Namgoong Min offered drama lead as Rebel Hong Gil-dong

37 October 10, 2016October 12, 2016

Namgoong Min offered drama lead as Rebel Hong Gil-dong

by javabeans

Ooh, there are several details about this new project that have me sitting up in interest: First up, there’s a new MBC Monday-Tuesday drama in the works, and it’s called Rebel Hong Gil-dong, based on one of Korea’s most famous folklore heroes. Secondly, it’s Namgoong Min (Beautiful Gong-shim, Remember—Son’s War) who’s up to play the hero, and thirdly, it comes from the director of Kill Me, Heal Me, Scandal, and Golden Time, PD Kim Jin-man. Writing is Hwang Jin-young of King’s Daughter Soo Baek Hyang.

Namgoong Min has been given the offer to play the “wise and righteous” Hong Gil-dong, a 16th-century Joseon hero of the people. There’s a richness and widespread appeal to the character that makes this a popular choice for dramatization onscreen; born to a nobleman and a lowly concubine, young Hong Gil-dong was denied a chance to use his talents properly (and made famous the line about being unable to call his father his father and his brother his brother). Leaving behind his home, he became the leader of a group of outlaws that would steal from the rich and give to the poor, and eventually set up a new nation and became its king.

There have been a number of different takes on the character throughout the years, and Rebel Hong Gil-dong is purporting to take a fresh angle in focusing on Hong Gil-dong as revolutionary figure and anti-establishment activist. I’m intrigued by the premise, even if it doesn’t seem that long ago that we saw Hong Gil-dong in a drama; I still have a huuuge soft spot for the 2008 KBS series, as flawed as it was, and loved Kang Ji-hwan’s portrayal of the character as rapscallion and reluctant hero, in a version that mixed a lot of comedy with heart.

I’ve also been really loving Namgoong Min in recent years, with Beautiful Gong Shim marking a real highlight and turning point — he was complex and interesting and also downright weird, and demonstrated a broadened range that has me excited for what’s next. I’m fascinated with how he’s been developing as an actor, and could really dig seeing him as a righteous hero.

Rebel Hong Gil-dong will air in early 2017.

Via TV Report

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1 Adal

October 10, 2016 at 12:12 AM

Oh this sounds exciting! Can't wait for this.

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2 michykdrama

October 10, 2016 at 12:12 AM

Namgoong Min Oppa!
Yes please!!

BGS was too long ago already, and he doesn't have enough roles as the good guy for me to feed my addiction. ?

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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐

October 10, 2016 at 1:49 AM

It is actually very interesting, because he used to play a lot of good guys before Girls Who Can See Smells and Remember. LOL

BUT yes, his attempt to play a villain ( and very successful at that) made him climbing up. Hope to see more of him as good guys with varietyy of roles before he is back be villain. LOL.

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Shf

October 11, 2016 at 3:46 AM

I know!!! He started out a a really good guy and never got credit or moved up in the ranks for those roles! I really lived him in One Fine Day! Thats the drama where I first fell for him instead of Gong Yoo! Lol

I so happy to see him getting more leading roles!

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3 Chris

October 10, 2016 at 12:13 AM

I hope he accept.. the premise sounds interesting.
Hopefully a real actress casted as the leading lady and not some idols.. Namgoong Min deserve a good partner.

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4 mary

October 10, 2016 at 12:24 AM

Aww it doesn't sound as fun as the HongSis version of Hong Gil-dong but a normal serious historical. Though I suppose the production credits point to a great drama.

The description reminds me of Boon-yi which isn't bad, but I wanted more of funny NGM before drama gods put him back in killer roles again. :(

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Bazu

October 10, 2016 at 1:08 AM

But he kills it as a frenzied villain! :D

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5 pieryrose

October 10, 2016 at 1:13 AM

Nam goong min is just climbing up the ladder with different genre projects. He is truly a versatile actor. He has portrayed different shades of evil and good characters. he would be my most favourite villain-turned hero type guy.

He should take this offer.

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6 voice

October 10, 2016 at 1:42 AM

YES YES YES

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7 ⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐

October 10, 2016 at 1:53 AM

I liked King Daughter and with Nam Goong Min, I can add this to the list for 2017. OH nooo, 2016 is yet to finish.

