and since the thriller premise sounded intriguing, I’d hoped the show would pull it together. Now it’s secured its three main leads: Kim Ah-joong (Punch), Uhm Tae-woong (Valid Love), and Ji Hyun-woo (Awl).
It’s a shame that Kim Hyun-joo and Jin Gu passed on the drama, but I do like this cast a lot and hope it’ll offer meaty material for all three. I’m partial to Ji Hyun-woo, since he was such a marvel in last year’s Awl, and if he can’t be a one-top lead on broadcast TV yet, I at least hope he continues his streak with another awesome character.
The drama kicks off when the son of a top film and drama actress (Kim Ah-joong) is kidnapped on the day she was set to announce her retirement. The culprit orders her to carry out various missions on television in a twisted sort of live reality show, and the actress, desperate to recover her child safely, complies with his demands. She receives help from the television producer played by Uhm Tae-woong, as well as Ji Hyun-woo’s character of the dogged detective who throws himself into the case.
Over the course of the missions directed by the criminal, greed is revealed in a number of different people — and what’s more, the broadcast itself gets entangled in an unexpected murder case. Dun dun dun!
With this kind of heart-pounding plot and ticking clock driving the show, Wanted could make for a suspenseful thriller, and it’s a relief to know it’s nailed down a cast so it can turn to shooting right away. Because it was brought in as a last-minute replacement (SBS had planned to put melodrama Deal in that slot instead, but scrapped that just weeks ago), I don’t think its late casting is necessarily indicative of problems with the plot or production, though it’s always better to have more time when going into these projects. Fingers crossed that the rest of the show proceeds smoothly.
Wanted will premiere on June 22, airing as a Wednesday-Thursday series.
Via Sports Donga
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- Jin Gu and Kim Hyun-joo don’t want to be Wanted
- Uhm Tae-woong also in the mix to join SBS thriller Wanted
- Jin Gu offered lead in SBS reality-show thriller Wanted
- SBS replaces Deal with thriller Wanted, courts Kim Hyun-joo
- Eric considers tvN mystery romance with Kim Ah-joong
- Ryu Joon-yeol, Kim Ah-joong join Jo In-sung’s movie The King
- Punch: Episode 1
- Awl: Episode 1
- Valid Love: Episode 1
Tags: Ji Hyun-woo, Kim Ah-joong, Uhm Tae-woong, Wanted
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1 little-muffin
May 16, 2016 at 3:14 AM
Oh wow so excited for this, love the casts!
Ji Hyun-woo may not be outstanding as main lead in Trot Lovers and Angry Mom, but he was really awesome in Awl. That show made me look at him differently.
I love Kim Ah-joong too!
I hope this show won't disappoint, especially the ending.
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Juliesean
May 16, 2016 at 6:08 AM
He was also awesome in Queen Inhyun's Man. A fantastic role which he nailed it to a T. Plus sizzling chemistry with Yoon In Na. Their kisses were out of this world. Too bad they broke up.... I'm still broken about it.
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Chiisan
May 16, 2016 at 9:48 AM
I think the reason why he didn't stand out in those projects because he was a supporting character in Angry Mom, and the main lead in Trot Lovers was poorly written.
Other than that, I like this guy. He always has such believable chemistry with the female counterpart.
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2 gadis
May 16, 2016 at 3:23 AM
Ooohh... I'm being excited again for this drama. Though it's a pity that Kim Hyun-joo passed on this show, I do like Kim Ah-joong and Ji Hyun-woo a lot. I hope they manage do deliver a thrilling and heart-thumping story.
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3 Mintylilly
May 16, 2016 at 3:32 AM
I want a smart kim boong do-esque in this character from ji hyun woo. Seeing him as eager beaver in angry mom made my love bubble for him POPPED!
*sigh
Please please please writer make him very smart and not naive im begging on all four
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skelly
May 17, 2016 at 4:17 AM
I actually liked him in both Queen In-Hyun's Man and Angry Mom - these were very different parts, and he did both of them well. Angry Mom needed him to be optimistic yet timid, definitely a second wheel and someone who needs a push in the right direction. I thought he represented a sort of everyman, while in Queen In-Hyun's Man he was the exact opposite. And rightly so. There is only room for one Boong-do in the universe, sadly.
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4 susan
May 16, 2016 at 3:40 AM
Plot seems interesting.... I don't have problem with casting.. If only they had more time... Rushing things will cost the detailing... I would be a miracle if they pull it though... Glad there actors who are ready to take risk like this... I'm in.. hoping for miracle . ?
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kanz
May 16, 2016 at 3:47 AM
I'm hoping for a miracle too that the drama will turns out good. They only have roughly 1 month before premiere. The filming will be rushed, but I still hope the end product will be good!
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5 Kaylie
May 16, 2016 at 5:02 AM
I was pretty disappointed that Kim Hyun-joo turned down the offer, but I can't say I'm not excited when I see that Kim Ah-joong's taking the offer instead! Another thriller after Punch, I'm looking forward to it!
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6 Lai Pei Yee
May 16, 2016 at 5:09 AM
Bring them on... I look forward to see these three again. The wonderful lawyer in punch, uhm force and the brilliant guy from queen in Hyun and awl...hope that the directing and writing will be brilliant as well.
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7 cupkate
May 16, 2016 at 5:54 AM
Awww Ji Hyun woo!
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8 beantown
May 16, 2016 at 5:56 AM
Looking forward to it!
