News bites: May 27, 2023

26 May 27, 2023April 21, 2024

by tccolb

Jung Ga-ram, Kim Jae-wook

Casting continues for the upcoming sageuk Tangeum, with Kim Jae-wook (Crazy Love) and Jung Ga-ram (The Interest of Love) now in talks to potentially join Lee Jae-wook (Alchemy of Souls) and Jo Boa (Tale of the Nine Tailed). Based on a popular novel by the same title, the mystery-romance is currently in the planning stages with PD Kim Hong-sun (Bait) directing and scripts by Kim Jin-ah (Dr. Brain). [Sports Donga, Star News]

Kim Da-mi (Our Beloved Summer) and Sohn Seok-gu (Big Bet) have been tapped to headline a new crime-mystery called Nine Puzzle. If they accept, Kim will become a profiler who was once the sole witness and suspect to a murder ten years back, and Sohn will play the police officer who suspected her. The series is expected to release on a streaming platform, with production led by filmmaker Yoon Jong-bin (The Match, Narco-Saints). [SBS]

Kim Da-mi, Sohn Seok-gu

A new teaser has dropped for MBC’s Numbers: Watchdogs in a Concrete Jungle, featuring our underdog hero L (Secret Royal Investigator) along with senior manager Choi Jin-hyuk (Zombie Detective). Also starring Choi Min-soo (Extracurricular), Yeonwoo (Golden Spoon), and Kim Yoo-ri (18 Again), the office drama premieres next month on June 23. [MBC]
The promos continue for tvN’s See You in My 19th Life as well, and the latest stills give us our first look at Ahn Dong-goo (The Law Cafe). Coming to our screens on June 17, the fantasy romance co-stars Shin Hye-sun (Mr. Queen), Ahn Bo-hyun (Yumi’s Cells 2), and Ha Yoon-kyung (Extraordinary Attorney Woo). PD Lee Na-jung (Mine) is at the helm with writing by Choi Young-rim. [Newsen]

Cha Eun-woo (Island) is considering an offer to play a medical student for the suspense-melodrama Wonderful World (working title). If the stars align, he’ll be acting alongside Kim Nam-joo (Misty) and Kim Kang-woo (Artificial City), who are both still in talks as well. In the meantime, we can expect to see Cha soon in the webtoon adaptation A Good Day To Be a Dog. [Star News]
Disney+ is lining up a new action melo, titled Hwa-in Family Scandal with Kim Haneul (Kill Heel) as the chaebol group’s foundation director and wife to the Hwa-in heir. Also in a leading role, Rain (Ghost Doctor) will be playing her elite bodyguard, who has ulterior motives against the conglomerate. Written by Choi Yoon-jung (Only Love), PD Park Hong-kyun (Hwayugi) is attached to direct. [News1]
More promos have been released for TVING’s youth drama Sound Candy, including a new poster and stills from the first script reading. Starring Weki Meki’s Choi Yoo-jung (Single & Ready to Mingle), former NU’EST member Kim Jong-hyun (a.k.a. JR) (Let Me Be Your Knight), n.SSign’s Lee Han-jun, in addition to Baek Seo-hoo (Cafe Minamdang), the fantasy romance launches next week on June 3. [Sports Kyunghyang (1), (2)]

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1 miso

May 27, 2023 at 6:32 PM

Kim Jae-wook and Lee Jae-wook in the same drama 😮! I'm almost suspicious of the drama gods being this kind. I don't think Kim Jae-wook has ever done a sageuk so I'm pretty excited 🥰.

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Midnight

May 27, 2023 at 10:45 PM

I have been thinking for years that the should play brothers.

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Diana Hansen

May 29, 2023 at 9:53 AM

me too! Love them apart so loving them together is double the fun!

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2 Minka

May 27, 2023 at 6:37 PM

Reading the synopsis of Nine Puzzle, I thought I have already seen something similar. But I like Kim Da-mi, so I might check this out once released.

Hwa-in Family Scandal - I only needed to see ‘elite bodyguard’ and I’m in for this show.

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3 PYC

May 27, 2023 at 9:38 PM

KDM + SSK = Dreamcast comes true. I’m in.

Also, has anyone heard more news about Trunk? A romcom / melo with Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun-jin.

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4 Midnight

May 27, 2023 at 10:44 PM

Rain as a bodyguard to Kim Hanuel! My first reaction is count me in! Then I pause, she is married?

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5 DancingEmma

May 28, 2023 at 2:07 AM

Kim Jaewook and Lee Jaewook as lovers in a Sageuk. Wow! Ok, settle down. I just imagined it and didn’t say it was taken from the plot.

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hacja

May 28, 2023 at 7:07 AM

I think they are both playing eunuchs in this one.

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Omg the poster for Sound Candy HAHHAA good lord, are we getting another fantasy boy band drama? (I say this with anticipation, I'll never say no to a good ol' idol drama). I'm a sucker for pretty faces so I'll bite!

I also read Kim Haneul as Kang Haneul and got too excited 😭 Not sure how I feel about chaebol politics BUT look when the time comes I'll likely give it a go anyways.

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7 Emperor

May 28, 2023 at 2:19 AM

- Wait ... you told me that Kim Jae Wook and Jung Ga Ram are relegated to second leads so that Lee Jae Wook gets all the spotlight in become the main lead? That does not sound so right ...
Or is this a Bloody Heart-like situation, where Jang Hyuk is positioned as the main villain so Lee Joon can get the main lead spotlight? In this case, is it gonna be Kim Jae Wook who's gonna play the villain? That does not sound right as well to me .... Kim Jae Wook had played soooo many villain roles ...

- I can smell Hwa In's Family Scandal main storyline from one-kilometer radius away, basically either the matriarch/patriarch will be the big bad, and their supposed kids are equally as monstrous ... in short, this looks like a repeat of The Last Empress ...

