Madam Antoine pairs Jang Mi-hee with Jung Jin-woon in May-December romance
by javabeans
This is quite the unexpected pairing: JTBC’s upcoming quirky rom-com series Madam Antoine has just cast veteran actress Jang Mi-hee (Unkind Women) to act opposite Jung Jin-woon (Marriage Not Dating) in a May-December romance that’ll form one of the supporting storylines. I’m not sure anybody could have seen that one coming — she’s long been a fixture in weekend and daily dramas (Rosy Lovers, Here Comes Oh Ja-ryong, Life is Beautiful) playing mom types, while he’s an idol. I know noona romances are all the rage in dramaland, but this takes that a step further with a 33-year age gap.
I suppose Jang Mi-hee does have a younger, hipper image than her 57 years, but Jung Jin-woon is 24, and my brain is having a hard time processing them as a couple when they seem more suited to mom-son. But the oddity of the pairing is surely intentional, and they wouldn’t have cast these two actors if they didn’t want us to do a double-take on the concept, so I’ll have to trust that it works in the story.
Speaking of which: The main plot of Madam Antoine centers around Han Ye-seul (Birth of a Beauty) as a fake fortuneteller who’s skilled at reading people and Sung Joon (High Society) as a star psychologist who’s indifferent to love. They’ll engage in a “psychological game” of some sort, presumably on the way to falling in love in earnest.
Jang Mi-hee will play a former psychology professor who sinks into a gloom after she retires, which is when she meets Jung Jin-woon and falls into infatuation at first sight. She works at a therapy center as a psychological evaluator, and is usually elegant and perfectionist… but in front of Jung Jin-woon, she has a tendency to spew curses, which is a key comic point of her character. Okay, the sounds cute. Still weird, but potentially cute.
Madam Antoine follows D-Day as JTBC’s next Friday-Saturday drama.
Via YTN
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Tags: Jang Mi-hee, Jung Jin-woon, Madam Antoine
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1 whitewire
November 10, 2015 at 3:13 AM
Whoaaaah. You can count me guilty for being the one not expecting this at all. Be that as it may, I absolutely think this will work. I can imagine great working chemistry and stuff. If Jung Jin-woon does not have that kind of intimidation within, it's a challenge you bet, this will absolutely work. As early as now, I am a fan of this pair. Bring it on!
Still digesting the team up. Quite real unexpected, but I am not complaining. I love them as a duo. Jang Mi-hee and Jung Jin-woon fighting! Nice job jtbc!
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2 Jennifer Calabrese
November 10, 2015 at 3:13 AM
Sounds great - loved him in Marriage Not Dating and wished he was end game....this storyline could be like the Korean version of "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" unless he doesn't feel the same in return!
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Waiting
November 10, 2015 at 6:51 AM
Exactly what came to mind!
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Wag-a-muffin
November 10, 2015 at 8:50 AM
Or Harold and Maude?
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Wag-a-muffin
November 10, 2015 at 8:53 AM
Sorry. nami (comment #9) suggested this before I did. (I need to learn to always read the WHOLE THREAD before commenting.)
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3 Ailee
November 10, 2015 at 3:22 AM
Whoaaahh!!! This is really unexpected.
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4 jensredshoes
November 10, 2015 at 3:38 AM
I like the two story lines but that age gap is too stupid to be believed. That just makes a professional woman look pathetic which I think is intentional in order to get laughs. Nope.
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Katie
November 10, 2015 at 2:56 PM
Out of simple curiosity, do you think that older professional men look pathetic if their partners/wives are much younger too? I'm asking because it's usually widely accepted. If yes, I respect your opinion. If not, you should ponder over the double standard you're employing.
Personally I don't see why it would make her look pathetic, or cause laughs. Some people like them younger, some like them older - personally I think most men age really badly, women usually age better simply because they use more skin/hair care products to slow down aging. If you're an independent, professional woman that doesn't need or want a man to support her, why not go for a fit, younger one with more energy and stamina etc. if you can?
Mind you, I don't like age gaps at all due to the usual power imbalance, but objectively speaking, if they want it and can do it, I don't see why it would make them pathetic or laughable. If anything, in some ways it's enviable as long as you're the one in the better position :P
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5 KDaddict?JCW
November 10, 2015 at 3:41 AM
"Unexpected" is good, great even. Far far better than the chaebol heirs, cold males, nasty MILs, unreasonably demanding parents, calculating marriage deals, birth secrets, faux siblings, faux marriage turned serious, which do get tired after many years.
I've been finding it difficult to get into some of the recent dramas on acct of their predictable plots.