More than what My Aims for 2017, I am preparing list for what to watch. LOL. Tsk Tsk

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8 Zah

October 10, 2016 at 2:10 AM

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9 Tara

October 10, 2016 at 2:51 AM

Oh oh oh! I would definitely check this one out. Hoping it will be less on comedy, or at least very different from the Hong sister version because I love that version a lot and don't want to compare.

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10 Still_Yoyo

October 10, 2016 at 3:01 AM

SOLD..

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11 Miky

October 10, 2016 at 3:07 AM

Already trying to imagine him with long hair

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Sunflowerdiva

October 10, 2016 at 8:57 AM

Ditto. I think he'd look all right!

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12 Viki

October 10, 2016 at 3:59 AM

Oooh, if he signs on, I'm totally watching!!

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13 Kiara

October 10, 2016 at 4:21 AM

Kim Mu-yeol would've been my pick to play Im Kkeokjeong if they were going for a more conventional sageuk.
This is another fictional take since the real Korean Robin Hood was a peasant himself.

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juniper

October 10, 2016 at 7:20 AM

That would've been beyond cool. It is pretty ironic that the butcher in real life was legendized as an illegitimate nobleman's son in a story that's about class warfare, but that's Joseon for you.

Now I want a Kwak Jung-hwan or Kim Yong-soo directed sageuk about Kim Moo-yeol the badass thief/revolutionary lol.

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Kiara

October 10, 2016 at 8:27 AM

Oh my gosh...Kwak Jung-hwan or Kim Yong-soo and his stunt team. Yes!
Im Kkeokjeong needs to be a one man show with lots of action and Kim Moo-yeol is more than capable. It's not like we need to worry about him in a sageuk setting either.
(My Beautiful Bride was a Kim Moo-yeol show. Hot dang he was good, really good).

Did you finish watching Im Kkeok Jeong? I have problems downloading MrX's sub from WITHS2 :(.

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juniper

October 10, 2016 at 9:01 AM

My Beautiful Bride was worth it for Kim Moo-yeol alone, though I actually thought it was pretty good. Imagine if that writer had sageuk chops and was able to do fusion stuff...now I'm really dreaming lol.

I'm thinking about picking it up again when I hit a lull in Age of Warriors lol. The last few times I tried I had a lot of problems downloading subs from the WITHS2 site but luckily I got those ones long ago. I wonder if the D-addict forums still have download links to the IKJ subs? There are three episodes of subs missing towards the end though, which I'm kind of dreading, because I can get the gist of modern Korean but sageuk is much harder to understand.

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14 Tinka

October 10, 2016 at 4:47 AM

Is Hong Gil-dong the same historical figure that was at the base of lead character in the Jumong series?

Jumong was a very complex, nice shot, long (and at times, tiring) drama. I enjoyed it.

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Kiara

October 10, 2016 at 4:58 AM

Hong Gi-dong is based on a real Joseon historical figure (Im Kkeokjeong). Late Joseon during King Myeongjong's reign.
He would've been around during "Flower in Prison" timeline. I'm not watching the show so I'm not sure if he is part of it or his existence is being mentioned there or not.

Jumong is way back in the 3 kingdom era.

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Kiara

October 10, 2016 at 5:47 AM

Ooops mid Joseon not late Joseon.

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Tinka

October 10, 2016 at 7:08 AM

Got it, thanks for clarifying.

It's fascinating to find people that actually know more than general history of (I'm just assuming that you're not korean, please correct me if I am wrong) other nations.

On the other hand, I am amazed about the way koreans value their history and build up drama over drama inspired (more or less) from real facts happened to their ancestors. It's not that important how near to the facts it stays (it does but that doesn't serve my point now), but they have such a large pool where they swim: they have those drama staying near the actual facts, they have romance real or invented between real or invented characters, they have time-travel back and forth, they have tragedy, they have tons!! I agree there are a lot of stereotypes, and as you see more, you get to predict better some things, but they do something, and they do it good.

Unfortunately, people in my country don't evaluate our history, a lot of the shows airing on tv are very low quality, if there is no quality at all, and I am not saying this as a fan of korean culture. Directors and writers would have enough examples to look around, after all, any nation has a valuable history that defines it as a nation, it's just some manage to portretise it better, some are more nationalists, some treasure their people's history more, whereas some...don't.

