Joo Ji-hoon reunites with Naked Kitchen director
by girlfriday
There’s a new romantic comedy film in the works by director Hong Ji-young of Naked Kitchen, and she’s looking to reunite with Joo Ji-hoon (Five Fingers) for a third time (she also did some work on the script for Antique Bakery). Exciting, since those are the projects of his that I like most.
The new movie is called The Night Before the Wedding, which is great — it’s a very evocative title, and I’m already imagining all sorts of insanity, drama, and potentially life-altering choices on the brink. The casting is still in “considering” stages, as are his possible co-stars: Lee Jia (Me Too, Flower) and idol-actor Taecyeon (Dream High). Trust me, I’m just as confused as you are with the combo. Also, I never put too much stock in Lee Jia casting stories because she’s in consideration for every role ever and never signs on, but for now she’s a maybe.
The movie will be about the loves of eight men and women, which helps explain the not-quite-meshy combo of three actors, but it also makes me a little warier of the project. Sure, Love Actually was cute. But then there was Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve and Garry Marshall has singlehandedly made me hate movies about holidays. I do expect Hong Ji-young to inject the thing with her quirky sensibility, so I’m hoping that it won’t end up the same old throw-every-star-in-the-blender setup, with a dash of rom-com tropes, pureed on super speed.
I can see it being loosely tied together in theme across various characters and many weddings, or having all the characters converge on one wedding’s eve. The latter has more potential destruct-o power (near nuclear), but that also sounds more fun. Can’t wait to see who else joins the cast, so we can get some match-ups going.
The Night Before the Wedding plans to start shooting this spring for a release later this year.
Via Star News, OhMy News, Hankook Ilbo
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- Joo Ji-hoon hits roadblocks on the way to dramaland
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Tags: Joo Ji-hoon, Lee Jia, Taecyeon
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1 mj
March 1, 2013 at 1:12 PM
I will see anything he is in not only is he the most beautiful man on the planet but he can actually act :))
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Jo
March 2, 2013 at 8:57 PM
I love Joo Ji Hoon
Also, this director is sure choosing two main leads with huge scandals.
Anyway, I never really enjoyed Lee Jia as an actress. I always felt like she was too weak :(
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2 kopytko
March 1, 2013 at 1:22 PM
I liked both Antique and Naked Kitchen, so I am very optimistic. If I could decide on casting, I would ask Im Soo Jung to take part in this project.
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JoJo
March 1, 2013 at 2:52 PM
Me too!
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3 danna
March 1, 2013 at 1:40 PM
YAY! I'm so glad Joo Ji Hoon's getting work....I just saw his movie I am King yesterday and though I've known he's talented thanks to Devil and Antique I'm loving the range he's displaying in the movie...not fan of the other two actors but I'l take what I can get for his sake
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4 Wendilynn
March 1, 2013 at 1:57 PM
I agree that valentines day was a joke, but New Years Eve was fantastic. Its a shame you didn't enjoy it.
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5 HeadsNo2
March 1, 2013 at 2:19 PM
I don't even care about the movie, I'm just glad Joo Ji-hoon is getting work. I hope Five Fingers didn't scare him away from dramaland forever.
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danna
March 1, 2013 at 3:50 PM
I hope so too..maybe we could have in a cable drama...I think he would be great to see in crime thriller/procedural format...come on OCN!
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pogo
March 1, 2013 at 6:25 PM
Same here! I wish he'd find a drama project with decent writing next time, because he's too talented not to work again.
(though the potential casting of an idol-actor who happens to be particularly bad at the 'acting' part of things has me wary - at least Antique and The Naked Kitchen had a decent cast)
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6 Lisa-Loo-Loo
March 1, 2013 at 2:31 PM
Is Lee Jia related to to Big Bang's T.O.P? He also gets mentioned for ever movie and drama ever. I didn't really like five fingers, the characters all got on my nerves. But I do agree that Joo Ji-hoon is a GREAT actor. I think I may like him better in movies.
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kay
March 1, 2013 at 3:27 PM
hahah my thought exactly
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AnotherFan
March 1, 2013 at 3:28 PM
Okay, I am a bit lost... This is not the first time I heard people calling him a good/great actor, but I watched Fiver Fingers (although I regret much) and I actually found his acting affected, disconnected and pretty atrocious...
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NikaNika
March 1, 2013 at 4:48 PM
He was pretty good in Mawang/The Devil, IMO...