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Emmy
November 10, 2015 at 4:37 AM
I know, too many of the same reused tropes. I look forward to seeing how this one shapes up.
IMO, a 33 year noona romance is actually more believable than a chaebol falling in love with Candy, or a celebrity entering an arranged marriage to avoid bad press.
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john
November 10, 2015 at 5:23 AM
I enjoyed her character in UW. Has K drama world ever had a inter racial couple ?
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Delurker
November 10, 2015 at 9:56 AM
Actually yes, Modern Farmer :) ; but of course, not the OTP. Still it was interesting; an unexpected bit of social commentary in the midst of silliness.
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nomad
November 11, 2015 at 7:27 AM
Me too! I really like the way she played the character as well.
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whitewire
November 10, 2015 at 7:32 AM
This is sooooooo great. Casting news alone, I can feel the sparks and chemistry sizzlin' up now. Unexpected is good -- GREAT even, indeed. :-D
Hi-five there chingu!
So looking forward to this ♥ ♥
[I Have a Lover is a darn great drama currently airing btw]
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6 iamme
November 10, 2015 at 4:43 AM
Gulppp..! Are they being serious..?
Don't want to judge before i watch it first, but to me, Jin-woon is pretty bland in MND.. And with that huuuuge gap, the sparking chemistry is so so important..
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7 lordseungri
November 10, 2015 at 4:50 AM
Omg that's a huge age gap
But if there's a lot of chemistry I doubt it matters
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8 Anir
November 10, 2015 at 5:02 AM
Kill me ?
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9 nami
November 10, 2015 at 5:05 AM
It kinda gives me a Harold and Maude vibe...
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Wag-a-muffin
November 10, 2015 at 8:52 AM
I'm sorry, nami. I should have read the whole thread before replying. I tried to delete my comment, but I can't. You were definitely first. (But I thought the same thing.)
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10 lavaniab
November 10, 2015 at 5:40 AM
I'll buy into a 33 year romance either way (older guy younger woman or older woman and younger guy) if da pair enjoys a sizzling chemistry... both in drama land and in real life. Happiness is subjective... to hell with age or race differences or even sexual preferences!
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11 ngekdrama
November 10, 2015 at 5:41 AM
OH MY GOD.
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12 Kiara
November 10, 2015 at 5:45 AM
Say what?
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13 loL
November 10, 2015 at 6:07 AM
he's so bad at acting... only a handsome boy, but nothing more...
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favoree
November 11, 2015 at 6:16 AM
That's my concern,too. I can't imagine him doing such a complicated role. He is cute, but simple and obvious, although, yes, a good looking guy. Poor Jinwoon, what a challenge!
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14 fab
November 10, 2015 at 6:38 AM
Odd but gooood. If KWS and SY can make it work, these two can do it too. JJW as a bloke with a laid back demeanor he was in MND would totally work in this scenario as well.
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15 Waiting
November 10, 2015 at 6:57 AM
I have a feeling this will be relegated to sizzling word chemistry if anything and not a whole lot of physical. I may be quite wrong in the end but at least the two are adults in this story and IRL.
I'll be ready to laugh when JMH starts cursing! LOL I can't really imagine her doing that as the roles I've seen for her are generally refined women.
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16 EPYC
November 10, 2015 at 7:24 AM
Jang Mi Hee is one very charming lady and I just wish they could pair her with a stronger young actor.
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17 canxi
November 10, 2015 at 7:26 AM
Oh, wow. I like both. Should be interesting.
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18 Asterido
November 10, 2015 at 8:08 AM
An odd storyline for a kdrama. But new idea is always welcome right?
But ditto to other commenters above, in this kind of story - the sparkling sizzling chemistry need to there...or its awkward acting to the very end.
For the guy part, i wished its lee min ho, ji chang wok ot kim bum. They're handsome, give a lil bit naive sentiment but also strong character...
I just hope its go beyond cougar-with-her-pet-boy. *finger-crossed*
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19 Rosemary
November 10, 2015 at 9:56 AM
I love this pair. If only Han Ye-seul was not in this drama! She is the one who is unbearable lousy actress.
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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
November 10, 2015 at 11:28 AM
not nearly as lousy as Jung Jin-woon tbqh.
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Kiara
November 10, 2015 at 2:16 PM
Lol agreed.
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Divers
November 10, 2015 at 11:39 AM
I think she can be pretty decent in comedic roles.
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20 Divers
November 10, 2015 at 11:36 AM
I'm more worried about his acting that I am about the age gap. Hopefully he's improved since MND because the plot sounds fun.
