Jang Hyuk picks next project with All About Eve
by javabeans
Hot on the heels of his latest success playing slave hunter Dae-gil in Chuno — which ended this week — actor Jang Hyuk has announced his follow-up project: a Chinese remake of the Korean drama All About Eve, which was a hit back in 2000 when it starred Jang Dong-gun and Chae Rim (and Kim So-yeon as a scene-stealing second lead, playing the ultimate villainess role).
According to Jang’s management Sidus HQ, he will take the role initially played by Jang Dong-gun. The series is set in the broadcasting industry, and the original had Chae Rim and Kim So-yeon as rival rookies, while Jang Dong-gun played an experienced PD. The character played by Chae Rim will be portrayed by singer-actress Zhu Dan, while her backstabbing rival will be played by Taiwanese actress Cheryl Yang.
The series is planning for a September premiere on Chinese television.
I don’t know the actresses involved so I can’t weigh in on them (anyone?), but I’m a bit wary of an All About Eve remake. Unless they rework the story a lot, doesn’t it seem rather old-school? (Bad girl schemes to one-up good girl whom everyone loves, particularly the handsome, rich, and senior colleague who rides to her rescue. It’s the classic Cinderella tale, but without a clever or modern twist.) Jang Hyuk had been planning to make his entry into the Chinese market with a television series, which he gave up to do Chuno, so I guess he’s eager to get back on that horse now that he’s free again.
Via TV Report
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1 Celest
March 25, 2010 at 8:45 PM
All About Eve is one of my favorite dramas that I saw many years ago. I dunno if I'd watch the remake though. Jang Hyuk is fine and all but Jang Dong Gun owns that role. Just saying. A perfect knight in shining armor. But who knows? Jang Hyuk has proved himself to be a capable actor so this might turn out okay after all.
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2 kaedejun
March 25, 2010 at 8:46 PM
still can't believe that's kim so yeon in all about eve - because she looked soooooooo different!!
don't know the actresses - 'cept that cheryl yang was in a drama with (the popular hottieeeeeee) ethan ruan in "my queen" - and that was supposedly a good show...
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3 Kim
March 25, 2010 at 9:00 PM
I'm so confused right now since I never saw the 2000 drama. Was the old drama an adaptation of the movie All About Eve with Bette Davis? Or am I just completely off track?
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4 nycgrl
March 25, 2010 at 9:00 PM
All About Eve is sooo old school and I didn't even enjoy it that much the first time around never mind watch a remake even if it's with JH. JDG was way too perfect to be interesting. Chaerim's chracter though cute got really annoying. The only saving grace was KSY and boy did I want her to screw everyone up. Of course being able to play the game of "whose who" was fun since All About Eve is chock full of "before they became big" stars.
Speaking of scene stealing. I love that part where KSY wears sunglasses at night smoking a cigarette. So bitchy, cool and wtf all at the same time.
BTW I personally prefer the Betty Davis version.
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5 jacq
March 25, 2010 at 9:03 PM
Aww, All About Ave was what got me hooked on korean drama years ago and it remained one of my very top favorite dramas of all time. And JDG, he was just perfect in his role. I was soooo in love with him (still do). I'm sure JH will do fine considering how magnificent he was in Chuno. I don't know Zhu Dan but I do like Cheryl Yang. She will be good as the villainese I'm looking forwad to this no doubt!
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6 glencorajane
March 25, 2010 at 9:08 PM
1) I am not familiar with Zhu Dan, but apparently she is a leading actress in ZheJiang province of China.
2) Cheryl Yang Jin Hua, as #2 has mentioned is 30+ and is a veteran actress in Taiwan. She became popular only last year due to her hit show - Queen of No Marriage (which is about a 30+ woman coupling up with a younger guy played by Ethan Ruan).
3) The show's other male lead is Lam Po Yi, also a veteran actor from HongKong dramas. Not very goodlooking, but I think he has his fans.
JH has a large following in China, I have been accessing their forums and there are alot of fans after Chuno.
Rumour has it that he arrived in Shanghai to start the styling/fitting on the 23rd March.