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Betsy Hp
March 1, 2013 at 5:01 PM
He's an awesome actor. Watch Naked Kitchen and Antique and it's hard to imagine the same guy is playing both characters he's that good. (He disappears into his roles, which very, very few actors manage to pull off.)
I wouldn't have thought he was that good based only on Goong -- though Devil gave a few hints. I only watched the first few eps of Five Fingers so this isn't a totally informed opinion, but that drama seemed kind of... well, affected, disconnected and pretty atrocious. ;) So it doesn't surprise me that's how he came across.
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cherkell
March 2, 2013 at 7:43 AM
I've said this on other DB threads before, but NO ONE has the right to criticize a show not watched all the way through to the finale closing credits, so I find your comment quite tacky. If you took the time to understand his character's background and progression through the storyline, then your opinion after all was said and done would be more acceptable.
Looks like I'll have to change my mind and have 5F be my 'Deathbed Defend Show' after all this grumbling...
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Lisa-Loo-Loo
March 2, 2013 at 11:52 AM
No...I don't think you have to go as far as "deathbed". I did watch 5 fingers all the way, just never connected; which is odd because I liked most of the actors. The show was just missing something for me. But I think you should watch it (way before you are confined to your deathbed) and form your own opinion. Who knows we may ALL be wrong.
cherkell
March 2, 2013 at 4:49 PM
I was referring to @BetsyHP's comment above. I have watched it. All the way through. Three times. And am recapping it as well. But for only his second work after being discharged from his military service, I was VERY impressed with Ji-hoon's acting throughout the whole show; I believe he nailed his character and added a lot of his own personality throughout.
But to get back on topic, I am greatly anticipating his new movie and hope to hear more news as the project progresses.
Exit... stage left.
Betsy Hp
March 2, 2013 at 7:24 PM
@cherkell: I apologize. I actually completely agree that you can't give an informed opinion on a drama you've not watched. (You can have an opinion on the bit you did see, obviously -- but it's just the bit you saw so it's necessarily limited.)
So I shouldn't have said what I said because I can't honestly say how the drama was in total. My rush to defend Joo Ji-hoon, and my rush to wittily reuse AnotherFan's words about Joo Ji-hoon, made me a bit sloppy. (I should have known better: I've gotten myself into trouble before while in a rush to be witty.)
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Gom
March 6, 2013 at 5:19 AM
Naked Kitchen was really, really good. In fact, I'm gonna go and watch it again right now. Lol. :)
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Lisa-Loo-Loo
March 2, 2013 at 12:04 PM
I agree you need to watch him in something else, Naked Kitchen or my personal favorite Antique Bakery Yoo Ah-In and Kim Jae-Wook (especially their relationship with Joo Ji-Hoon's character) were hilarious. He really does connects to character which could explain why he seemed disconnected and atrocious (great word by the way). That family had MAJOR dysfunctional issues. Give him another chance.
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7 Barbara Starks
March 1, 2013 at 3:03 PM
I love Lee Jia she certified herself as a good actress in my eyes with (Me Too, Flower), I adore her in Legend and love her range of emotion in (Me Too, Flower) I felt them all, from the strength, weakness, innocent, wisdom, confidence, fear, hope, faith and passion. I hope she signed on to this movie because it seem like she would be using many of those emotions that she display so beautifully in (Me Too, Flower)...
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AnotherFan
March 1, 2013 at 3:29 PM
LOL. Wait, that was a joke. Right?
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Mystisith
March 1, 2013 at 10:14 PM
I don't think so. I also find she's a good actress for the same reasons and I wish she could have a decent project.
Let me just say: JJH and LJA pairing have my approval. Taecyon is a no. If they want absolutely to put an idol in this, they have to find better.
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Asa
March 2, 2013 at 2:12 AM
I started to like her after me too flower...glad I gave her a chance....she was really good there
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8 jasmin
March 1, 2013 at 3:07 PM
So happy he is back to business for real now. :) I'm so proud that after years he finally can prove that he is more than worth to be accepted again as an actor.
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9 nokcha
March 1, 2013 at 3:09 PM
Really happy to read this. I'm a big fan of JJH, but only after watching his films. And if he's going with the same director, that's a super plus. Some actors are better in film than tv, and others are better on tv than film. I think he's much more suited for film.
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10 cherkell
March 1, 2013 at 3:13 PM
BEST. NEWS. THIS. WEEK.
