Jeon Ji-hyun, Lee Min-ho team up in new SBS drama Legend of the Blue Sea
by javabeans
It’s happening, it’s really happening: Jeon Ji-hyun is re-teaming with her You From Another Star writer, Park Ji-eun, for a new drama co-starring Lee Min-ho (Heirs), with a high likelihood of him reuniting with his City Hunter director, PD Jin Hyuk. Is China even going to be able to handle the excitement? I half expect the country to sell out of every single thing featured in the drama within its first week.
In fact, reports state that this project is already attracting the highest-ever sum for a Hallyu drama licensed in China, having received an initial offer for licensing rights from a Chinese distributor at $50,000 USD per episode. This is nearly double the current top amount, which was Descended From the Sun at $27,000 USD per episode. That’s pretty remarkable, given that nothing’s been filmed yet, or divulged beyond the barest details. Although, considering that the popularity of their projects did lead to the production of an honest-to-goodness Chinese drama named Heirs From Another Star, it probably shouldn’t be surprising.
The casting of the actors had been previously reported as possibilities, but now we have a confirmation for Jeon, Lee, and writer Park, while PD Jin is named as a probable director. We did know he was talking to writer Park about working together, and the project has been picked up by SBS (where PD Jin is contracted), so I’m fairly confident that we can expect him to confirm. We also have a (working) title for the project and a basic premise: It will be titled Legend of the Blue Sea, and it’s based on the story of the Little Mermaid—the Hans Christian Andersen version, that is, not the sunnier Disney interpretation.
That doesn’t mean it’ll necessarily be a sad story (I expect the opposite, in fact); Koreans and Korean dramas just have a penchant for the story of the sad mermaid who loved a prince unrequitedly, and disappeared into bubbles when she couldn’t bring herself to kill him to win back her own life. K-dramas are a sucker for the angsty romances, but I’m pretty sure we can count on a happy ending. Lest there be rioting.
Legend of the Blue Sea is planning for a 20-episode run on SBS in October.
Via Sports Donga, My Daily
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51 jomo143
May 30, 2016 at 8:36 AM
This cannot NOT be good.
Even if it is bad, it will be good.
Let's look at the math. Having this cast, writer and director team is like choosing to attempt a dive with the difficulty of 40 out of 10. They could hit their heads on the board and belly flop on entry and it will still be one of the most watchable dives ever.
Plus, it's aimed at China so happy ending, right?
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52 Mikanjjj
May 30, 2016 at 8:42 AM
I can totally understand the reaction of the Chinese .... I got excited just looking at a dramabeans post !!!
I really l
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Mikanjjj
May 30, 2016 at 8:46 AM
Lee min ho is one of the reason I became so addicted to korean dramas but I'm going to watch this drama because of jun ji hyun.
I'm really glad he's doing a drama. The heirs trauma needs to be washed away with this.
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jerboa83
June 12, 2016 at 3:37 PM
I agree! The Heirs was so bad that I still cringe whenever I think about it...
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53 goldeng
May 30, 2016 at 8:52 AM
Hope the writer keeps giving us interesting heroines and a balanced story with comedy & some sad moments... Idk if I can handle only angst... And if its Lee min ho the one trying to emote, it would be even harder to tolerate. I do hope hes the 'Mermaid' for a change tho...
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54 alasecond
May 30, 2016 at 9:00 AM
WOOOOW>. 2016 just keeps getting better... SFD, AM88 (yup counting them), MoN,BGS, MoW,FE, PT, CitT..some for their big names casted LR, Entertainer, Jackpot, (no refuse to cout GMB), CMB, DoS, SSL...okish ones MA.. ah so many of them..
so many to come..doctors, this, goblin and what not..
finger heart! :)
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55 heenimwifey
May 30, 2016 at 9:04 AM
I can't wait for this! LEE MIN HO and JEON JI HYUN fighting!
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56 oppaslayer
May 30, 2016 at 9:13 AM
Lee Min Ho on my screen? Who cares about award-winning performance when I have the charisma and eye candy? There are dramas I watch that I appreciate and enjoy because of the writing or directing or the way the actors have brought to life the characters. Then there are dramas that I just watch at the end of the day to de-stress and not use much brainpower to digest things but just allows me relax while looking at all the pretty people on my screen. Most of the time, these are dramas headlined by LMH. I don't see anything wrong with these kind of dramas and think less of LMH because of it. In fact, his abs and dimples are doing God's work. I don't really get all the hate tbh.