Think the break into China market is good for him interms of $$ and spreading his name further in Asia. But I am sure Mrs Jang will miss him at home! haha
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7 hjkomo
March 25, 2010 at 9:09 PM
Let's hope they rework it to be better than the Korean version. Totally old-school.
@ nycgrl
Yesss!!! Someone else who didn't like that drama. :D I thought it was meh & bleh...even given the time frame in which it was produced.
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8 Javabeans
March 25, 2010 at 9:10 PM
I'd say that that 2000 drama was a loose retelling of the Bette Davis version, which of course is awesome. I say loose retelling because it takes the general theme of a backstabbing, ambitious woman who does everything to be on top, which makes Kim So-yeon the Eve Harrington character. But Chae Rim and Bette Davis' characters have little if anything in common.
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9 glencorajane
March 25, 2010 at 9:15 PM
Official link of the show from ZheJiang Satellite TV:
http://www.zjstv.com/10topic/asnzb/
Oh man, the leading lady is not good looking at all!!
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10 Kender
March 25, 2010 at 9:15 PM
Um, JB, have you SEEN some of those Cdramas/Twdramas? As much as I love them, there are only a few that I can confidently say have deep or quality writing and plots. ^^;
The plot doesn't sound particularly exciting, so I'm glad I didn't bother watching the original. The Bette Davis movie was good, though. :D
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11 Sakura
March 25, 2010 at 9:17 PM
Best wishes to you Jang Hyuk !.
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12 djeedjes
March 25, 2010 at 9:18 PM
Even though I like Jang Hyuk, I don't think he fits the role as romantic prince charming like Jang Dong Gun. And I swear I'm not being biased! :D
Never heard about Zhu Dan, but Cheryl Yang is quite popular, and I can see her taking the villain role.
I agree with you, Javabeans, the story is kinda old, will it work?
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13 glencorajane
March 25, 2010 at 9:21 PM
Sorry, got to correct my post in #6, leading lady is more of a singer/compere. This show will be her first drama in a leading role! Damn lucky to be pairing up with JH!
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14 jusash
March 25, 2010 at 9:22 PM
Jang Hyuk can definitely act ... but i can't see him in the Jang Dong Gun role (riding on success of Chuno - why pick this?)
don't know Zhu Dan at all.
Cheryl Yang can hold her own, if My Queen (with Ethan Run - plot kinda like The Woman Who Wants To Marry/Dalja's Spring) was anything to go by.
HK's Lam Bo Yee ... his acting's pretty solid (NOT eye candy, but the sort of actor who can hold his own among other male eye candy. bec he can actually act).
i gather he's playing the role Han Jae-Suk played in the other All About Eve?
not a huge fan of All About Eve ... ok watch but nothing memorable.
Chae Rim was too cute for me, and yes pretty annoying at times.
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15 meixin
March 25, 2010 at 9:25 PM
jang hyuk.... I LOVE THIS MAN!!! <3 ahh i'm so sad chuno is ending soon!!
i saw cheryl yang in 'my queen' and i thought she was pretty good.
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16 jo
March 25, 2010 at 9:32 PM
hmmmmm......ok?
I have no problem with cheryl yang. She had always been a scene-stealing second lead until her breakthrough drama queen something (dunno what's called in english) but it was really good..she's a good actress.
but zhu dan? who's she? @_@ I tried looking up on google didn't see anything...
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17 all4movies
March 25, 2010 at 9:33 PM
As hard as I've tried, I just can't seem to get into anything Jang Hyuk is in.
Something about him just triggers a negative reaction in me. (Macho demeanor, sneer?)
I think he reminds me about everything I hate in men.
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18 lovedramas
March 25, 2010 at 9:39 PM
I'm thinking that the Chinese market will probably like him in this role regardless of how good it is??? Maybe star power is enough to get the foot in the door.
I agree, I haven't seen a lot of twdramas or c-dramas (modern day ones) that have a lot of storyline depth. And I've seen a lot of them. But maybe that's not what he needs. Personally, I don't think that All About Eve needs a remake esp only within 10 years. I thought that original was good but not that good to get a remake, and that the c-remake stars another k-actor.
Cheryl is a tough actress, she can definitely play the villain role well, and I have seen her since way before her My Queen days. I don't know the other actress so I can't comment on her.