I will take what I can get to see this hottie back on some screen, be it small or large. I'd better start trolling the CGV ticket site as soon as we hear filming is completed. :P
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11 Lovebug
March 1, 2013 at 3:26 PM
I refused to watch New Years eve because Valentines Days sucked so bad. I may watch a Halloween version but only if all stupid neurotic nauseating people get killed instead of ending up together. (wow that sounds pretty harsh now that i think about it).
Love actually remains one of my faves!
And honestly this sounds right up my alley. I really like Joo Ji Hoon and actually don't mind Lee Jia or Taec. I would watch.
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12 aX04
March 1, 2013 at 3:34 PM
I'm good for Joo Ji Hoon. Not so much with the other two. I don't care for them and I really don't care for Taecyeon.
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skelly
March 1, 2013 at 3:40 PM
Oh, same here! I always find Joo Ji Hoon interesting, so I was excited about this, but too me Lee Ji Ah and especially Taecyeon are total duds. In fact, he's a good enough reason NOT to watch this, even with JJH. Sorry, but he's a terrible actor and everything I discovered in my brief and bizarre time with the whole Jaybeom foofalaw left a permanent bad taste in my mouth about his personality.
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13 Annie
March 1, 2013 at 3:44 PM
I hope Lee Ji Ah isn't the costar; always found her acting questionable and Taecyeon... *shudder*
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Audrey
March 1, 2013 at 5:07 PM
You took the words of out my mouth.
Yes to Joo Ji Hoon. Loved him and Shin Min Ah in Naked Kitchen and The Devil.
Off topic a bit, just realized the actor that plays Moo Chul in TWTWB, is the same actor that plays SMA's husband in Naked Kitchen. WOW. He was so cute in Naked Kitchen and now scary in TWTWB.
Anyways, another female co- star please, not Lee Jia.
Never liked her acting, and her plastic surgery face bothers me.
Taecyeon, IDK, he is okay, I guess.
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bigwink
March 1, 2013 at 7:32 PM
It took me a while to decipher whats TWTWB :p
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Betsy Hp
March 1, 2013 at 11:08 PM
@Audrey: "Off topic a bit, just realized the actor that plays Moo Chul in TWTWB, is the same actor that plays SMA’s husband in Naked Kitchen. WOW. He was so cute in Naked Kitchen and now scary in TWTWB."
Ho. Ly. Crap. I did not make that connection. Damn. Talk about disappearing into a role! Even with the scene where he beat the crap out of Joo Ji-hoon I can't see the connection to Moo-chul. (I mean, it is him, but... damn. You've officially blown my brain.)
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14 Aryast
March 1, 2013 at 4:26 PM
Speak of the devil. I was just watching naked kitchen a few hours ago and antique bakery earlier this week. Joo Ji-hoon looked like a good kisser in naked kitchen. i'm willing to see more of that.
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Aryast
March 1, 2013 at 4:31 PM
ehem! i think there was a bit of a typo there... i meant he seemed like a good actor in which i actually meant he is indeed an actor i would like to see on my bed... big screen. On the big screen.
drats...couldnt get that scene with shin mina outta my eyeballs
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skelly
March 1, 2013 at 4:45 PM
LOL!!!!
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pogo
March 1, 2013 at 6:38 PM
oh he's a good kisser and it's evident even in Goong , which was the first kdrama I watched a kiss scene in, and caused so much disappointment over the dead fish kissing standard of most dramas (I could swear I actually saw him bite Yoon Eun-hye's lower lip) but The Naked Kitchen just takes it off the charts.
Because THAT SCENE....**fans self**
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Aryast
March 2, 2013 at 12:03 AM
he's kinda that silent bad boy type isn't he? what with the scandal and all...like a rockstar.
but still. recreational drugs = bad.
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pogo
March 2, 2013 at 2:32 AM
idk, I looked at the details of the recreational drugs in question, and it was.....weed and E? Which is practically nothing, considering the winner of the most recent Best Actress Oscar was photographed with a joint just days after her win and no one seems to care.
I do know SK has different standards, though.
Aryast
March 2, 2013 at 4:45 AM
I draw the line at weed. Strictly STRICTLY herbal. But yeah SK has very different standards. Remember GD?
I just found out that JJH used to model and I yt some of his runway walks... Not a fan. :/
Lee Soo-hyuk and Kim Woo-bin can really strut though. Heh :/ Sung-joon too!