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Anow
May 30, 2016 at 9:22 AM
It has nothing to do with his acting or anything as he is untouchable in that department if you actully look at it without bias. He has achieved amazing hits whatever he has done. It's rather pure jealous and nothing else. So just look past the jealous and take for what it is.
He connects passionately with the viewers and fans thats all you need to know
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Anow
May 30, 2016 at 9:27 AM
To really rate him honestly you just have to look at that. What an actor should be responsible to do is connect with the viewers period. everything else falsehood. You will find out that LMH excellence in the part his responsable for. Which qualifies as great actor.
And keep in mind that everything is subjective in the acting world and comes with taste as well but the more you can connect the better you are at what you do
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bd5
May 30, 2016 at 5:18 PM
Oh c'mon now - there's nothing wrong in admitting that you'll watch something for the superficial reason of eye-candy, but to "charisma" or "connecting to the audience" as being equivalent to great acting is laughable.
"Mr. Hand-towel" (aka Song Seong-heon) has charisma and connects to the audience, but other than in a light romcom where he has to just show his charm (and abs) - nothing even close to what one can consider to be great acting.
Heck, the "Governator" was the biggest box office hit-maker worldwide for nearly 2 decades due to his charisma and whatnot and are we suppose to think that the Arnold was a great actor? lol
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ET
May 30, 2016 at 6:41 PM
Hardcore LMH fans really think he's a great actor, not just eye candy. Look at the way they describe him here and elsewhere, the words used reminds me of how citizens of a certain state describe their beloved leader. I wonder if fans of other popular actors like KSH and SJK behave the same way? In comparison to these two, there is less consensus that LMH is a good actor. In fact, he is increasingly known as highly overrated so these over the top praises come off as even more fanatical.
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Kizuna
May 31, 2016 at 6:03 AM
His resume speaks for itself. His a highly drawing actor and you won't know this unless you lived under a rock or just landed on the earth from some other outer space world.. He moves people in masses. So I fail to see your words as serious
57 jerboa83
May 30, 2016 at 9:25 AM
Just... WOW.
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58 RAINbow
May 30, 2016 at 9:37 AM
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh! *Punches fist in the air*
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59 thouwhoshallnotbenamed
May 30, 2016 at 10:59 AM
squeeeeeeeeel *fangirl mode activated*
thanks so much javabeans,you just made my day
woaaaaaaaah
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60 nikaminoz
May 30, 2016 at 11:16 AM
To be honest, I am so excited that I havent even read this article. I have been waiting for Min Ho oppa's come back for 3 years.
Thank you :)))))
This news is so good..
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61 Mumu
May 30, 2016 at 12:39 PM
Omg ;-0. Loving this news! Loved the original Hans Mermaid movie, it was so sad. I hope they incorporate the song into a Korean version, loved the song too. So sad. Love love love X-D
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62 Araz
May 30, 2016 at 1:02 PM
This is a historical, isn't it?
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lordseungri
May 30, 2016 at 4:28 PM
a lot of sites are calling it a fantasy historical....so many historical dramas this year!
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63 Kudo Ran
May 30, 2016 at 1:03 PM
O_o !!! " Am I reading what I am reading ??? Did I scream or just stay normal ? " Me to myself in the train when I read that on my cellphone (I did not scream, but sure made some shocked face x) ) !
Since it's May it can't be an April Fool BUT this is actually happening ??! It will air in October , ok I will take that as my birthday present :D !!
2016 such a good year for dramas ! SBS has their revenge over KBS and DOTS !!! and my eyes drama-candies hihihi .
Hope to find Lee Min Ho in an exciting drama as City Hunter and not Heirs ; and with humor with Chong Song Yi :) !!!
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64 bebeswtz
May 30, 2016 at 1:56 PM
So..... It's the version of "The Little Mermaid" that Kim Joo Won (Hyun Bin, "Secret Garden") was describing:
** SPOILER**
Wherein, the Little Mermaid is separated from her lover then dies via turning into bubbles and fading away???
Ugh Just take my heart and break it into shreds now, why don't you T.T
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65 jaderjy
May 30, 2016 at 2:10 PM
Jeon Ji Hyun I love, Lee Min Ho not - So I'm not sure if I'll be watching this. Don't really get the hype surrounding LMH but that's just me.
