News bites: February 21, 2023

28 February 21, 2023February 21, 2023

by tccolb

Gong Yoo (The Silent Sea) and Seo Hyun-jin (Why Her) are a pairing that I never knew I wanted, and both are in talks for a new Netflix romance called Trunk. With PD Kim Kyu-tae (Our Blues) as the talent behind the camera and scripts by Park Eun-young (Hwarang), the story is based on a novel by Kim Ryeo-ryung, who also wrote the original novel series for the movie Punch. [Sports Seoul]

Speaking of Punch, Kim Yoon-seok (Escape from Mogadishu) is making his drama comeback with Netflix as well – his last drama being MBC’s Love Me When You Can back in 2006-7. Along with Yoon Kye-sang (Kiss Sixth Sense), Go Min-shi (Jirisan), and Lee Jung-eun (Missing: The Other Side 2), the four will be starring in the mystery-thriller Alone in the Woods. PD Mo Wan-il (A Couple’s World) is attached to direct with writing by Sohn Ho-young. [JTBC]

Honey Lee (One the Woman) has confirmed casting for MBC’s Flower That Blooms at Night (roughly translated), playing a dutiful widow by day and a masked hero at night. Production for the investigative comedy sageuk is being led by a team of four, with PD Jang Tae-yoo (Lovers of the Red Sky, Hyena) and PD Choi Jung-in (On the Verge of Insanity) co-directing alongside writers Lee Saem and Jung Myung-in. [MBC]
2023 is shaping up to be a big year for historicals and the sageuk king Choi Su-jong (My Only One) will be headlining KBS’s 50th anniversary series The Goryeo-Khitan War (working title). The Goryeo-era story will follow the real historical figure General Kang Gam-chan, with Lee Jung-woo (The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won) penning the scripts and directing helmed by PD Jeon Woo-sung (Strongest Deliveryman) as well as PD Kim Han-sol (Imjin War 1592). [News1]
Seol In-ah (Oasis) is considering an offer to star in a time-slip called Sparkling Watermelon, the newest project by writer Jin Soo-wan (Chicago Typewriter, Kill Me, Heal Me). Production is still in the planning stages and filming is set to begin once casting has been finalized, with PD Sohn Jung-hyun (Mental Coach Jegal) at the helm. [SpoTV News]

The promos continue for tvN’s Pandora with a new poster of our heroine Lee Jia (Penthouse 3). Also starring Lee Sang-yoon (One the Woman), Jang Hee-jin (The Red Sleeve Cuff), Park Ki-woong (The King’s Affection), and Bong Tae-kyu (Penthouse 3), the revenge-thriller will be taking over the weekend slot starting March 11. [Sports Donga]
Over on TVING, a new poster has dropped for Part 2 of Island, featuring leads Kim Nam-gil (Through the Darkness), Lee Da-hee (Love is for Suckers), Cha Eun-woo (True Beauty), and Sung Joon (Call It Love). The fantasy will be returning to our screens this week on February 24, with production continuing under director Bae Jong and writer Oh Bo-hyun. [Maeil Kyungje]

Required fields are marked *

1 Gikata

February 21, 2023 at 11:26 PM

1 - I like SHJ, but everything else feels like nope-bingo)))

3 - It's been a while since we saw Honey Lee in historical drama. Red Sky's PD is not banned from sageuks yet? Big mistake.

4 - epic Goryeo sageuk! History-based! Protagonist ISN'T royalty! What a great potential - both for ratings and controversies...

5 - as long as ML is decent and it's NOT a romcom (not writer's forte, I'm afraid). Title isn't giving me hope tho...

7 - give Miho more outdoor-friendly shoes before she trips and dooms the humanity by accidentally breaking her neck!

Required fields are marked *

2 mmmmm

February 21, 2023 at 11:26 PM

Whatttttttttt

Gong Yoo Seo Hyun-jin

Sign me up. NOWWWWWWWW

Required fields are marked *

3 Anne18

February 22, 2023 at 12:22 AM

Comment was deleted

Required fields are marked *

4 jerrykuvira

February 22, 2023 at 1:23 AM

1 is a stroke of exciting good news.

With the kind of PD attached to 2 and the story it is based on, I'll prepare my mind for the crazy things to come. And I like the casting here.