15 Y.
March 1, 2013 at 4:50 PM
Somehow, when reading this I was reminded of 'Ogamdo' ('Five senses of Eros'). And I'm somehow OK with it? I mean, naked Joo Ji-hoon? YES PLEASE.
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16 gaeinalee
March 1, 2013 at 5:04 PM
Yayy! So glad to hear JJH has new project.. Will surely watch this 1.
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17 Betsy Hp
March 1, 2013 at 5:04 PM
This is good news on so many levels! Fan of both movies, fan of the director (didn't realize she'd had some input into Antique -- so even more a fan, now!), fan of Joo Ji-hoon. I'll be eagerly watching developments. :D
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18 merry
March 1, 2013 at 5:31 PM
Good news on JJH. I watched Me too Flower and it confused me as i thought it was the lady from My Girl. It is her from the Legend, this Lee Ji Ah. Now i know the source of my confusion as you stated Audrey. My my my, why do these ladies have to do that? They were so beautiful before these changes. I am a bit blurred in seeing due to an eye problem, but both come out like the Duchess of Alba in my blurry eyes. Sorry about this. But this trend of plastic surgery in Korea must be tamed.
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19 Maricel
March 1, 2013 at 5:43 PM
Nice! I'm so glad he is back...I was worried about him not getting any role after Five Fingers, I liked the drama because of him , and the other actor XD, but it wasn't a good drama and the ratings were bad too. I am looking forward to watching I am the king, i haven't found it yet u.u
As for Lee Ji Ah, I don' t know what it is, but a I like her since B Virus, and Taec, well he has got beautiful eyes and such a cute smile that I don't mind his stiff- wooden like acting...
So far so good...so ready, ACTION!!! ;)
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20 pogo
March 1, 2013 at 6:33 PM
On one hand, I'm THRILLED JJH finally has a project that sounds like it could be decent (didn't realise his director was involved with Antique too!), on the other, it will probably take work to block out Taecyeon's bad acting. Can't win everything, I guess.
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21 snow_white
March 1, 2013 at 7:31 PM
I like films with multiple love stories, and I liked Love Actually, Valentine's Day and He's Just Not That Into You :)
So, this movie sounds interesting..
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22 Dix
March 1, 2013 at 10:47 PM
Yay! I hope Lee Ji ah takes the role been waiting for her comeback.
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23 Jill
March 1, 2013 at 11:21 PM
Haha when I first read the title I immediately thought of the Hangover...
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24 Betrice
March 2, 2013 at 3:01 AM
tq gf,
KEYEAST is doing a good job, both are from the same
agency. Hope the movie is a success.
Both need a big break for their career.
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25 Rachel
March 2, 2013 at 6:27 AM
Speaking of Garry Marshall, man, after Pretty Woman, it seems like it was all downhill from there.
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J
March 2, 2013 at 7:36 AM
Disagree. He was never Fincher or Scorsese but all his films are lighthearted cute romance. Princess Diaries and Valentine's Day are not perfect by any standard, but lovely nonetheless.
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26 @liss@
March 2, 2013 at 7:35 AM
Hope that Lee Jia will finally have a comeback project! I really like her acting in me too flower.. since she had improved soo much I would like to see her acting again.
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27 major speak of the devil
March 2, 2013 at 1:08 PM
And here I was watching "I am king" and "Naked kitchen" just yesterday night, WHAT A COINCIDENCE! This couldn't come more conveniently I would say.
Keep Amaze me Joo ji-hoon!
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28 Steamy Bun
March 2, 2013 at 7:22 PM
Sounds fun. : ) I agree Taecyeon isn't the best actor but he's definitely eye candy and being just a small part of a large ensemble cast could be good for him.
But Joo Ji Hoon! <3 <3
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29 hohliu
March 3, 2013 at 7:49 AM
Joo Ji-Hoon was jailed for drug crimes which was bad but it was forgivable as he has served his time well and he is still marketable as an actor. But for Park Si Hoo who is now accused of sexual crimes towards a young girl will be harder to forgive or forget. I dont think Park Si Hoo will be able to recover from this scandal so easily. But only time will tell.
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30 Yanny
March 9, 2013 at 8:39 AM
i would definitely support that movie because of Joo Ji Hoon. He's such a good actor and he is one who proved that people make mistakes regardless of his status and that mistakes would make you become a better person cause you learned from it.
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31 elif
March 26, 2013 at 1:52 PM
wonderful :) I miss joo ji hoon.I hope he will be successful again.Fighting :D
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