Ji Chang-wook to return to dramaland as cryogenic man for tvN
by stroopwafel
Ji Chang-wook (Suspicious Partner) has confirmed his first post-army project will be the tvN sci-fi romance, Melt Me. The drama is about a man and woman who volunteer to take part in an experiment to be cryogenically frozen for 24 hours. Things don’t go to plan however, as someone mysteriously conspires to leave them frozen for 20 years. When they’re re-animated, they must keep their body temperatures at a chilly 88.7° Fareneheit (31.5° Celsius) in order to survive.
Prior to being frozen, Ji Chang-wook’s character was a hugely popular variety show PD named Ma Dong-chang. (So…Ma PD. I hope one of Ma PD’s signature shows will be 2 Nights 3 Days.) Every show he created turned into a huge hit, and his next variety show was called The Frozen Human Project. He volunteered to take part in the filming and be frozen, assuming he’d awake in 24 hours. 20 years later, he awakens to find that decades have passed and all of his loved ones have aged–while he looks the same as he did all those years ago.
Though Ji Chang-wook is confirmed, his costar has yet to be announced. PD Shin Woo-chul (Secret Garden, Lovers in Paris, A Gentleman’s Dignity) will be partnering up with writer Baek Mi-kyung (Strong Girl Do Bong-soon, Woman of Dignity).
Melt Me is scheduled to premiere on tvN in the second half of the year.
Via Sports Seoul
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Tags: Ji Chang-wook, Melting Me Softly
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1 myheartisomg
April 30, 2019 at 12:07 PM
Wookie's coming back in a sci-fi rom-com! My favorite blend of genres. As wacky and fun as this sounds, I hope it's a little grounded too. I mean, it's gotta be kind of devastating to lose 20 years in a blink, right? Wook has the perfect blend of brightness and vulnerability to make it work.
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yayabean
April 30, 2019 at 10:13 PM
Devastating? Maybe, if he would aged too, but the character doesn't.
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myheartisomg
May 1, 2019 at 4:10 AM
Yeah but the world would have moved on without him as if he was dead or in a coma, like in 30 but 17. He would have missed the lives of his loved ones - some might even have died - and his amazing career would be over. Pretty devastating!
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yayabean
May 1, 2019 at 7:43 AM
Well, when you put it like this, it does sound devastating. I rather see the glass half full.😉
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Lumiere
May 1, 2019 at 10:18 PM
Watching it might be amusing, but actually experiencing it? Parents could have passed on without our knowing. Properties owned might have gone to other people. If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend, they would have been married to other people and have kids. Imagine how utterly lonely and so very alone you could become. Imagine trying to get a job with all your legal documentation either gone, lost or obsolete. If youth and looks are the only things that matter to a person, well there you go.
2 gemwendz
April 30, 2019 at 12:13 PM
Sooo excited to see Wookie again in a drama. Reading the plot, it seems to be an interesting storyline mixing sci-fi and rom-com. Rooting for you oppa. Forever my Healer! ❤️
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3 Kafiyah Bello
April 30, 2019 at 12:27 PM
I'm excited because it's JCW and not excited because those writers are not it, at least for me.
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4 Dru
April 30, 2019 at 12:30 PM
He's back, people... He's back.. T.T
Now our heroine... let's see,,
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Endo
April 30, 2019 at 12:59 PM
Why do i feel like his training was so fast while Lee Min Ho’s are slow? Haha!
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yayabean
April 30, 2019 at 10:12 PM
Lee Min-ho is out too!
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bong-soo
May 1, 2019 at 10:36 AM
@yayabean,
I had this fantasy that upon their discharges perhaps JCW and LMH would work together on a drama (action preferably). Alas it is not to be.
Welcome back both JCW and LMH.
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yayabean
May 1, 2019 at 7:57 PM
Together in a drama like a City Hunter/Healer?! That would be amazing!
bong-soo
May 1, 2019 at 10:10 PM
Exactly! Since I am biased I would have called the drama HEALER MEETS CITY HUNTER.
