IRIS 2 secures cast and crew

92 September 24, 2012September 24, 2012

by girlfriday

It’s full speed ahead for blockbuster spy sequel IRIS 2, which will really be the third installment in the IRIS / Athena franchise. Leads Jang Hyuk and Lee Da-hae have signed on to headline the drama, which means this will be their third time as costars. The production has put two directors on the project from the get-go as well — PD Pyo Min-soo of You’ve Fallen For Me and Coffee House, and PD Kim Tae-hoon of Athena.

Jang Hyuk will play a team leader at spy central NSS, an ex-cop who puts his life on the line to go up against Baek San and IRIS (the Big Bad). And while that’s going on, he also gets sucked into a different case that might change the course of his destiny. Dun dun! I feel like Jang Hyuk’s played this guy a million times before, but obviously it’s because he’s good at it. I just hope there’s more for him to mine as far as character work, ’cause he doesn’t have to work very hard to look like a badass spy.

Lee Da-hae plays an agent in NSS, a gold-medal sharp-shooter. She’s a little quirky in daily life, but then in the field, she’s all business and can out-shoot anyone. I don’t know that anyone can beat Su Ae’s hardcore black ops assassin as far as franchise heroines go (Remember when she just sliced through throats like they were butter?) but at least this is a change-up for Lee Da-hae, and I like the idea that she’ll have a duality to play on and off the field.

Kim Seung-woo and Kim Min-jong have signed on as well, to reprise their roles as North Korean agents from IRIS and Athena. Kim Seung-woo actually has the longest-running character in the entire franchise, which is saying a lot when characters tend to drop like flies come finale time. He plays Park Chul-young, North Korean spy team leader and all around badass.

Kim Min-jong plays Kim Ki-soo, a funnier and quirkier character who was once a North Korean spy but spent a long time getting comfortable in his cover life in the South. He’s more of an informant who plays to both sides, and has trouble with things like guns and rules. He’s a riot, especially when mixed in with all the straight-laced super serious spies.

Oh Yeon-soo (Bad Guy) will be playing the director of operations at NSS. She’s obviously a tough-as-nails type, and goes toe-to-toe with the president to keep NSS running the way she wants. Oh Yeon-soo is perfect for the job, and I’m a fan of putting her in charge.

Kim Young-chul (IRIS) will be reprising his role as Baek San, obviously, since the entire premise of this season is based on rooting out his evil organization. He was the director of operations in IRIS, turned out to be the bad guy, and now we pick up with that story to find out who really pulls the strings.

Im Soo-hyang (I Do, I Do) will be playing a killer for the baddies. Interesting. She’s still extremely limited as an actress, but she was actually pretty likable in I Do, I Do, and she has the eyes for an evil assassin role, that’s for sure. Kang Jiyoung (of KARA) and Lee Joon (of MBLAQ) will be playing rookie NSS agents and partners.

IRIS 2 begins shooting in October and plans to premiere in February 2013.

Via OBS, Hankyung, Star News, Break News

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51 Marie

September 26, 2012 at 7:01 PM

I dont care what anyone is saying because I am only watching this, because of LEE JOON, MBLAQ!!!! Never seen the first one, but I will for him... :)

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52 putrisupri

September 27, 2012 at 1:35 PM

I will give a miss as well.. IRIS1 will forever be my fave drama ever.. Lee Byung Hun and TOP did a very good work.. but their character were dead.. I just can't watch IRIS without them.. I saw Athena for 2 or 3 episodes only, it was such a fail.. Athena rating was very high on early episode because the viewers expect that Athena will be greater than Iris, but it was not, that's way the rating drop. Iris was just too perfect, the rating was super high. that's way they made a spin off (Athena) and a sequel (Iris 2), but (I don't know, but I thing it's only me who think that the two dramas will never be as popular as IRIS 1.. we'll see..
*I'm not a hater of Athena nor IRIS 2, it's only my point of view as an IRIS 1 lover and as a K drama lover.. sorry for a bad English as well.. don't hate me..

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sunshinehappyfeet

September 30, 2012 at 10:47 PM

lol, no hatin' here. i understand your opinion. I was sad about Athena, too, but Su Ae and Cha Seung-won's acting were good, just the storyline was bad.

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53 Jhyl

September 27, 2012 at 8:55 PM

~~OH YUN SOO!!~~♥~~woot!~~

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54 sunshinehappyfeet

September 30, 2012 at 10:45 PM

I'm really excited for IRIS 2!

But, man, I wish they'd at least bring KIM SO-YEON back. She was so good in IRIS, I thought she was much better than Kim Tae-hee and should have won best actress instead; sorry to KTH fans, I like her, too, but she was not the best in that drama. She was a little better, but Kim So-yeon is a much better and expressive actress.

And, Su Ae? She was so good. Somehow, I hope Su Ae and Kim So-yeon have cameos in this Iris 2, even though they have given up their assassin lives and moved on. Kim So-yeon's character is still angry and needs some revenge.

I'm happy to see Lee Da-hae and Jang Hyuk, though. I'm currently watching Love Actually with Joe Cheng!

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55 Eddiekato1

October 1, 2012 at 7:41 AM

IRIS2 this is my.first to watch.IRIS. Since am a Im Soo Hyang die hard fan.am looking.forward to watch this.thriller. Dont be surprise is Soohyang does.well because.shes.gonna try real hard to do her best. This.ypung.woman has a.big.heart so we.will prove.herself.. Looking.to see.her cold and.evil eyes and be that killer that is.expected of.this actress. So Im.Soo Hyang show your killer in you because.she.dieing.to prove herself.

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56 venap

October 4, 2012 at 1:45 AM

I wished and wished that the casting be changed... I couldn't see LDH as a badass heroine.. but since the casting is already final let it be.. well, Lee can be tolerated as long as Jang Hyuk is there... I hope the OST's would be great...

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57 Eddiekato1

November 14, 2012 at 8:57 PM

Yes,.I can't wait for February for the drama to air. My Star is Im Soo Hyang she's a honey girl but she ready.for her role. She mention in her My2day that she's a martial art girl. So am looking forward to she kicks. She a cutie but has a lot of guts .Good luck Im Soo.Hyang "Fighting!"

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IRIS 2