Good luck to them all =)
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19 mookie
March 25, 2010 at 9:39 PM
@ kender, I beg to differ. Cdrama actually is my staple for better writing in serious stuff.. historical saguek, social commentary pieces.... but they dont do light romcom/ trendies decent AT ALL, they do occupational drama better than kdramas though. it depends on what route they r taking it... if they set heart in doing a serious drama on broadcasting, maybe it'll outshine AAE, both Bowie Lam and Cheryl Yang r considered very solid actors, and Zhu Dan is a popular MC/broadcaster so there maybe hope they'r aiming high. but if they settle on anything light, I'm very worried.
TWdrama does fluff and star vehicle well... it's rare to see a Black and White kind of tight, generally good plot/pace though.
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20 RunLolaRun
March 25, 2010 at 9:39 PM
Ugh...why Jang Hyuk? WHY?!?! I wish he could have picked a different project, oh well.
Is Lee Da Hae going to China to work on a drama or movie as well? I remember hearing that sometime ago.
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21 tisyamey
March 25, 2010 at 9:42 PM
hmmmm.. I was just curious, would this drama be in chinese then or in english..?
does Jang Hyuk speak chinese fluently? I haven't seen the korean drama but I've heard good things about it. Welps, AJA, Jang Hyuk!!!
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22 Kippy
March 25, 2010 at 9:42 PM
being a fan of chinese dramas, i'm surprised to see that they picked zhu dan as the lead since very little is known about her. i'm afraid she'll be the downfall of this drama since she's diving into a drama full of veteran actors
cheryl yang, on the otherhand, is quite the veteran actress and has an amazing range - i can totally see her as a backstabbing bitch and she'll probably rock her part.
bowie lam, another veteran hk soap star, has been around for agesssss and carries him well in supporting roles. nothing to swoon about, but definitely a solid choice for a supporting role.
overall, this series is gonna make big $$$ just based on its cast. each actor appeals to a slightly different demographic so it's gonna draw in a huge following no matter what. but honestly, i don't have too much faith in the production, no matter what the cast looks like.
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23 mookie
March 25, 2010 at 9:46 PM
argh.... but apparently PD is the same one that brought us TW Meteor Garden 2, ok no way I'm touching this one
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24 whyohwhy
March 25, 2010 at 10:00 PM
I thought that he would pick a historic epic Chinese drama for his venture into the market. Never thought that he would choose to do the remake of All About Eve. Seriously, from the past dramas that I've seen Korean actors and actresses acted in with the Chinese market, it's not that great. No offense to anyone! Most of the past dramas that Korean actors or actresses choose to work on are silly, the acting of the rest of the casts are not that great, and it is usually the Cinderella type of story where the prince rescued the princess. Oh well, I was hoping for him to choose a serious epic historical Chinese Drama to do for his next project. Never thought that it will be a modern one. I still love you Jang Hyuk!
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25 tamu
March 25, 2010 at 10:03 PM
wow... after philippine now china..... good luck to them...
AAE is the 1st kdrama that make me hooks to k culture...
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26 nycgrl
March 25, 2010 at 10:09 PM
@hjkomo
Yeah I didn't like All About Eve though I didn't exactly hate it either. I just didn't get all the rabid fandom in the early days. I usually don't mention it since its not a popular sentiment and I don't want the villagers to come after me with pitchforks but now that its 10 years later I feel safe enough to "come out".
All About Eve is like the kdrama equivalent of the English Patient. Not liking the English Patient was blasphemy when it came out. I get the death stare from my sister to this day if I even utter any criticism about the English Patient. I think she just loves Ralph Fiennes in those desert shorts.
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27 yumi-chan
March 25, 2010 at 10:30 PM
This reminds me of that Ha Ji Won drama Secret.
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28 Drina
March 25, 2010 at 10:55 PM
Who is Zhu Dan? I searched for her pictures on Google but can't find it,,,
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29 Issa
March 25, 2010 at 10:55 PM
I could have easily hated AAE since Chae Rim's character was a little too perfect, I mean come on, sweet girl who everybody adores ends up getting the rich handsome guy in the end. But the Korean version was able to tone it in a way that's tolerable and Chae Rim managed to give the character a touch of sweetness without being gag inducing.