5 Miky
April 30, 2019 at 12:37 PM
His hotness could melt that!So happy he is back and hope he will have a equal parter for his heroine!
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hawoojinruinedme
April 30, 2019 at 10:46 PM
Kim Seul Gi. For the love of anything and everything holy, give this girl a proper series female lead opportunity already.
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PakalanaPikake
May 1, 2019 at 12:45 AM
Great idea! I can just imagine how much fun Kim Seul-gi will have in a stainless steel dewar full of liquid nitrogen. ;-)
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6 Maq
April 30, 2019 at 1:01 PM
Yay yay yay! Suspicious Partner was the first k-drama I watched and enjoyed. It's still one of my favorites. I have high expectations for Ji Chang-wook.
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Bebot
May 1, 2019 at 10:12 PM
I love his chemistry with Nam JI Hyun I shipped them to ne together in real life :D
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Maq
May 2, 2019 at 6:05 AM
Agreed, although it seems like I always ship Nam Ji-hyun with her co-star (I zealously shipped her with Do Kyung-soo after 100 Days My Prince). I'm eager to see who he'll work with on this one.
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7 mango
April 30, 2019 at 1:12 PM
The writer can give us either a really well written plot or a fluffy rom-com. I guess it's going to be more in SWDBS vibe
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hawoojinruinedme
April 30, 2019 at 10:43 PM
I don't think SWDBS' strength was on the writing tbh. The writing was okay, but the Show was really really elevated mainly by the PD's comedic sense and tone, and the winsome actors.
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ohduhree
May 2, 2019 at 7:41 PM
I'd have to agree on that. SWDBS was pretty straightforward in its writing.. The directing and acting made it quirky fun. And the chemistry I still can't get over with :3
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8 javinne
April 30, 2019 at 1:39 PM
Wow, I feel a 30 but 13 vibe here!!! And I actually like very much this plot, although it will be heartbreaking. 😐
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9 Vespertyne29
April 30, 2019 at 1:40 PM
Excited to see JCW again, but ugh on this drama, by the writer of SWDBS, which is the absolute worst of all the Kdramas I have tried to watch. Just horrible. I could barely make it through the first 6 episodes, and dropped it without ever finishing it. I couldn't even watch it fast forwarding through the bad parts, because pretty much ALL of it was bad.
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Trinity 🍆
May 1, 2019 at 8:30 AM
OH NOE. I was so excited JCW announced he was in a drama I totally skipped over who the writer is. I HATED SWDBS. It was so so so horribly written and just straight up bad. The only reason I finished it was because I was watching with my Mom and brother (who also both hated it but we were in it together). My joy has now taken a nosedive 😭
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10 Trinity 🍆
April 30, 2019 at 2:43 PM
YES! I just finished re-watching Healer and I needed more Bong Sookie in my life! Welcome back my sweet Healer!
What a beautiful smile he has in that picture 😍❤️
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11 cherkell
April 30, 2019 at 4:27 PM
*squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*
Is all. :)
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mugyuljoie is preciousss
April 30, 2019 at 9:57 PM
Thank you for the reports from South Korea this week!
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kiara
May 2, 2019 at 5:23 PM
Lol I knew this was coming.
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cherkell
May 3, 2019 at 6:20 AM
Am I that transparent? I have a reputation to uphold. 🤣
Have just returned from SoKor, so another post should follow soon!
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kiara
May 3, 2019 at 6:48 AM
You've been squeeing over Ji Chang-wook way before EMPRESS KI so yes.
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12 missvictrix
April 30, 2019 at 4:35 PM
Melt me indeed!
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13 하데스
April 30, 2019 at 5:39 PM
I want to say, I don't care what he comes back in, I just want to see him. But then I remembered K2. 😂. Sigh. Regardless, can't wait to see you back Wookie!
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14 Rigby
April 30, 2019 at 7:39 PM
screammmmm.....swooon......melt......sigh......WELCOME BACK CHANGWOOK-SSI!
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15 Rigby
April 30, 2019 at 7:40 PM
I Love the one in the Banner....welcome back JCW, indeed you are Back, back to us. This might save my kdrama drought nowadays!
