News bites: November 8, 2015

26 November 8, 2015July 19, 2021

by awcoconuts

Choi Jung-won

Witch’s Castle, the daily drama which will take the place of Return of Hwang Geum-bok, is finalizing its cast. The show will be about three women: a mother-in-law, daughter-in-law and sister-in-law, all living together in one house after having become single again. At first, the three women will be at odds, but they’ll come to understand and begin to lean on each other. Choi Jung-won (Her Legend) is the daughter-in-law — although usually mild-mannered, her short temper gets the better of her at times and lands her in hot water. [Xports News]

Also cast is Danny Ahn of g.o.d (Jang-gook Becomes Dallae), playing a villainous landlord. His character is a self-made man, but because of the hard work he’s put in, he’s incredibly stingy. Shin Dong-mi (She Was Pretty) and Lee Hae-in (Age of Feeling) also play supporting roles: Shin is a frank, free-spirited woman who married, then divorced, a Westerner; Lee is a financial executive and heiress. Witch’s Castle begins in early December on SBS. [Hankook Economy, E News24, ]

Danny Ahn, Shin Dong-mi, Lee Hae-in

The director of the Answer Me shows, PD Shin Won-ho, declared at a press conference last week, “[I’ll] continue to do the series until it goes bust.” He said, “When you reference other dramas, it’s rare to find a third season that was successful.” He continued, “Since no one thinks [Answer Me 1998] will do well, I’m not very burdened with worry about viewership levels.” [Osen]
Kim Ji-soo (Warm Words) is being courted for the drama Hwarang, a sageuk about the original flower boy warriors of the Silla dynasty. If she accepts, she’ll play the mother of King Jinheung (Park Hyung-shik is being wooed for that job), a person of indiscernible age but of unique beauty. The show’s format and channel are still TBD. [Joy News 24]

Kim Ji-soo

Upcoming big-budget Chinese drama Legendary Tycoon has cast Gu Hye-sun (Blood) as its leading lady. About the godfather of the Chinese film industry, Run Run Shaw, the show will cover his building of an entertainment empire. The legend will be played by Zhang Han, Gu will play his wife, and Taiwanese actress Joe Chen and Chinese rookie Song Yi round out the pan-Asian cast. Gu’s flown to China to film and will be there on location for roughly three months, although she’ll fly back to Korea on November 21 to perform at a concert promoting her new age album. [Joongang]
Former After School member Lee Joo-yeon (A New Leaf, Answer Me 1997) will play a 2-in-1 character in Saimdang like headliner Lee Young-ae. The younger Lee has joined the rest of the cast on shoots for the show, and while there’s no color given on her character, perhaps she’ll be an assistant to the present-day historian and an apprentice to the famous Joseon artist. [Sports Today]
SNSD’s Seohyun (Passionate Love) is joining her SM Entertainment hoobae in the Chinese film, So I Married an Anti-fan. The movie is based on a graphic novel about a top star (Chanyeol), a reporter (Yuan Shanshan), and the two’s rocky road to romance. In a meta twist, Seohyun will play a trainee at Chanyeol’s agency. [Xports News]

Lee Joo-yeon, Seohyun

Required fields are marked *

1 Saner

November 8, 2015 at 3:54 AM

Should that be 1988, or have I missed a series of Answer Me?

Also, that Witch's Castle premise sounds interesting - are they all in-laws with each other do you think, or are they someone else's in-laws? If they are each other's in-laws, would be interesting to see how they wangle them all living in a house together....

Required fields are marked *

2 doraemon

November 8, 2015 at 4:41 AM

Eh?.. Danny in a drama ?! :( How about god's comeback??? :(

Required fields are marked *

kororo

November 9, 2015 at 2:22 AM

I think they are coming back with a single or mini album in December and I don't think there is going to be that much tv promo, but rather concerts so I think it's going to work.

Required fields are marked *

3 kit

November 8, 2015 at 4:53 AM

Seohyun to play hoobae, ha.

I would love an Answer Me 1979- (rise of chaebols, student demonstrations, Gwangju uprising and the aftermath: growth in technology, culture, freedom etc). It's an era I've heard about from my parents and grandparents, but cannot really imagine. It would be extra heart wrenching, and I think the tone of the series would serve it in a lovely way because that era is only ever explored in 50 episode dramas of a very different genre.

And then they can jump to 2003-!!! Such a crazy era. Really the beginning of Hallyu, isn't it. Winter Sonata, Stairway to Heaven (ugh even thinking about it now makes me mad), Daejanggeum. Era of the soloists: Rain, Se7en, Hyori, BoA. + 1TYM, debut of TVXQ ... Camera phones, Korean versions of the iPod ...

Required fields are marked *

kanz

November 8, 2015 at 5:13 AM

At this rate, we'll have Answer Me 1776 Joseon version
That's 2 year after Jeongjo's inauguration, lots of political tragedy.. Oh maybe they'll just go Arang route, have a sageuk theme, but no political backdrop and the lead roles are just commoners. They could play "husband mystery" or maybe "wife mystery", who'll end up with the king? Hahaha

Required fields are marked *

Gidget

November 8, 2015 at 6:00 PM

Bahahahaha!

*Thinks about how they played a Joseon version of Crayon Pop in Three Musketeers*

Required fields are marked *

fanwho

November 9, 2015 at 4:23 AM

hahaha Husband mystery forever!