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9 enkeys
May 16, 2016 at 6:41 AM
The most important thing this kind of drama need is a good PD who is skilled with editing. Wrong edit and all the suspense will be gone away forever - example - Goodbye Mr Black. I'm looking forward to Ji Hyun Woo and Kim Ah Joong.
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ito
May 16, 2016 at 6:52 AM
+1
GMB is weird imo.
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10 cozybooks
May 16, 2016 at 7:08 AM
Just watch, Beautiful Mind will have its first teaser out tomorrow. ;) Looking forward to this!
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Flightey Gazelles
May 16, 2016 at 7:25 AM
Lol!
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11 gaeinalee
May 16, 2016 at 7:39 AM
Yay! Uhmforce in suspense drama = love love love!
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Chiisan
May 16, 2016 at 9:54 AM
$20 Uhmforce is the sadistic baddie in disguise! That's right, if this turns out like God's Gift, you can come after me for my money xD
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12 canxi
May 16, 2016 at 7:42 AM
Ah, Uhm Tae Woong is another actor I'm neither here nor there for but I love both Kim Ah Joong and Ji Hyun Woo. I like that Ji is venturing out of romantic lead territory and taking on other characterizations. I mean, there might be some hints of romance in this though, but we'll see.
(Obligatory everyone looks really nice in those headshots up there.)
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zia
May 16, 2016 at 9:10 AM
The plot looks intriguing and it can stand without romance, imo.
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canxi
May 16, 2016 at 9:34 PM
I believe so as well. But it's on the Big 3 and it'll probably be there in some shape or form even if it's only a sliver. I think Kim's character is Uhm's character's first love, lol.
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13 obsessedfan
May 16, 2016 at 7:52 AM
This sounds so much like Pied Piper
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sars
May 18, 2016 at 9:03 PM
This sounds like God's Gift for me :D
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14 korfan
May 16, 2016 at 8:47 AM
Ooooo, I'm liking that these three actors will be working together on this. It certainly sounds like an interesting story.
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15 goldeng
May 16, 2016 at 8:48 AM
Ji Hyun woo!! I hope his character is as clever as kim bung do~ Im still nervous with how rushed everything would be tho...
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16 fab
May 16, 2016 at 9:00 AM
So this drama came out of thin and accomplished what Deal couldn't in months? Hopefully it won't suffer under the pressure of live-shootings.
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17 LastJuniorStanding
May 16, 2016 at 9:07 AM
Ji Hyun Woo was pretty good in Awl, although he wasn't exactly my favorite of the cast. How many people still think of Um Tae Woong as Kim Yu Shin from Queen Seondeok? I guess this may just be me, because I liked that drama a whole lot, and haven't been watching many recent ones.
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am1993
May 17, 2016 at 5:10 AM
I recently watched Delightful Girl Choonhyang...I can tell you that I will have a very very hard time watching this drama and remember that it is not that awful Byun ajusshi on my screen...
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18 yuja
May 16, 2016 at 9:41 AM
Great cast, though I'm nervous about how little time they have. I'm still slightly disappointed that Kim Hyun-Joo passed (why does she only do dramas I don't want to watch??) but I think Kim Ah-Joong will be a very good fit for this role. I do like her in thrillers.
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19 iris
May 16, 2016 at 3:03 PM
I love the cast! I just don't love the fact that it's from a new scriptwriter. I have seen too many bad drama lately from new scriptwriters. And Uhm Tae-Woong's last drama - Valid Love - was disappointing, mostly because of bad script. I want this cast to have good material, so that they can shine. I must admit, the story sounds fabulous.
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20 saranga
May 16, 2016 at 5:35 PM
the replacement actors are all right. i'm just glad that uhm tae-woong is still in the lineup.
i still remember how much i loved, adored, obsessed over god's gift and how horribly the finale let me down. the shock was so intense i couldn't even talk or comment about it in depth for months afterwards. still... it was super good right up till the end when it wasn't. if this show can manage to bring even a third of that, it should be interesting to watch.
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21 HANI
May 16, 2016 at 6:08 PM
The casts are good in the sense that they have the acting ability needed for all those emotions.
Hopefully the plot didnt falter in the middle or worse, at the end!
Good luck?
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22 mbebzz
May 16, 2016 at 7:46 PM
yeahh...... finally Tae Woong appa comeback to dramaland, only hope this drama have solid script eventhough have not much time to prepare and hope Tae Woong appa can be baddassss like at drama Resurrection who cast him 3 weeks before aired wewwww... Fighting "WANTED"
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23 Lin_K
May 16, 2016 at 8:05 PM
Having Kim Hyun Joo/Jin Goo in this drama would have been pretty cool. But this casting looks good too. The premise is intriguing; I will definitely be watching this.
Is there any drama currently airing that is good? I was gonna give Oh Hae Young Again a try.
P.S. - Awl was an awesome drama!
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Lin_K
May 16, 2016 at 8:07 PM
This premise kinda reminds me of God's Gift because in that drama, LBY (or her husband I think) finds out that her (his) daughter is kidnapped in the middle of a broadcast. It was really good drama too until the very last. Lol. Never forgiving that writer!
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anabear
May 16, 2016 at 10:47 PM
Awl is awesome and forever will be. haha! hey, you should watch Oh Hae-Young Again. With only 4 episodes, I'm already in love with the characters.
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Lin_K
May 17, 2016 at 9:34 PM
Thank you! I will start it :)
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24 sars
May 18, 2016 at 9:05 PM
I like the premise. Hopefully, the plot will do not have some holes like stupid police or sort of stuff
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