Kim Woo-bin and Kang So-ra offered leads in Hong sisters rom-com
by javabeans
Yes, yes, and yes please — this is news I can get excited about, with Kim Woo-bin (Heirs) and Kang So-ra (Misaeng) surfacing as the first names to be courted for Jeju Island Gatsby, the new drama from the Hong sisters writing team and the director they worked with on the zany rom-com Best Love, PD Park Hong-kyun.
(It also makes me smile, since Kang So-ra had been previously mentioned in conjunction with this project, only to be swiftly denied by her management. Were they just being coy? No matter, since I’d much rather have Kang So-ra than not have her.)
Representatives for both stars confirmed that they’d received the offers, though no decisions have been made yet. The drama is, as you may have guessed, set in Jeju Island, where the two leads relocate to start fresh with a new life far from the harsh city. The Hongs had initially planned for their next drama to be a time-slip piece set in the Occupation years, but last month completely overhauled their concept as a contemporary romance.
Since the Hongs have a solid track record of launching young careers (Lee Da-hae, Han Ye-seul, Kang Ji-hwan) and revitalizing established ones (Cha Seung-won, So Ji-sub), there’s always a lot of interest in their casting choices. Kim Woo-bin and Kang So-ra have already established themselves as stars of their generation, but I would totally love to see them both being funny and cute together. Aside from Misaeng I’ve wanted Kang So-ra to do better projects (ahem, Doctor Stranger and Dream High 2), and I need a palate cleanser after Heirs just about killed my love of Kim Woo-bin. I’d totally get back on the love train with a good Hong sisters comedy, though!
Jeju Island Gatsby will be a Wednesday-Thursday MBC drama that follows Angry Mom, which follows Kill Me, Heal Me. It premieres in May.
Via My Daily
RELATED POSTS
- News bites: February 21, 2015
- Kim Woo-bin and Kang Haneul turn Twenty
- New Hong sisters drama in planning, Kang So-ra denies casting rumors
- Hong sisters plan new drama with Best Love PD
- First teaser for big-stakes heist movie Con Artists
- Misaeng: Episode 1
- Doctor Stranger: Episode 1
- Heirs: Episode 1
- Master’s Sun: Episode 1
Tags: Hong sisters, Kang So-ra, Kim Woo-bin, Warm and Cozy
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51 DD
February 25, 2015 at 1:16 AM
Coming to the GREAT GREAT NEWS, all I'll say is YESSSSSSSS My baby is finally flying and getting his BIG break, good luck to you darling, keep soaring and keep making the haters hate lol you're going places love, ALL POWER TO YOU!!
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52 sss
February 25, 2015 at 1:17 AM
Never watched KWB before so curious how good he is. I'm here for KSR for lead again. yay! she's awesome!
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53 tweetpandora
February 25, 2015 at 2:05 AM
Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! That is all.
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54 bd5
February 25, 2015 at 2:16 AM
Did not know Cha Seung-won had his career revitalized - considering CSW having done 2 films the year prior w/ one (71:Into the Fire) being the 5th highest grossing film of the year.
But yes, the character of Dokko Jin became a mini cultural phenomenon (like Shin Mina's Mi-ho) in Korea.
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55 Unnie55
February 25, 2015 at 2:21 AM
I'm so excited for Kim Woo Bin but I'm thrilled to watch Kang Sora acting as a lead roles. Love her personality. She's look soft and kind but the same time she look confident and badass on her own way ( just like I see Ha Ji Won). Drama-god please make this happend..
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56 lhe
February 25, 2015 at 2:35 AM
I can’t believe this news makes me want to write here again, my last was on King2Hearts! I’ve already fallen just looking at their picture together! I’ve watched all of KS movies, dramas(I dropped Dr Stranger midway) and variety show(WGM). Hope they’ll both say YES!
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57 mimoz
February 25, 2015 at 2:45 AM
same here ! i really hope they will do this drama together ! *o* that'd be a killer of a drama lol :)
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58 Adal
February 25, 2015 at 2:51 AM
I am surprisingly not so enthusiastic about this pairing. Kang Sora has been hit or miss for me, the level of how much I enjoy her performance lies heavily on the script, as for KWB, as much as I loved him in Heirs and thought he was fantastic, I am approaching it with a wait and see reaction. Hyun Bin's latest drama fiasco has taught me that there's more to a drama than a leading man's charisma. The quality of the writing and directing has to be good, or we'd end up with another Dr. Stranger or Hyde, Jekyll and Me in our hands.
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DD
February 25, 2015 at 2:57 AM
I'm still a firm believe that the lack of chemistry and the dead beat leading lady is what killed Hyde Jekyll and Me!
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DD
February 25, 2015 at 2:58 AM
Believer*
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songsong
February 25, 2015 at 9:02 PM
Agree for Hyde Jekyll & Me.
The same for Dr Stranger the lack of chemistry for its first leads Lee Jong Suk & Jin Se Yun kills it.