But seriously what I loved the most about this was Kim So Yeon's villain character. In most Kdramas the evil girls are usually rich and gorgeous with various grand schemes at their disposal to make the lead girl's life miserable. Here in AAE, all the villain had was her ambition. She'll do anything to grab the all the things she never had.
Good luck to Jang Hyuk, but isn't he afraid that his level of success in AAE will get compared to Jang Dong Gun?
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30 KnightDevil
March 25, 2010 at 11:01 PM
Is the Chinese market really that alluring?
I have yet to see one of these joint productions truly succeed ~~ thinks horror of "The Promise" (Jang Dong Gun and Cecilia Cheung), "The Myth" (Kim Hee Sun and Jackie Chan), "Solphie's Revenge" (So Ji Sub and Zhang Ziyi), or if you will, "Rondo" (Choi Ji Woo and Yutaka Takenouchi).
All these films had respectable box office / ratings, but quality-wise? 0_0
I wish Jang Hyuk would choose a different project.
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31 vern529
March 25, 2010 at 11:14 PM
Wow...that news just makes me think...Huh?!?! Jang Hyuk in recent years has chosen roles which are much more multi-faceted than this one appears to be. I saw the original awhile back, but I seem to remember the Jang Dong-gun role was really just Prince Charming in a suit. This choice is a bit of a puzzle to me.
Although I don't know Zhu Dan, I concur with most of the people here that Cheryl Yang is more than capable. This is exactly the type of role she could sink her teeth into, so to speak.
Oh and @26nycgirl....yeah I didn't care for the English Patient either and pretty much thought I was the only one who felt that way. I had read the book and felt the adaption was lacking.
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32 Moonblossom
March 25, 2010 at 11:35 PM
Having watched Cheryl Yang in My Queen where she also played a character possessing strong determination, I think she'll portray So-yeon's character very well. - unless she is seriously sleep deprived. There are reports that she cannot sleep well except on her bed and that she has packed her pillow to Shanghai for fliming. I'm not so keen about the remake though, storyline aside, the accents in the show - a Korean, a mainland Chinese, a Taiwanese - will make the lines hard to follow at the very least.
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33 mookie
March 25, 2010 at 11:50 PM
^ the accents should be least to worry, everything is dubbed.
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34 Annie
March 25, 2010 at 11:52 PM
who is Zhu Dan? Chinese name please
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35 deeta
March 26, 2010 at 12:35 AM
Errrrr, seems like a stepback for Jang Hyuk.
I know everyone swoons over Jang Donggun's character in AAE, but I thought his character was so useless. AAE, IMO, had Chae Rim, Kim Soyeon and Han Jaesuk as main leads. Jang Donggun annoyed me in that drama.
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36 Rovi
March 26, 2010 at 1:08 AM
Don't worry JB...
The Philippines reworked AAE, too...
...so frankly speaking, China's remake would be the 2nd...
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37 Dennis
March 26, 2010 at 1:41 AM
Jang Hyuk speaks mandarin, kudos!!
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38 ivy
March 26, 2010 at 2:03 AM
Why a Chinese remake with a Korean actor? Usually Koreans in Chinese drama means bad pronunciation, or that they'd be dubbed over. X_X
And it'll be hard to outdo the classic. (Ah Kim So Yeon, Chae Rim and Jang Dong-gun greatness in one drama.) Not to mention, the old school storyline too.
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39 cranky
March 26, 2010 at 2:43 AM
I'm cringing with the thought of this as I look at the cast list. Jang Hyuk, I love you but this is no role for you!!
As for the other actors on the cast, unless they rewrite the entire premise of the drama, I can't see anyone of them giving a believable performance. All of them are too old for the roles of newbies in a TV station.
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40 glencorajane
March 26, 2010 at 4:01 AM
#34 Annie:朱丹
Please refer to my post #9, you can see her pix.
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41 bleh
March 26, 2010 at 4:01 AM
the only drama of Jang Hyuk that i liked was successful story of a bright girl. love his chemistry with jang nara. but the thing is i watched it for jang nara and not for jang hyuk hahahaha!
don't like jang hyuk that much - i don't think he's cute, sexy, hot or whatever. don't even think he could act that well - all he does is smirk or sneer or whatever you wanna call that thing he does with his mouth....