3. Honey Lee. Investigative comedy. After One the Woman, I can bet on this a million times to be perfect. Hyena's PD and OTVOI's, I'm taken. I'm going to pretend I didn't see Lovers of the Red Sky in that PD's resume.

4. I've got so many things to say about this one. The title alone has shot me an arrow. The writer attached has me melting. The plot has me thinking about the many choreographies to grace my screen. You better be longer than 16 episodes.

I'll wait for more news on 5 before jumping in.

6 is really a Pandora. With each promo coming out I feel like there's more to this. The premiere is going to drive me somewhere.

Required fields are marked *

5 Wise

February 22, 2023 at 2:15 AM

How good Seo Hyun Jin is? Let say her acting is the only thing that made me watch “Why Her?” till the end. If that doesn’t speak so much volume I don’t know what will. I can’t wait for her new drama.

Required fields are marked *

6 Soyesterday

February 22, 2023 at 3:39 AM

Kim Soon-ok is the Lionel Messi of makjang dramas

If shes still the writer on Pandora, then its going to be a trashy flaming hot mess... and i will watch.... every.single.episode.

Required fields are marked *

7 Kafiyah Bello

February 22, 2023 at 4:11 AM

1. The way I screamed excitedly about this, until I saw the writer. lol. I will still watch because my love for Gong Yoo is unwavering and static. Maybe the writer will surprise.

2.hmmmmm

3. Honey Lee is always fabulous, so will try this.

4. Seol In Ah is working, good for her. She deserves it.

5. Pandora looks great, cheers to a BA woman even if she is a former assassin.

6.LOL, excited for this. I am entertained by Kokdu and this isn't nearly as bad.

Required fields are marked *

8 Unaspirated

February 22, 2023 at 5:42 AM

Trunk: I need to watch something with Seo Hyun-jin besides Oh Hae-young Again. That was a drama I enjoyed during the watch, but afterwards grew to like less and less as the annoying parts stayed with me and the good parts faded. Still very interested in any Gong Yoo situation though.

Flower that Blooms at Night: I just saw the words “masked hero” and I’m in.

Sparkling Watermelon: Even if this turns out to be wild, the name alone is fantastic.

Island: Nothing anyone can say can make me less excited to watch this again hahaha! The casual way KNG has one hand in his pocket while he holds his knife in the other? Perfection.

Required fields are marked *

9 bong-soo

February 22, 2023 at 6:54 AM

A new addition to my list of upcoming historical/sageuk kdramas:
No. 4. Definitely. KBS’s THE GORYEO-KHITAN WAR looks epic.
(No. 3. MBC’s FLOWER THAT BOOMS AT NIGHT is already on my list.)

@kiara, We have a Goryeo set drama coming up. Do you have any further info on a possible drama set during the Silla Dynasty? I still come up empty on searching.

Required fields are marked *

10 cozybooks

February 22, 2023 at 7:00 AM

Wow! All of these sound like fun, but I'm super intrigued by the new thriller and the gong yoo and Seo Hyun Jin painting:)

Required fields are marked *

11 Diana Hansen

February 22, 2023 at 7:27 AM

Gong Yoo
saeguks
Kim Nam-gil
Honey Lee
Count me in for all of them! I love saeguks so the more the better. Just watched Island in all its glory and can't wait for part two except I have to wait til I can get it on the dark side. Love Honey Lee and this sounds perfect for her. And I thought February was good!

Required fields are marked *

12 ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae

February 22, 2023 at 3:29 PM

1. DREAM PAIRING! DREAM PAIRING!! DREAM PAIRING!!! (In complete denial of the screenwriter)

2. Certainly one hell of a cast. Never would’ve imagined them together, but count me as interested.

3. Honey Lee back in a sageuk… I win.

4. GORYEO??!? WE’RE GETTING A GORYEO-ERA SAGEUK??? THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!!

5. The writer of my favourite drama of all time Chicago Typewriter? I’m in. I also like Seol In-ah, so that’s cool I guess. Sparkling Watermelon is a lovely title, I hope they don’t change it.

6. This drama will probably be a makjang mess, but Lee Jia looks really hot here.

7. I still need to watch Part 1 💀. I’m getting worse at keeping up with stuff.