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Gikata

May 28, 2023 at 3:43 AM

Exactly my thoughts - from what I read about this drama KJW indeed plays YET ANOTHER creepy villain, which seems like a downgrade from ML status he worked so hard to achieve. I'm not the one to usually argue about things like top billing and amount of screentime, but wouldn't this be a typecasting in his case? And potentially career harmful one. It'd make more sense if actual leads were huge veteran actors at least, but these two? I do like the idea of him in sageuk and it's understandable that his latest projects didn't do well so he's not offered the hottest scripts out there, but he'd better pass on this, it's not worth it.

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Emperor

May 28, 2023 at 8:56 AM

I knew right! He had done enough villain roles. Can't these studio execs and artists' agencies start selling him for meatier roles? I know they can do it!
For example, they did elevate Namgoong Min, previously jotting one psychopath role after another, and look where he is now - one of the most sought and prestigious dramaland actors.

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Gikata

May 28, 2023 at 9:18 AM

It just reminded me of cruel reality where having acting chops is not enough - one also needs to have either talent of picking right scripts, good company to pick them instead or pure luck to get them anyway. I can name quite a few actors who excel in their craft but lack these latter magical ingredients to success... With KJW it really pains me to see his leading man status unstable enough to get such offer in the first place. No offense, it may end up being a great hit show that does wonders to its cast careers, who knows - but so far I don't see any real basis to be this optimistic. He deserves better.

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Emperor

May 28, 2023 at 10:30 AM

If one party is to blame I believe it lies with the agencies or artists' management companies. I've been following Kdrama news long enough to see endless conflicts between artists vs management companies - in fact, I believe the numbers of competent management agencies are way less than the bad/incompetent ones .... just see how many actors switch their agencies each year, how many actors sued their agencies, and how many actors even set up their own personal management companies!

OAsia

May 29, 2023 at 4:23 AM

A love triangle: Jung Ga-ram, Lee Jae-wook and Jo Boa. I don't know what role Kim Jae-wook will play, maybe a villain?

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8 sooyi

May 28, 2023 at 3:24 AM

Kim Jae-wook is being considered for the role of Grand Prince Hanpyeong whom I believe is inspired by Grand Prince Wolsan, Sejo's eldest grandson and the older brother of King Seongjong. It's because like the latter prince, the former is described as the sole brother of the reigning king, uninterested in politics, and an ardent artist. Grand Prince Wolsan was sidelined from the throne twice:
-First, after the passing, when Sejo named his second son, Grand Prince Haeyang, as his successor for Wolsan was still a toddler, and he didn't want to repeat the bloodshed which ended the reign of his late nephew, the young and powerless Danjong.

-Second, when said uncle, then known as King Yejong, died, and Wolsan's younger brother, Prince Jalsan, was chosen to become the new monarch by their grandmother, Queen Dowager Jaseong, who wanted to extend her interference in politics as regent, and his father-in-law Han Myeong-hoe, Sejo's right-hand man.

Grand Prince Wolsan was clever because he distanced himself from politics, but at the same time, he remained respectful to his younger brother and rigidly followed court etiquette. On the one hand, he was saving himself and on the other hand, he was giving face to his younger brother. Yet his character is close to a villain in the novel and the drama adaptation.

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bbstl 🧹

May 28, 2023 at 9:55 AM

Thanks for this info!

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sooyi

May 29, 2023 at 8:04 AM

It's nothing really! I wouldn’t have gotten the reference if I haven’t recently stumbled on a book about Prince Wolsan and one of his paintings (I haven’t read it yet but I might soon once I officially start my summer break). He appeared to me a fascinating historical figure due to his pursuits and disposition, and I wonder why he hasn’t yet got a drama centering on him (he was more like a supporting character in sageuks).

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DancingEmma

May 28, 2023 at 4:08 PM

Thank you for this interesting info. I wonder how his character becomes villain-adjacent in the novel given he distanced himself from politics? He must become a romantic rival!

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sooyi

May 29, 2023 at 7:52 AM

My initial impression of Kim Jae-wook’s casting was like yours, that he’s going to round up the love triangle, but after seeing his character description and researching the book, I found out the character is “old” (he’s in his 50s), and he had something to do with male lead (Lee Jae-wook)’s disappearance as a child. He doesn’t seem to be a political schemer, but more like, his pastime and interest are not exactly pristine.

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bbstl 🧹

May 29, 2023 at 8:55 AM

Well, these details make this show even more interesting to me, thanks!

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9 kiara

May 28, 2023 at 5:38 AM

In Sohn Seok-gu I trust!
Can writer Lee Jung-woo save us from all the garbage sageuks this year? 🙏

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bong-soo

May 28, 2023 at 11:46 AM

@kiara, I am with you on your hope.
After plodding through OUR BLOOMING YOUTH for 14 episodes (for PHS) and dropping it and plodding through all 16 episodes of JOSEON ATTORNEY (for WDH) I am at the point where I am done (maybe for quite awhile) with fusiony/mystery/romantic sageuks.
I am going to wait for the proper sageuk coming down the line later in the year: KBS’s THE GORYEO-KHITAN WAR.
As you referenced, its writer is Lee Jung-woo who wrote KBS’s THE KING OF TEARS: LEE BANG WON (2021/22).
Reports are that filming began on May 17 and it will be released in November.

The upcoming period drama I am eagerly awaiting is Kim Nam Gil’s SONG OF THE BANDITS from Netflix. Still no release date unfortunately and I can’t even find out how many episodes it will have.

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kiara

May 28, 2023 at 12:14 PM

You were right to worry about JA's 2 writers. It was obvious that it was written by 2 different people.
It's not hard to cast good actors, but good writers are harder to find these days it seems.