Ha Jung-woo confirms grim reaper role in fantasy movie
by girlfriday
…And Kim Woo-bin does not, sadly. The two actors were both offered leading roles in the new fantasy manhwa adaptation With the Gods, but Ha Jung-woo is the only one who signed on in the end. There was also a wave of headlines that Won Bin dropped out of the project, but he was hardly a blip in the casting to begin with, since he quietly turned it down four months ago.
With the Gods is a quirky omnibus satire manhwa by Joo Ho-min, about the realm of the afterlife and the gods, reapers, and human souls that pass through. This realm is ruled over by ten fickle gods who determine the fate of your soul based on how you lived your life, during a trial over the 49 days after you die.The story starts out with the death of a very average salaryman, who gets whisked away to the afterlife (on a subway train, ha) where he’s met with a public defender who will represent him in his trial.
Ha Jung-woo has been cast as the head grim reaper, a wry character that’s centuries old but looks young, and collects the souls of the dead. The manhwa has a funny Dead Like Me-esque approach to grim reaperdom — that is, treating it like a job in a very human way, with mundane concerns. He’s a prickly deadpan character, and in the modern day he ditches the Joseon officer uniform for a sleek black suit. His minions call him “elder,” though his name still carries his “young master” title from when he was a young nobleman.
I love stories about reapers — it’s never not funny to get the matter-of-fact perspective on death from someone who’s just punching the clock and doing his job. Ha Jung-woo will be awesome in the role, though that goes without saying. I’m really curious about how the world will be portrayed on film, and who they’ll cast as his two reaper minions, as well as the human/lawyer pair awaiting trial.
The movie comes from writer-director Kim Yong-hwa of Take Off, the heartwarming sports movie that Ha Jung-woo starred in (he also wrote and directed 200-Pound Beauty, Mr. Go, and Oh Brothers). The film plans to start production this coming spring, for a 2017 release.
Via Star N
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1 Kiara
October 20, 2015 at 11:22 AM
Me thinks director Kim Yong-hwa and Ha Jung Woo were university buddies. HJW has done 2 movies with KYW out of 5.
I'd watch and worship anything with Ha Jung Woo and it's going to be fun watching him in this genre as a reeper.
I wish Jun-ki would play opposite him. That would double the fan-girling for me lol.
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pogo
October 20, 2015 at 12:02 PM
I know, right? Ha Jung-woo is always fantastic, but also seems to have a knack for bringing it out in his costars too, when he's sharing top billing.
Kundo wasn't the greatest film but I LOVED Kang Dong-won in it. And the prospect of HJW+oppa in a film.....imagine the action scenes!
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Kiara
October 20, 2015 at 11:23 PM
I hope they'll pick one of the under-rated actors to star with him like Shin Sung-rok opposite Song Kang Ho in "Secret Agent." I hope to see more of that kind of pairing in the future.
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2 pogo
October 20, 2015 at 11:58 AM
.....and another prospect of Won Bin ever returning to the screen, came and went without our even knowing it. Though Ha Jung-woo is absolutely fantastic, and I'm already excited knowing he's chosen to take this.
Too bad about Kim Woo-bin, but I hope they offer the role to some other young actor who'll slay it. (would Ji-soo be too young?)
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Manin
October 20, 2015 at 12:16 PM
WE could always label it as a learning opportunity for Ji-soo? Or hm maybe Park Hae-Jin or Park Bo Gum?
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pogo
October 20, 2015 at 1:24 PM
ooooh, Park Hae-jin is a prospect I'd love. But whoever it is, I hope they find someone awesome for the role.
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3 Manin
October 20, 2015 at 12:20 PM
Really liking the premise for this one. With or without Kim Woo-Bin it sounds like it has a lot of potential. Just hope it will be done right.
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4 Miky
October 20, 2015 at 12:48 PM
This sounds cool...kinda sad Kim Woo Bin didn't sign,wanted to see them both work together...It would have been even more funny if a little kid was a reaper and being called elder by all the other minion grim reapers if i think about it
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5 news
October 20, 2015 at 5:32 PM
Dead Like Me is underrated and so awesome.
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6 Michiki
October 20, 2015 at 5:36 PM
It would be cool to see Ji Chang Wook in a fantasy movie, but I heard he will act in a Chinese drama.
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7 hanie
October 20, 2015 at 6:43 PM
This reminds me that I still need to hunt for chronicle of blood merchant & assassination~
Nothing else to say than in Ha Jung Woo, I trust
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Kiara
October 20, 2015 at 11:29 PM
I want to watch "Chronicle of blood merchant" the most. I can call it a Ha Jung Woo movie since he also directed it.
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8 alua
October 21, 2015 at 2:09 AM
Ha Jung-woo makes pretty solid & interesting choices... surprising Kim Woo-bin didn't sign onto this, I think it could have only benefitted him.
TBH, this sounds like a better project than others that KWB has chosen (drama opposite Suzy?!).
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pogo
October 21, 2015 at 10:25 AM
yeah but that drama is penned by Lee Kyung-hee. If it wasn't for the choice of female lead, it's actually a pretty solid-sounding project with a high chance of having a well-written role for him and high ratings (given LKH's track record).
Also interesting fact: almost every one of Lee Kyung-hee's dramas since 2003, has had a lead from SidusHQ (KWB's agency). Not hard to imagine the agency pushing hard for this one, especially with a senior writer like her on board.
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alua
October 21, 2015 at 12:53 PM
I'm just not convinced KWB and Suzy can carry it on their shoulders. KWB is better than Suzy, but it's not like he's an amazing actor either. He's got charisma, but I'm more and more getting the impression his project choices are more about popularity than developing acting skills (Twenty did him no favours). Acting opposite HJW vs. Suzy – I know what my choice would be, regardless of writer, ratings, etc.
Yeah, the agency may be behind this.
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9 cayl
October 22, 2015 at 8:24 AM
I'm Ha jung woo superfan. when I first saw 'chaser' I thought he was super bad@$$. Then I saw 'the client' and darn his poker face. I was very convinced with both his roles that i have been hanging on to him ever since and he never dissapoints. His movies ae always anticipating.
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Kiara
October 23, 2015 at 12:46 PM
He is the most sought out actor in Chungmuro for a good reason. That proves that talent will out last any pretty and popular actors in the film industry.
I wish I could say the same for dramaland.
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