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16 mugyuljoie is preciousss
April 30, 2019 at 9:57 PM
I'm so happy he's back!!!
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17 yayabean
April 30, 2019 at 10:10 PM
These are exiting news!
I like all three involved with the drama, Ji Chang wook, the PD and the writer! Can't wait!
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18 Michiki
April 30, 2019 at 10:29 PM
His agency said he received many offers, so I guess he tried to choose the best script and director to work for his comeback project. The director is a good one. I hope the female lead is great too. I don’t mind if he acts with an older actress. Jang Nara is fine too.
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19 hawoojinruinedme
April 30, 2019 at 10:39 PM
I kinda like and have hope for the writer, but man, that PD. Im side-eyeing him/her hard rn.
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20 isa: I'm not a serial killer I'm just really passionate about things
May 1, 2019 at 1:06 AM
I mean, not to sound shallow or anything (me? shallow? never!) but....him having to stay chilly doesnt sound promising for the obligatory post-military shirtless scene.
Now, with that out of the way: YAY I like him loads! He's a great snuggler and I hope to see that portrayed in this new drama (I didnt move very far from the shallow end of the pool did I? But, in my defense, he had great post sexy times snuggles in Healer and Suspicious Partner!)
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mugyuljoie is preciousss
May 1, 2019 at 1:19 AM
I'd say if he's trying to stay cooled off you have a better chance of shirtless than snuggly.
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21 happiness
May 1, 2019 at 1:10 AM
i reallyy hope they can cast chae soo bin
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22 tesshan
May 1, 2019 at 3:42 AM
Nice way for Wookie to show off his six pack after the army training...I assume the getting frozen part will involve in some shirtless action. I approve!
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Vespertyne29
May 1, 2019 at 12:39 PM
Comment was deleted
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Vespertyne29
May 1, 2019 at 12:47 PM
The last few photos I saw of him while still in the military made it look like he'd gained weight, and not muscle weight. Or maybe it was just those hideous black glasses he was wearing (not a good look for him).
I think JCW loves to eat, and hates to work out. I read an article in which he was complaining about the shower scene in The K2, not because he had any ethical objection to it, but because of the timing of the filming meant he had to keep in shape/working out longer than expected, or WTTE. It was kind of funny.
(I found the quote: "Ji Chang Wook explained that he was worried about it for many different reasons. “I told the director, ‘It’s considerably difficult to maintain my body.’ I had to exercise every day and control what I ate. As filming progressed, it became hard to do both.” the actor confessed.
He said that he personally asked that it be filmed early on because of these reasons, which is how it ended up being the very first scene he filmed in the whole drama.")
But if his face looked like he'd put on some weight in those recent photos I saw, he looked gorgeous in his official "release/exit walk" out of the military, where fans were waiting to greet him. The man is beautiful.
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tesshan
May 2, 2019 at 1:17 AM
Yes, I did read about that. That is apparently one of the reasons why he decided to start doing rom-coms because the physical training for all the action packed thrillers was getting too much.
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23 Sim
May 1, 2019 at 6:33 AM
i REALLY hope they don't do a thing where his heroine was a baby or something before i just don't want that at all
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tesshan
May 1, 2019 at 8:43 AM
No, apparently the woman volunteers as well to take part in the experiment. They both get defrosted 20y later. I assume there will be a bond since they are both in the same situation.
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frabbycrabsis loves KBS Drama Specials
May 1, 2019 at 1:45 PM
Aw, I would find it more interesting if it was an entirely new person with no prior connection to him. Writers shouldn't be afraid to tone down the drama-trope-bingo every now and then! 😂
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Vespertyne29
May 2, 2019 at 12:58 PM
That sounds like a really stupid, trite, over used plot. Ugh.
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24 miss h
May 1, 2019 at 7:54 AM
Glad he's back!
The premise is different and could potentially be interesting, but I'm split on the writer. I liked Woman of Dignity but really disliked Strong Girl Do Bong-soon.