Hoping for a good script from the Hong Sisters & chemistry from Kim Woo Bin & Kang Sora.
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gem28
February 25, 2015 at 8:19 AM
Hong sisters have a pretty decent track record so I guess its not such a bad idea to get excited but I agree, a drama requires more than the leads to work. Kim Woo Bin, he may be good but honestly I feel he still has a mighty long way to go acting wise. Kang So Ra is great, I'd love to see her opposite him. But I don't know why the moment I heard Hong Sister's new drama, my mind was always picturing Han Groo. She can do whacky, happy and emotional wreck at the same time with ease, I wanted her in it. But I'll be happy if this pairing ends up happening as well.
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Adal
February 25, 2015 at 8:41 AM
I agree with you on all points.
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59 achiara
February 25, 2015 at 3:10 AM
Dear Hong Sisters, please don't ruin this yet-to-be-confirmed beautiful otp with your whatever stories
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60 toni
February 25, 2015 at 3:29 AM
Not so much familiar with their works (except of course, The Heirs but I didn't actually finish that) but I think they'll be great together. Looking forward to another Hong sisters drama especially since You're Beautiful and My Girlfriend is a Gumiho are some of my faves of all time.
I hope they get confirmed!
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61 Miky
February 25, 2015 at 3:36 AM
I heard the news way back with all the rumors and i really want both of them to say the YES!!!
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62 songsong
February 25, 2015 at 3:39 AM
Awesome news!
Hope it happens.
Both are charming in their own ways & good actors.
Fingers crossed that the story will be good.
Woo Bin & Sora say yes please!
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63 korfan
February 25, 2015 at 4:08 AM
It'll be interesting to see these two actors working together.
Looking forward to it.
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64 ramona
February 25, 2015 at 5:11 AM
Yes! This needs to happen ASAP! Finally a pair of leads that are attractive, charismatic and most importantly can freakin ACT!! Enough with the useless idols and people with no talent whatsoever getting lead roles.
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65 gustave154
February 25, 2015 at 5:39 AM
OMG YESSSSSSSSS
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66 oosiee
February 25, 2015 at 6:16 AM
All I wanna do is pray to Lord Woobin to settle his high-speedy horse carrying his bucket of loads of movies for a moment for Our Lady is hereby..waiting to Shine on.....
♡♡
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67 korini
February 25, 2015 at 7:02 AM
Hmm... Both leads inexperienced actors in a rom-com? Especially in a Hong Sisters drama? We'll see...
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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
February 26, 2015 at 11:06 AM
they have more projects under their belts than Jae Hee and Han Chae-young i.e. the stars of the very first Hong sisters drama.
Rising star =/= 'inexperienced'.
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68 anne
February 25, 2015 at 7:07 AM
now kiss.
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69 yoseobseyo
February 25, 2015 at 7:33 AM
If this pairing really happens, just give me Jang Baek Ki, ehm no, Lee Hyo Shin, ehm i mean KANG HA NEUL! as the second lead male!!
haha so i have romance between kang sora and him (my sail in this misaeng otp haven't sunk yet :3 ). bromance with woobin would really awesome and addictive enough haha
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honey
February 26, 2015 at 6:49 AM
At least in Twenty we'll get to see haneul and woobin!!! The trailer is hilarious and has gotten me even more excited than I already was!!!!!!!! :)
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70 pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
February 25, 2015 at 7:34 AM
sending up my drama god prayers too, these two need to work together! I'm so glad to see them finally ready to break into the big leagues for real, they earned it.
(still - Gatsby? But I hope there is no shade of Big anywhere near this)
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71 mamel03
February 25, 2015 at 7:41 AM
Watching Misaeng made me really like Kang Sora as an actress. I never really liked her (Dream High 2); but now I realize it's just the character, not the actress. I would love to see her in a role better suited for her.
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72 DD
February 25, 2015 at 7:58 AM
@pogo
Again KT is a character that ppl just loved to hate. I didn't see rudeness to mom, he was so dotting on his mother when at that age kids are so rebellious, he came out looking like the adult rather than the mom!!
Forceful kissing well isn't that the NORM in Kdrama? I'm yet to see a kissing scene that doesn't involve a forceful kiss or a kiss that is enjoyed by both parties equally. This bothered me more since PSH's character didn't do anything about if it bothered her so much, rather than him being domineering etc. Yes he told her to listen to him but that's because he was trying to protect her and she stubbornly continued not to listen to reason...Again I am not excusing the kiss, but again he was playing the character of a teenage boy and from his perspective he probably felt it was the only way to knock some sense into this girl who keeps doing exactly the opposite of what he pleadingly asked of her... more so since he was trying to protect her rather than boss her around!
I've seen a video of that kiss, and in one take PSH is giving more than she's taking...I don't see all the hoopla about it being a "surprise" kiss or feeling bad for her. That kiss was redone several times and each time PSH was totally ok with it...So I'm really confused about the kiss situation. Just because they chose a take that looked as if PSH was in pain doesn't mean that was actually the situation on set!