Honestly I love/hate TVN, it has spoiled me for all KDramas. Now they have to be tightly written, beautifully directed and the story thoughtfully developed for me to be completely hooked where I love BOTH the plot and the characters. I don't even remember the last drama from any of the Big 3 that got me addicted, not as much as I was with the Reply series, Misaeng and Signal. (Oh My Venus was really close - just for the chemistry alone).
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66 yayabean
May 30, 2016 at 3:30 PM
Woo-hoo!
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67 nikaminoz
May 30, 2016 at 3:40 PM
Can someone please answer my question?
What is Little Mermaif about?!
Is the Disney cartoon the same as this one?
In "Secret Garden" there was also mentioning this but I was confused.
I like to find the book and read it. Is it originally Korean?
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mary
May 30, 2016 at 7:10 PM
Hi Nika, yes, it's like the Disney version. But the original by Hans Christian Andersen has a more tragic ending.
It's available in public domain. You can find copies of it everywhere for archival/studying purposes, like this:
http://hca.gilead.org.il/li_merma.html
Disney popularized the "happier" version (one with a good ending), but if it's kdramas we're talking about, they usually reference the original like they do in Secret Garden, Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Surplus Princess, etc. Because paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain and traaaaaaaaaagedy. :'(
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Nika
May 30, 2016 at 9:01 PM
Hi Mary! :))
Thank you so much for answering the questions
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68 Mia
May 30, 2016 at 4:46 PM
If Lee Minho can be the goofball he was in BOF then this will be great for him.
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69 Quan
May 30, 2016 at 4:54 PM
Woww!! I AM TOTALLY IN.. XD So happy
This writer has never let me down. She is 100 times better than Kim Eun Sook
Kim Eun Sook dramas are always so boring cheesy and overrated. Even Descendant of the sun wasn't good enough and couldn't finish it. I never get the riDiculous hype for that.
Unlike Kim Eun Sook, Park's dramas are more exciting and have kinda refreshing ideas.
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70 jyyjc
May 30, 2016 at 4:58 PM
So basically this would make Jeon Jihyun's second drama involving a supernatural being with a limited time on earth, only this time she's playing it? She is playing the mermaid character yes...? That would be cool.
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71 jellybine
May 30, 2016 at 6:03 PM
I feel like my love for Lee Min Ho will be resurrected.. it died after Heirs!
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72 owl
May 30, 2016 at 6:07 PM
This is big in a good way. I'm so looking forward to the kdrama hype on this, really! Super actors, super backing, yes, this should be good!
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73 sammy
May 31, 2016 at 2:26 AM
Fighting lee min ho,wishing you the best.
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74 WelcomeBackLmh
May 31, 2016 at 10:54 AM
MY minho is back,fingers crossed for this drama hope it becomes a huge hit.
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75 oye
May 31, 2016 at 2:48 PM
i'm really looking forward to this (acting wise and pairing wise)... just not sure about the storyline
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76 marjanminoz
May 31, 2016 at 8:59 PM
I am so happy for LEE min Ho oppa!! This is the best news I have heard. I hope the writer doesn't let Minoz down. Please make it as good or even better than "you who came from another star". Write something really good.
WHY would this drama be pre-produced!?? It isn't about war or
a group of soldiers in a disastrous place. so why pre-produced?
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77 lee
May 31, 2016 at 10:42 PM
It's dream come true!! I always wanted to see a drama of lee and jun together :) . It will be the most smashing hit of the year. Jun ji hyun is my favorite and seeing her as mermaid :) :* she is already no less than a mermaid :) jun ji hyun and kim yoo jung always remind me of mermaid. Waiting for both drama :) MDBC & LOBS :)
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78 moonrain
June 2, 2016 at 5:59 AM
Finally, after 3 looooooonnnggg years :/
here's hoping the story is pee in your pants good, what with such a stellar cast. please please let it be phenomenal.
November cant come fast enough...
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79 yobbie
July 29, 2016 at 1:50 AM
ohhhh my gosh i just cant wait.....nov is soooo far
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80 eivhonne
October 6, 2016 at 6:45 PM
I'm confused with the info. It is said that Descendants of the Sun was sold for USD 250,000 (4M; 16 ep) per episode, Uncontrollably Fod for USD 250,000 (5M; 20 ep) and Scarlet Heart Ryeo was sold for USD 400,000 (8M) per episode in China. Update please on the price of TLBS. :)
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