So JCW was just released and has a drama lined up. Im Si-wan was recently released and has a drama lined up. Where are you, Joo Won? It's been almost three months.
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Vespertyne29
May 1, 2019 at 12:57 PM
Also, where is Lee Min-ho? He got out just a week or so - maybe days - before JCW, and I haven't heard of him being signed up for a new drama yet. Or did I just miss the news?
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25 mary
May 1, 2019 at 9:24 AM
Why does this plot make me sad :(
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Barbrey
May 1, 2019 at 6:19 PM
Does it sound like a plot or just a situation? There will need to be more than two people trying to keep their body temps down. I have hopes for a plot-rich story, however, because if anything Strong Woman had too much plot! In different genres. But always interesting, so tone that down a bit, writer, and this could be perfect.
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mary
May 2, 2019 at 1:31 AM
It reminds me of Thirty But Seventeen. The leads will wake up and everyone and everything in their life would have passed by/moved on. Like my favorite Avenger. T___T
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gemwendz
May 2, 2019 at 8:46 AM
Also thinking about THE BEST HIT.
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Vespertyne29
May 2, 2019 at 12:59 PM
Because it sounds stupid and completely unoriginal?
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26 Manchisymofy1
May 1, 2019 at 10:11 AM
I’m really excited about this news,!! I have missed him so much,,,,, I just hope that this writers put their heads and hearts in this project.... I need a drama that makes my heart skip a beat, as healer did,!... is still one of my favorite top 3 in my list....
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27 mmmmm
May 1, 2019 at 11:14 AM
Awww Wookie it’s been too long!
Welcome back -me- to the drama land. That face, that smile,.. aiiii it’s really been too long for a drama land without JCW.
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28 Barbrey
May 1, 2019 at 6:27 PM
My main hope is that he has a good role that challenges him on the acting front. He was great in Healer and Empress Ki, but didn't have to push any boundaries in K2 or Suspicious Partner. I have the same complaint for Lee Min Ki. These two are really good actors that can pull off almost anything, I don't want to see them playing cold emotion-less characters anymore. The great thing about the writer I think is that she wrote super fun male characters for Strong Woman so hopefully Wook finds that in this script too.
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egads aka Dame Maggie
May 1, 2019 at 6:55 PM
Hopefully Lee Min-ki is very carefully considering scripts and looking for something new to stretch his acting and showcase his chameleon-like abilities. To be honest, I hope his next project is not romance.
However, I would not be sad to see him as a antihero, or a straight up villain with a mohawk. (sorry @mindy)
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mindy
May 1, 2019 at 7:25 PM
You will never let the mohawk thing die, will you? You do realize that I physically recoil from my screen every time I see the word, even more so when linked to Minki?
Anyway, I really hope he chooses Everybody’s Lies, it sounds so potentially good and seems like it will be a nice change of pace for him. I think he did two back-to-back rom-coms because he suggested in a recent interview that he realizes his own mortality now that he’s in his mid-30s and that his days as a romantic leading man are kind of numbered. But he also said that he doesn’t want himself or audiences to get bored of him doing similar roles, so I’m sure whatever comes next will be different. Thank goodness. Nam Se-hee is the actual greatest but I’d rather not talk about Beauty Inside... please help me erase that from my memory, Minki. Pleaaaase.
...sorry, who’s this article about again?
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mindy
May 1, 2019 at 7:26 PM
(I’m kidding, of course. I love JCW too! I just can’t resist talking about Minki...)
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29 meowingme
May 1, 2019 at 8:42 PM
"So…Ma PD. I hope one of Ma PD’s signature shows will be 2 Nights 3 Days." >>> LOLed so hard on this. Will be looking forward to all the meta in this drama!
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30 Mani-chan
May 2, 2019 at 8:55 AM
Oppa's character should never take a trip to India. He wouldn't survive the car ride from the airport
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31 trav
May 25, 2019 at 9:32 AM
Okay, okay... I'm kinda excited.
Now let's wait for more info, shall we?
God, I sure hope this will be a comedy.
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