Here's a link where PSH is actually kissing LMH more forcefully than he is her.
Video of the kiss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnSGV3ieOI8
Video of countless retakes and good atmosphere on the set https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_kn_c6wmi8
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73 iamdeb
February 25, 2015 at 8:39 AM
All I'll say is hmm....we'll see. I hope it's a good drama and whoever the leads are have lots of chemistry. I'm excited for this drama!
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74 Miky
February 25, 2015 at 10:24 AM
really liked Woo Bin in The Technicians and if he takes the role,hope he does!drama land please say yeah the character will be more than the usual chaebol traumatic jerk...i for one hope in the future to see him play once again some roles like he one he had in the movie....
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75 Nessie
February 25, 2015 at 11:41 AM
Just my love for Kang Sora alone will make me wanna watch this, and now add Kim Woo Bin??? Ahhh drama gods please be good to us!
Us beanies should make a prayer circle for this casting to be a success!
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lookingfordramacrack
February 25, 2015 at 12:16 PM
I'm so in your circle! ^^
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76 lookingfordramacrack
February 25, 2015 at 12:14 PM
Omg, losing my shit already for this potential pairing!
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77 K
February 25, 2015 at 12:16 PM
OMG YES PLEASE!! Can I finally see kim woo bin as a male lead in a drama??????? AHHHH so many feelsssss
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78 moonsnails
February 25, 2015 at 1:09 PM
Comment was deleted
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79 ryoko
February 25, 2015 at 2:30 PM
Yes, yes, and more yes! I need both of them to accept ASAP.
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80 Beanfan
February 25, 2015 at 5:47 PM
Well, I'm excited about this pairing, though to me it's more of an "interesting" pairing than a straight-forward, natural one... I've only seen KSR in Misaeng, so I'm not sure she can play cutesy and bubbly, the way I typically envision Hong Sisters' female leads doing.
As for KWB, I've only seen him in rebel, antsy, violent, unpredictable roles.. So, it will be interesting to see him tackle a rom-com male lead.
I guess what I'm saying is... I want to see them together, but maybe not in a Hong Sister's drama. And maybe not in one titled, "Jeju Island Gatsby."
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81 mitta
February 25, 2015 at 8:00 PM
Putting this one on my watchlist! Definitely have more respect for Kang So Ra after her stellar role in Misaeng. Can't go wrong with Hong Sisters either. Let's hope for a great script!
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82 Kim Woo Bin and I = yes
February 25, 2015 at 11:17 PM
I hope they agree to this! I just have a few requirements:
1. KWB gets the girl
2. No school scenes. KWB's been in school dramas way too many times
3. I haven't seen much of Kang Sora other than Doctor Stranger- which I made to the 6th ep and dropped it, too boring- but she seems like the perfect leading lady next to KWB! Both are headstrong personalities and I'd love to see a charged, passionate screaming match kiss scene or something like that!
4. Lee Jeon Suk cameo. Please. He can play a gay guy like he did in Secret Garden, I'm totally fine with that.
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songsong
February 26, 2015 at 2:28 AM
Yeah I agree about Lee Jong Suk cameo. That will be fun!
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silverandgold
March 1, 2015 at 4:49 AM
nah. i would rather to not be in each others project other 5 years. also, it would be unfair, if LJS showed up in Woo Bin's project, when Woo Bin himself never appeared nor in DS nor in Pinocchio even if he is close with all 4 actors from main cast.
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83 silverandgold
February 25, 2015 at 11:40 PM
o my god, most exciting cast news so far this year to me (and I doubt any other will top it). sora and woo bin deserve attention that playing in this drama will bring to them;)
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84 btsxfangirl94
February 26, 2015 at 12:08 AM
Wow they look so good next to each other in those pics!
Finally a drama I can get excited about this year I want to get rid of every last memory I have of hyde,jekyll & fail and kill me,kill me again(yes I thought both were awful dramas).The only drama I find interesting this year is hogu's love. So many dissapointments this year. *sigh*
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85 honey
February 26, 2015 at 6:46 AM
I'm hoping for this KWB-KSR pairing as much as I hope for a second season (?) of Liar Game. Please let this happen, dramagods please please please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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86 Gangnam1970
February 26, 2015 at 7:37 PM
I`m excited for this drama since Kim Woobin is rumored to be in it and will be playing the lead while i`m not sure about Kang Sora. She may be a good actress and a good person but for me she`s not that charismatic kind of an actress. The kind that can catch my attention 100% when i see her on screen.
I hope KWB accepts this one and if it`s really KSR playing the female lead, well i hope she can act bubbly/light as per Hong sisters usual female lead.
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87 songsong
March 4, 2015 at 3:00 AM
So any update regarding Kim Woo Bin & Kang Sora for this drama?
A lot of coming up dramas have already confirmed their leads.
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88 yoadrian
March 18, 2015 at 7:29 AM
Just watched The Heirs last week. Nosebleed - sluggishness is frustrating.
But Kim Woo Bin, may I have another one, please?
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