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21 weirdnshort
November 10, 2015 at 12:10 PM
33??? Wow that's a bit too much. I had a hard time believing the 14 year gap from Witch's romance but this is greater...
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22 nellebean
November 10, 2015 at 12:31 PM
I'll try not to think of their actual ages. I was surprised to read that Jinwoon is only 24, so if he's playing slightly older and she's playing slightly younger... I can eke it down to a 20 year age gap. Which I can totally handle if it's played well.
I don't know about this drama. It sounds like it has potential, but only if all the actors bring their A game. I really hope this drama is heavy on the laughs.
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23 nami
November 10, 2015 at 1:21 PM
Oh no, don't worry I really don't mind...there's no need to apologize.
Let's say great minds think alike^^
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nami
November 10, 2015 at 1:28 PM
My comment was addressed to Wag_a_Muffin. *hate replying on my mobile grrr*
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24 Zah
November 10, 2015 at 2:18 PM
Comment was deleted
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25 sirey
November 10, 2015 at 5:48 PM
Ewwww she looks like his mom
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26 newbie
November 10, 2015 at 11:54 PM
December? As in one foot already in the grave? Can we please agree to call it May-September?
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Odessa Jones
November 11, 2015 at 7:31 AM
Yes, please! She looks like she's got a lot of life in her yet!
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27 Odessa Jones
November 11, 2015 at 7:38 AM
I'm hugely intrigued by this one. Even though Sung Joon has lost me with his recent roles, I'm now considering watching this.
But what's with casting such a flower boy? Jinwoon was good in Marriage Not Dating, but can he pull this one off? I just watched Secret Love Affair a couple of times (it's THAT good--don't pay any attention to the dumb promo poster) and it works in large part because Yoo Ah-In is such a good actor. (SLA features a 20-year age gap, which sounds impossible, but the script and acting are so good that it turns out to be one of the best K-romances I've watched.) Since this is from jTBC, I think they won't be afraid to throw some kisses in there, but I don't know if they'll be able to convince me it's real!
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28 Danielle B.
November 11, 2015 at 7:46 AM
oh I LOVE this idea. Jinwoon has such a cheeky, mischievous side, and that works so great in a "noona" or..."ahjumma" romance. :-P
I also love older actresses getting a chance to not just play Moms! I haven't seen Jang Mi Hee in anything yet, but you can bet this side romance has guaranteed I'll catch Madame Antoine when it comes out. :-)
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29 Trinity 🍆
November 11, 2015 at 8:49 AM
I personally don't care how big the age gap is as long as both people involved in the relationship are consenting adults. Who are we to judge? Hopefully they have awesome chemistry together.
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30 Emma
November 11, 2015 at 12:17 PM
So my question is whether or not they will be playing characters that are the same ages that the actors are in real life? I recently had a conversation where we were talking about if it's more of a problem if the characters have a big age gap or even life experience age gap, like in High School King of Savvy, or if the actors themselves have a huge age gap, like Hi! School - Love On. And for me, I have more of a problem with the characters having a huge gap because when I'm watching a drama, I'm not seeing them as themselves, but their characters. I'm hoping that in this case Jinwoon is playing a little older and Jang Mi Hee is playing a little younger because the show sounds like it has promise.
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31 Zhel
November 16, 2015 at 7:23 PM
I am excited for this. Jinwoon's acting in MND is pretty laid-back. But come one he's so good at Dream High 2 considering that it was his first acting break. And yeah, I have doubts about his role here, but they may have seen his potential from We Got Married with Go Jun-hee who is 6 years older than him, and yet he managed to still act like an oppa.
Jinwoon is a multi-talented idol and I'm sure he'll be able to pull this off :)
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32 Zhel
November 17, 2015 at 3:57 AM
The casting group is not stupid. They won't get Jung Jinwoon if they know he cannot portray the role well. Same as with other actors here. I'm not his fan, but I know acting isn't really his forte. And if they end up with each other, I feel sorry for him. He never really ends up with someone in his dramas, always left behind. Lol. But let's see what he can offer. O
ver all, I look forward to this drama, only because of Ye Seul. :D
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33 Zhel
November 17, 2015 at 5:31 AM
Finally, a role given to him that has so much depth, I hope he will not waste this chance to prove his acting skills again. His role as Han Yeo-Reum in MND was just so unremarkable. I hope he really delivers with this one. I am a fan of Jinwoon being a singer/musician and athlete, and after Dream High 2 (where he delivered well as YooJin), he was never really given a chance again in MND 'cause his role there was pretty visual.
So yeah, I really hope he'd do well and if he does, the only thing I'm concerned about is their chemistry. Jinwooni fighting!
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