Required fields are marked *

kalel

November 8, 2015 at 6:12 AM

Is there a public interest for that era nowadays? Would an AM'79 have been a TV show equally interesting to younger viewers? I wonder if audiences have chosen (or perhaps were forced to choose) to forget about the junta regime, the student demonstrations and the police brutality against those who were fighting for Democracy. I don't know if teenagers would be able to embrace those morals and from what I've noticed I'm not so sure about the older generations either. Oblivion is a dangerous as well as contagious "disease" these days- "neo"-liberalism has worked hard in order to spread that "virus" worldwide.

Required fields are marked *

kit

November 8, 2015 at 5:22 PM

I definitely think what older generations have fought for and kept close to their heart isn't high on the list for most younger people today. That is exactly the reason why I wish they would cover that era - because many of us (especially internationally) wouldn't care about it otherwise, and I have hope that the AM series would work the themes in to the drama in a way that elicits a real response in the viewer without being too heavy-handed.

There has been a couple of comments about the older sister in 1988 always being out for demonstrations, so perhaps something will be made of that in this one.

Required fields are marked *

fanwho

November 9, 2015 at 4:27 AM

I was also in that group (out for demonstrations, skipping classes- but not by my choice) - haha (but actually very sad)

Required fields are marked *

Daehoney

November 8, 2015 at 6:26 AM

If the clue in the teaser is really a clue, they might be doing 1980 next. I doubt it though. 2002 will be more reasonable (World Cup baby!) and I don't think they want to tackle that heavy of a topic.

Required fields are marked *

Chanelboy loves Jackson Wang A LOT

November 8, 2015 at 7:26 AM

Love it!
I was thinking having Answer 2000ish too ! It would be gold and define! and your thought about the era of chaebol's rose is sounds incredible.

May I know any drama have covered this era yet? Khamsahamida

Required fields are marked *

4 pohonphee

November 8, 2015 at 5:38 AM

LOL, you two :D
Hear them, PD-nim!

Required fields are marked *

5 Mandy

November 8, 2015 at 5:38 AM

So Gu Hye-sun is the lead over Joe Chen? Seriously? I get that Koreans are super popular there and I'm honestly so very thankful they're taking GHS away so she can ruin less kdramas, but... Whatever I guess, it's not like I'll be watching it anyway.

So many upcoming dramas and nothing that catches my interest. I hope the casting/synopsis is out soon for Park Ji-eun's new drama.

Required fields are marked *

Diana Hansen

November 8, 2015 at 8:30 AM

i concur with you. and i watch joe chen's stuff but if it has her in it? that will be hard.

Required fields are marked *

Georgie

November 8, 2015 at 9:50 AM

With all these Koreans in Chinese dramas, does it mean they will continue with the dreaded DUBBING...

Required fields are marked *

fanwho

November 9, 2015 at 4:31 AM

"so very thankful they’re taking GHS away so she can ruin less kdramas" - hahahahaha agreed! It seems that she is talented (singing, directing, etc), but I can't think of any drama she was good in it (especially BOF).

Required fields are marked *

6 chasen8888

November 8, 2015 at 5:48 AM

I fear daily dramas with exception to the sagueks dailies most have disappointed me with its sheer stupidity of the characters actions. Though I do like the acting cast and it appears that the synopsis is interesting the story quality is a bit iffy. So I doubt if I'll be watching it.

Required fields are marked *

7 michyeosseo

November 8, 2015 at 7:30 AM

Unexpected ladies bonding premise of Witch's Castle is quite tempting. Okay, given the writer's makjang-ish tendencies, I'd probably be cautious to commit to a daily (for the first time ever because hello, 100+ eps) if it would all be bs crazy shenanigans. Still, he familiar actresses in the key roles are delightfully drawing me in. We'll see if investing free time on this would prove worth it or waste of time.

Required fields are marked *

8 kuromitsu

November 8, 2015 at 11:11 AM

Shin Dong Mi is another person who never runs out of work. I've seen all her dramas since Yoo Na's street for reasons other than her.

Required fields are marked *

9 sisterkiller

November 8, 2015 at 4:42 PM

omg so many koreans going to act in china. around ten years ago this seemed to happen a lot but with taiwan instead of china, like park eun hye in silence, yoo hana in my lucky star....

Required fields are marked *

kit

November 8, 2015 at 5:29 PM

If China responds positively, I'm sure the market will only get larger. Even kpop groups are moving away from Japan to China if they can. There's a lot of feelings between the three countries though, so we'll see what happens.

Required fields are marked *

bd5

November 8, 2015 at 10:49 PM

Bigger market = more $$$

Same reason why so many British (and other European) and Aussie actors come to Hollywood.

Lee Joo-yeon was kinda wasted in After School - wonder if she has the chops to make it as an actress (not that having chops is necessarily required as she has the face/figure).

Required fields are marked *

10 Franbergh II

November 8, 2015 at 11:41 PM

and i am here hoping to see "The Kim Ji Soo" of angry mom XD

Required fields are marked *

11 Rina

November 9, 2015 at 8:52 AM

That daily is of little interest to me because SBS dailies never get subbed. (SBS's fault. KBS and MBC try to provide subs for at least some of theirs. SBS has no consideration for international viewers.)

Kim Ji-Soo for Hwarang - now that's interesting!

Required fields are marked *

Dakchigo

November 10, 2015 at 8:06 AM

Ah, KBS is the best in making daily soaps accessible. I'm still sore drama . net only has up to episode 90 of "Princess Aurora." I'm in the mood for some crazy stuff. -_-

Required fields are marked *

Dark Hole