SBS lines up jailbreak thriller Defendant for fall
by girlfriday
There’s a new drama in the works from writer Choi Su-jin of City Hunter and PD Jo Young-kwang of 49 Days, Yawang, and Hyde, Jekyll, Me, and it’s headed to SBS this fall. Writer Choi was one of two scriptwriters on City Hunter, so I don’t want to get my hopes up too high, but this new project sounds like it could be a thriller in a similar vein. It’s a mystery thriller called Defendant, and it’s about one of the nation’s top prosecutors who suddenly wakes up in prison and has no memory of how he got there. I admit it—you have my attention.
The drama is described as a prison break story of a man on death row. The lead character is a prosecutor in the violent crimes division, the best in the country, in fact. He’s never once lost a case or been unable to prove that a defendant is guilty (though that makes me wonder if there’s something wrong with his methods).
One day he wakes up to find himself in prison, and has no memory of why he’s a criminal who ended up in jail. He suffers from temporary amnesia while faced with the worst possible dilemma, and the drama is about his desperate fight to clear his name before his time on death row is up.
It sounds like Remember crossed with Prison Break crossed with God’s Gift—14 Days, which could be very cool if executed in a thrilling way. There’s so much conflict in the premise that it’s a little like throwing the kitchen sink at the hero (what, no terminal brain cancer?), but I’m definitely intrigued by the idea of waking up in jail and not knowing how you got there. Who’s to say you’re really innocent, after all? If they plan to keep us guessing on his innocence the whole way through, then I’ll really be excited.
Defendant is being planned for the Monday-Tuesday slot following Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart: Goryeo in November.
Via IS Plus
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Tags: 49 Days, City Hunter, Defendant, Hyde Jekyll Me
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1 dramaworldfan
July 22, 2016 at 8:05 AM
Wow! The theme sounds interesting in unusual way. But I like it. Looking forward to how will it be executed.
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2 jichangwooklover
July 22, 2016 at 8:26 AM
The premise reminds me of Remember: War of the Sons. I had to drop that drama because Yoo Seung Ho kept suffering :( Though I did love City Hunter.
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3 Mayyes
July 22, 2016 at 8:31 AM
I do think SBS will follow Scarlet Ryo with Park Kyung Soo's drama, the casting offer to Lee Bo Young (and Lee byung hun but declined it right way) Why suddenly replace with new drama? The premise so interesting because i love thriller and mystery, like curently airing in SBS Wanted. Looking forward for new info.
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4 Kestrel
July 22, 2016 at 8:34 AM
Uh, oldboy meets prison break?
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5 Bùi Quốc Khánh
July 22, 2016 at 8:39 AM
So they drop Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim, thank godness, too much medicial drama now.
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6 rockyroad
July 22, 2016 at 8:41 AM
suddenly, I want Ji Changwook to take it up.. He'll be glorious in a tortured, gritty, brainy (i hope!) avatar!
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7 pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
July 22, 2016 at 8:47 AM
nooooo why is Seo In-gook tied up with a drama already, he'd have killed this one! Now I just hope the other one is REALLY good :(
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8 Mandy
July 22, 2016 at 8:53 AM
They sound like they have a very concrete story line so if the writer does well, I think this will be amazing. If anything, it'll certainly be a most big ratings hit like Yongpal and I Remember You were. Though I doubt it would be all that popular unless they get Hallyu. I hope they have the budget though - it would make this pretty epic.
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9 rabarella
July 22, 2016 at 8:53 AM
I wonder if he's in the same prison as some of the defendants he sent to jail - maybe who knows they'd end up helping him along the way.
Whatever it is, it sounds like an interesting premise and I might check this out.
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10 mindy
July 22, 2016 at 9:29 AM
Okay, this sounds awesome AND it's from one of the City Hunter writers.
Color me excited.
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11 The other Kiara
July 22, 2016 at 9:51 AM
I hope they'd consider casting one or two of the top ajusshi actors to headline it. Best prosecutor in the country? That comes with experience. Most of these young popular actors don't even look like they pass the bar exam.
The Chaser had the talented Son Hyun-Joo and Kim Sang-Joong and it was a success both in quality and ratings.
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purpleowl
July 22, 2016 at 10:17 AM
Choi Min Soo anyone?
He already played a chief prosecutor in Pride and Prejudice (even though I didn't finish it). He was pretty epic and used some questionable methods. In the right way.
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The other Kiara
July 22, 2016 at 10:24 AM
Yes please!
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Juliesean
July 22, 2016 at 10:40 AM
My vote is for Jo Jin Woong!! He should be able to take it after Entourage. Have they began filming for this yet? But he's such a in-demand movie actor as well. I love him in tough and kickass roles, whether hero or villain.
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The other Kiara
July 22, 2016 at 12:17 PM
Yes but we are being greedy lol. He is currently filming movies and Entourage on top of it. I don't know how he is doing it.
mary
July 22, 2016 at 10:51 AM
Yes, I want Bad Daddy to be in this. He looks so morally ambiguous, we'll be guessing if he's innocent until the final ep.
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The other Kiara
July 22, 2016 at 12:20 PM
He is so darn charismatic I love him in any role.
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cari_kdrama
July 23, 2016 at 8:55 AM
I will vote for Choi Min Sik even though he never take drama project.
