Jin Gu offered lead in SBS reality-show thriller Wanted
by javabeans
Phew, casting is in full swing on Wanted, SBS’s newly announced thriller series, which is promising to hear given that it hasn’t had a lot of lead time: It was only given the official green light earlier this week for a mid-June premiere (replacing the previously scheduled Deal).
Wanted (which has dropped The Reality Show from its title) centers around a top film actress whose son is kidnapped, who is forced to carry out missions on live television per the culprit’s orders in hopes of getting him back. I’m excited to hear that Jin Gu (Descended From the Sun) is now in the mix to play a main character, joining Kim Hyun-joo (I Have a Lover) as a potential lead.
Jin Gu’s would-be character is a detective in the violent crimes unit who throws himself heart and soul into his cases and boasts a 90 percent arrest rate. He takes on a near obsession in this case with his determination to save the victim, and single-minded passion is something I could definitely see in Jin Gu. Before we get too excited, though: Both stars have confirmed receiving offers, but in response to an early report that Jin Gu had agreed to the show, his reps made it clear that Wanted was one of several projects he is looking at. They added that “it might be difficult” to take on the drama due to his shooting schedule on the film One Line, which wraps in June.
Even if he passes on the drama, I’m glad to see that his successful turn playing a stoic (and drily funny) soldier and best buddy in Descended From the Sun has given his career a newfound boost; he’s always been a solid actor, but hasn’t quite managed to break through to leading man status. (See: All In, Spotlight, Swallow the Sun, Falling For Innocence. He did score the title role in Ad Genius Lee Tae-baek, but that drama performed poorly and didn’t do a lot for him.)
But we can still hope he’ll sign on, right? After all: heart-pounding setup with tension-inducing ticking clock, awesome and charismatic leading lady in (we hope) Kim Hyun-joo, badass detective with a blazing sense of duty. What’s not to like?
Wanted will follow Entertainer as SBS’s next Wednesday-Thursday drama, and kicks off on June 15.
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Tags: Jin Gu, Kim Hyun-joo, Wanted
Interview with Kim Yoo-jung
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1 asi
May 4, 2016 at 12:20 AM
The casting is wonderful news, the live shooting, not so much.
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2 slim007
May 4, 2016 at 12:32 AM
I'm so happy for jin goo
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3 gadis
May 4, 2016 at 1:04 AM
If both actors confirm it, I 'll definitely watch this drama. The story sounds really interesting and hopefully it can soothe the pain left by God's Gift.
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4 NiaIpeh
May 4, 2016 at 1:04 AM
ooh...
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5 BlueFish
May 4, 2016 at 1:05 AM
His expression fell flat in DOTs in my opinion but this probably a perfect role for him..
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6 liina
May 4, 2016 at 1:17 AM
I'm glad for Jin Goo for his new popularity. I have loved him since "Ice Bar" and have since then seen anything he stared in. That voice! - Ironically "Descendants of the Sun" was the only time I found his character boring. The character was quite stereotype and didn't really give him lots to do.
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Sera The Ms Temper
May 4, 2016 at 2:19 AM
The only good thing from DOTS is he finally become popular and it means it will open door for more challenging roles for him. Even SJK's character in DOTS was not doing so much (at least for me). These two are more than capable for more challenging roles.
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Rachel
May 4, 2016 at 5:06 AM
Agreed! He's always been a good actor, he just needed a breakout role so other bigger doors can finally be open to him.
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7 songsong
May 4, 2016 at 1:33 AM
I will watch it if its Kim Hyun Joo and Jin Goo!
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8 Sera The Ms Temper
May 4, 2016 at 2:16 AM
Please both Kim Hyun Joo and Jin Goo... please accept this.
The show with my favourite actors- I cannot say no.
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9 kanz
May 4, 2016 at 3:47 AM
So he's basically playing similar character to Jo Seung Woo's Captain Awesome character in GG14Days.
Let's hope he fare better than JSW.
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10 gaeinalee
May 4, 2016 at 4:28 AM
Love both of the candidate main leads. Hope they'll sign.
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11 Daggers
May 4, 2016 at 4:35 AM
I am in for Jin Goo.. i think his acting was solid in DOTS...
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12 eynay
May 4, 2016 at 4:35 AM
I read in allkpop Uhm Tae Woong also get offer for this role. I dont mind of one of them take this role & I will difinitely watch this drama for them. ^_^
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Chris
May 4, 2016 at 4:58 AM
I heard that Uhm Tae Woong was offered different role in the same drama.
If the Drama God answering my pray, then 3 of them will accept the offer.. \(^_^)/
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eynay
May 4, 2016 at 5:49 AM
Too excited to read the whole article. Haha
I hope UTW will accept this because after he changed agency no news about him.
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kanz
May 4, 2016 at 7:17 AM
Maybe Uhm Tae Woong will be the villain?
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13 Jessica
May 4, 2016 at 5:49 AM
OMG!!!!! Yes! I've always loved Jin Gu! He's so underrated. He and Kim Hyun Joo will slay! Hopefully they both confirm! This is right up my alley!
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14 yuja
May 4, 2016 at 7:31 AM
I love this cast and the premise is right up my alley, but I'm very worried about the rushed production. They only have 6 weeks. How is that adequate time to prepare for a drama? It's very irresponsible of SBS to have let things get this way. And if Wanted is going to have to resort to live-shooting, truthfully, I'd rather these actors not take the project.
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15 evelynray
May 4, 2016 at 8:23 AM
GO GO, TAKE THIS ON! GO, STOIC!
I can already imagine Jin Goo in this role.
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16 Gidget
May 4, 2016 at 8:34 AM
Happy to hear he's getting good offers. First saw him in Ad Genius. He made his character so likeable I stuck with the show to the very end.
Hope his agency helps him choose well and that he finally breaks out.
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17 A+
May 4, 2016 at 8:59 AM
The plot reminds me of a God's Gift - 14 Days x Pied Piper crossover drama.
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18 Amylee
May 4, 2016 at 10:23 AM
As much as I love Jin Goo and Kim Hyun Joo, I wish they'll pass on this. They haven't even finished casting and they are meant to air in June??? I don't want my babies pulling all-nighters please. #saynotoliveshooting
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19 soapbox
May 4, 2016 at 12:19 PM
"It was only given the official green light earlier this week for a mid-June premiere"
This is just unreasonable. Entertainer is expected to end on June 9th, so if things go as planned that would put Wanted on the 15th. I don't know how they'd be able to create a decent thriller on this time, or how they'd be able to keep up with episode deadlines week after week. I'd be worried for the cast and staff's health.
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20 mindy
May 4, 2016 at 2:43 PM
I agree with everyone saying that this drama is not giving itself enough time to prepare, but I pray it's good because the concept seems to have so much potential. I actually do wish these actors would join so the team can get going ASAP and not have to waste more time courting their leads.
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21 newgirl
May 5, 2016 at 12:04 AM
Okay, I admit I squealed like a schoolgirl when I read this headline. I loved his acting in DotS; it's easy to play a stoic character, but difficult to play one well, and he did that in spades. Yes, please!
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