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juniper

October 10, 2016 at 7:32 AM

In America historical fiction is mostly used as an excuse for sex in period getup or crazy conspiracy theories that have no basis in reality, so I feel your pain. As an American with an interest in European history, I only wish the west could learn to sageuk. I'm more of a traditional sageuk fan, so I fantasize about 50 episode period epics about American presidents or figures like Henry Clay, or Jung Ha-yeon style throwdowns between powerful women like Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots and Mary I, or a show about the Borgias that's about more than flashy dialogue and sexy times...at least we have Shakespeare and Masterpiece Theater over here, I guess.

Kiara

October 10, 2016 at 9:04 AM

Correct, I'm not Korean. I'm just a crazy history fan and that's why I love sageuks :). I have to know who, when, where and why lol.
Like juniper, I prefer the more traditional sageuks and writer Jung Ha-yeon.

There is so much heart and national pride behind Korean sageuks. I can feel it while watching the more traditional sageuks.
Lately it's more about money so I'm kind of disappointed but it gives me time to go back and watch or rewatch the older sageuks that came out during the golden era.

15 canxi

October 10, 2016 at 6:51 AM

Yess, Namgoong Min is still on the rise. Maybe the new claim to fame in the industry is to play a compelling psychopath. I feel like there a few people who've benefitted from those character types, haha.

Anyway! This sounds like a cool project for him and I would love to see him take it on. I've also never watched any Hong Gil Dong drama, lol.

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16 alien

October 10, 2016 at 7:07 AM

can we cast hwang jung eum then?

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kwatchergin

October 10, 2016 at 7:18 AM

YES! I was here to mention this till I saw your comment and thankfully I'm not the only one!
I love Namgoong Min a lot since Remember and I think he's just an amazing actor and slays every role (hope he take the role) . Jung Eum is my favorite actress and she'll be nice if she takes the lead female. And I never seen her on a historical drama (?) Since the director has worked with her in some dramas so they might offer to her. And I hope they add some comedy to the show !! Yay! Hope this happens ?

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17 isabel

October 10, 2016 at 8:01 AM

After being a few times villain, he is changing good.

I'm sure the writer wont let that hot bod go to waste.

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18 geniacat

October 10, 2016 at 8:07 AM

God that's so existing! I hope he takes it ? (but why do I have a feeling that he won't ?)

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19 Abbie

October 10, 2016 at 10:08 AM

Namgoong Min and the legend of Hong Gil-dong? You said the magic words!

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20 justwaytooboss

October 10, 2016 at 10:58 AM

Sounds really cool! Hope this pans out. I'd love to see Namgoong Min in a saguek. :D

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21 Alessar

October 10, 2016 at 10:59 AM

This could be good.

What would be better is Liar Game Season 2 with Namgoong Min added as a new villain in contention with Shin Sung Rok. Because, I mean, can you think of ANYONE else who could out-villain SSR other than one of the grandfatherly generation actors?

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22 jaepooh

October 11, 2016 at 7:01 AM

I still cannot unsee the villain in him. LOL it's still hard to watch him be the good guy because he was so good as the bad one. Another period drama, but would be interesting to see Namgoong Min in this garb. :)

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23 Rose

October 12, 2016 at 6:59 AM

NOPE. Hong Gil Dong will forever be Kang Ji Hwan's HGD for me. I know it sounds a bit mad, but this drama IS MY FAVOURITE DRAMA OF ALL TIMES. Even though I watched hundred dramas, it just top them all with 9ends,2 out and Queen Seon Duk. KJH X SY were the prettiest thing ever, that is even why I went through 30 long episodes of Monster, just seeing them together and my heart is going "THUMP THUMP THUMP" in an extrememly loud fashion ...

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24 Fan

November 14, 2016 at 1:51 PM

Cant get enough of him after watching the the` girl who sees smells ` and `Remember`,it so so good fit on him play villain !, and in last ` beautiful gong shim `he was so different , he s really so good actor, he really growing more .i was even watch we got married ,with him,program which i never saw before and not really interest,now he is my favorite actor,and his charm some kind like bad guy and i like it so much,even when he played good role his gaze very strong and not easy .And what i want to say just waiting for his new movie a lot, and also will wait cool villian from him,couse i really didnt saw another great bad guy like him in any dorama.Min oppa fighting!

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