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12 MaryAn
July 22, 2016 at 10:05 AM
wow, this one for sure has my interest. it looks really promising. cant wait to see who would have the lead role.
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13 gaeinalee
July 22, 2016 at 10:11 AM
Lee Jun Ki crossed my mind. He did 2 Weeks and he's good. He would be excellent in this, but he's already in Scarlet Heart. BUT, to have him in 2 dramas back to back for the next 6 or so months in two different eras of setting.. No, I won't be complaining. And I promise to be the good demure audience for the rest of the year, drama God. So please hear me...
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14 iris
July 22, 2016 at 10:38 AM
Sounds pretty exciting from what you write. I hope the writer is competent and I hope they choose good cast. I know the director is good.
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15 Miky
July 22, 2016 at 10:40 AM
Sounds cool,so many cross overs,like the ones mentioned above i'd add Violent Prosecutor into the mix...this sounds like the type of show were the actors will carry it and need very good ones...Hope we'll get indeed a very good lead
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16 jili
July 22, 2016 at 11:14 AM
This sounds like something Kim Soo Hyun would do.
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17 yasiabf
July 22, 2016 at 11:19 AM
so ji sub plzzzzzz!!!!
ji sub in rom-com is enough!!
plzzzzz back to your way!
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astromantic
July 22, 2016 at 11:45 AM
From your keyboard to God's ears! I'd love to see So Ji-sub in a thriller
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anugp61
July 23, 2016 at 5:27 PM
..and he should either wear a suit or don the black T-Denim Jeans combo
That would be thrilling enough for me :)
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18 bigmomma12345
July 22, 2016 at 2:08 PM
"what, no terminal brain cancer?"
Well, they haven't said WHY he has amnesia yet, right? I'd say terminal brain cancer is still in the mix...
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LuriRu
July 24, 2016 at 5:27 AM
Exactly
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19 kanz
July 22, 2016 at 3:36 PM
Kim Myung Min for the lead!
He was an amnesiac lawyer in A New Leaf so amnesiac prosecutor won't be out of his reach. And I kinda miss him in dramas.
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20 Angel
July 22, 2016 at 4:25 PM
Sounds like the job for Kim Soo Hyun
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21 Solarmoonmoo
July 22, 2016 at 5:03 PM
So, who is available for this drama? Who needs a drama comeback?
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The other Kiara
July 22, 2016 at 6:48 PM
Kim Mu-yeol and Jung Kyung-ho.
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22 fearlessseoul
July 22, 2016 at 6:58 PM
I've been a reader of dramabeans but this is my first time commenting. i feel like i have to express my interest in this upcoming thriller drama. I really hope Kim Soo Hyun takes the lead role. He is such a great actor but so far his dramas that i know of have not yet unleashed his full potential as an actor. I know he is a hallyu star already but if done perfectly, this could rise him higher. I believe he could give justice to this lead role.
i may sound like a hardcore kim soo hyun fan right now but i guess most people if not all would agree with me when i say that he is one of the best (dramatic) actors in his generation. right? :) but aside from that, the plot of this drama seems novel yet familiar. idk. But i'm looking forward to it. :)
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dozi
July 23, 2016 at 3:10 PM
But I don't want Kim Soo Hyun to be wearing a jail suit in most of the drama. Besides, his upcoming film is an action thriller he so might not want to repeat the same genre so soon. Regardless, I look forward to whatever he chooses next (hopefully there will be another drama before he enlists).
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23 moonpetal
July 22, 2016 at 9:11 PM
I vote Kim Boom So for the lead ! :)
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24 Chris
July 23, 2016 at 1:06 AM
I wish they will not cast any pretty boy for the lead role.. as much as I love Ji Chang Wook, Seo In Guk, or Kim So Hyun, I wish some seasoned ahjussi like joo jin mo, or lee seon gyun, or jo jin woong as the male lead.
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25 dfwkimchi
July 23, 2016 at 1:29 AM
Might as well crossed with 7 1/2 weeks drama too . The jailbreak n escape on that one was quite thrilling.
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26 dramafan
July 23, 2016 at 2:11 AM
Shin Ha Kyun. Kim Moo Yul. Cha Seung Won. Jung Kyung Ho. Ji Sung. Notrice how they're all above 30. Ahjuss is better! Lee Joon Gi too. A modern day drama. It's been a while since I last watched him something not wearing a costume.
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27 paroles
July 23, 2016 at 3:56 AM
If he stays in jail all the time, it'll be a pretty boring show. But if he just goes out on bail to carry out his investigations, the show doesn't sound that interesting anymore. This sounds more like a plot for a movie.
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mary
July 23, 2016 at 4:00 AM
I dunno... they can have different sections or groups in the prison he needs to infiltrate/blackmail to get what he wants. So it can still last a couple of eps depending on the writing.
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28 Alin
July 25, 2016 at 8:47 PM
lee jung jae pls!
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29 Yuna
July 27, 2016 at 7:59 AM
Jung KyungHo
or
Shin Sungrok
PLEASEEEEEEE.
U need actors who can play double role, good or bad in same exact face, talented villain, but also has a face of angel.
hahahaa
Prison break plus clocking time to the death row.
sound so violence and amazing.
im in.
gonna tune in and waiting for this November drama!
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