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42 abcdefg
March 26, 2010 at 5:30 AM
#35
i think you got mixed up between who's Jang Dong Gun and who's Han Jae Suk. In my 8 years history as an AAE fan, this is the first time that i heard people call the role Yun Hyun Chul or the charm of JDG in that drama as useless.
Anyway, can't see Jang Hyuk potraying that charming role at all. He's a good actor, but he has a fierce face, not a dreamy prince charming type face. Why can't they let a classic just stay as a classic? Don't they learn that any remake will never ever be as successful as its original counterpart?
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43 bjharm
March 26, 2010 at 5:40 AM
Cheryl Yang been around a while..a bit tough to say she only got popular because of My Queen, she done a lot of other drama and one of the better of the idol type actress. China may like old school and beside what wrong with being old school you think it was like catching some embarrassing disease or something?
If they going to use and singer/actress why not Jang Nara..be nice to see the two Jangs togthers again after all these years..lol
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44 epyc
March 26, 2010 at 5:57 AM
All About Eve is my guilty pleasure which I'd rewatch every now and then, just for the eyecandy and sweetness of JDG and CR. The true star performer though is Kim So-yeon, the bitchiest bitch in kdrama histroy.
Having said that, the drama is not worth a re-make because AAE's success lies with the JDG-CR fandom. Without a striking couple, no cinderella story works.
The only shining lights here would be Cheryl Yang (whose performance in My Queen as a strong 30-something who thinks she doesn't need love is more than impressive) and Bowie Lam (a veteran and solid actor).
Jang Hyuk never appeals to me (apologies to all JH fans) even though I really like some of his works, eg Windstruck, Thank You. I do agree with the observations that he should do a serious epic historical drama in China, riding on his Chuno success.
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45 rain88
March 26, 2010 at 6:16 AM
thanks so much JB
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46 DIANE
March 26, 2010 at 6:19 AM
I love all about eve, I love Jang and chae rim.
they had chemistry together. I still watch again...............
I am not sure about remake.
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47 HT
March 26, 2010 at 6:52 AM
All About Eve was the first K-drama that I watched and got hooked into K-entertainment. Jang Dong Gun was perfect as the main lead. I can't believe they remake this drama though the story itself was not that interesting, but I will watch it for Jang Hyuk.
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48 Jill4675
March 26, 2010 at 7:08 AM
Agree with @hjkomo
All About Eve had a dumb, preposterous story with dumb, preposterous "relationships." A lot of it was totally laughable. "Old school" is putting it far too kindly. This "remake" will need a total redo/rewrite to rise above its origins...
Jang Hyuk, please come back! :(
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49 rainerust
March 26, 2010 at 9:02 AM
I love Jang Hyuk, and have no qualms about watching Cheryl Yang although I'm hesitant about Zhu Dan since I don't watch Chinese news and have no clue if she's going to be any good (although I have seen the pictures in the link provided above and can see why she would appeal to Chinese audiences)...but. Mai Da Jie (麥大傑) as the director?
To be fair, Meteor Garden 2 was bad on so many levels it's hard to even begin to describe where it went wrong, but obviously artistic direction was a major contributing factor. And the major issue I have with cross country productions? The dubbing. I hate it when they have to dub over actors' natural accents because it somehow never looks absolutely correct. Not to mention - Koreans, Taiwanese and mainland Chinese have starkly different methods towards acting (it's actually quite easy to pick out their nationalities through their acting if you observe them closely).
I'll give this show a shot, but if it doesn't gel with me in the first couple of episodes, they'll probably lose me. Interesting news, but I wish JH picked something else he could really get behind. And I sorta wish the same director who did Meteor Garden 1, Mars and Black & White was directing this instead of Mai Da Jie.
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50 song4u2
March 26, 2010 at 9:23 AM
Bette Davis redux! Love her in this btw...interesting choice by him...two women after him when his heart is already set on the one he's in relationship with...If they add in a deranged "house maid" twist this will be a thriller.
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