Missing 9 courts Jung Kyung-ho as male lead, releases character descriptions
by chickachunga
More developments on the new drama Missing 9 formerly known as Picnic, formerly known as Gaia: After a recent change in scribes, switching from Angry Mom’s Kim Ban-di to Police Unit 38’s Han Jung-hoon, Missing 9 is now undergoing a major casting shakeup.
Missing 9 centers around Seo Joon-ho, a washed-up, former Kpop star who’s now an on-camera reporter just living from day to day and his stylist, Na Bong-hee, who get stranded on an island together. Initially, this project was in discussions to be the followup to MBC’s Monster, but after Woman With a Suitcase was decided on instead, it got pushed, renamed a third time to Missing 9, and is now being extensively reworked, beginning with the increase in age of the main leads from characters in their twenties to early thirties now.
Actor Jung Kyung-ho (One More Happy Ending) is in talks to join as the male lead, the same role Kang Haneul (Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo) was in talks for, but it appears Kang has since declined. Kang Haneul and Hyeri (Entertainer) were the initial frontrunners to play the leads back when the story was about a popular idol with a difficult personality and an ordinary girl who get stranded on an island after their plane crashes, but that no longer is the case with Kang’s withdrawal and Hyeri’s exit in September.
Jung Kyung-ho’s agency, Management Donghaeng, has declared that Jung has received the script, but it’s in need of modification. That makes plenty of sense given the writer overhaul and consequently, the drastic change in the island narrative. No confirmations have been made as of now, but Missing 9 is just one of several projects Jung is considering.
EXO’s Chanyeol and rookie actress Lee Sun-bin (Police Unit 38) are still attached and confirmed to appear. Chanyeol will be playing Lee Yeol, the cute, playboy drummer who serves as the face of an idol band and is kind to all women. However, a drunk driving incident in the past wherein someone else took the fall has left him feeling as though he has a debt to pay.
Lee Sun-bin will take on the role of Ha Ji-ah, a top Hallyu actress and goddess-like beauty, whose level of rudeness is as high as her upturned nose. She suffers from hemolytic anemia, so whenever she gets cut she experiences immense blood loss. In order to survive in the cutthroat entertainment world, she masks her weaknesses and affliction by deliberately escalating her rage.
Missing 9 will be produced by SM C&C, and it’s being considered at MBC, though its broadcaster and airdate have not been determined at this time.
RELATED POSTS
- Police Unit 38 writer overhauls castaway drama Picnic
- Lee Sun-bin, Cao Lu to be part of Picnic party
- Kang Haneul, Hyeri up for deserted-island adventure romance Picnic
- Gaia loses Kang Haneul, Song Ji-nah, and reason for watching
- EXO’s Chanyeol in consideration for MBC’s Gaia
- Kang Haneul offered lead in MBC castaway drama
- Police Unit 38: Episode 1
- One More Happy Ending: Episode 1
Tags: Chanyeol, Jung Kyung-ho, Missing 9
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1 redfox
September 22, 2016 at 11:49 AM
the mother otter-like woman who is tough like iron scrubbing brush plays a raging anemic? crazy. But I am happy for this girl! and she will pull it off.
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2 vongole
September 22, 2016 at 11:55 AM
Much that I liked JKH in his last drama outing, my favourite bit of the news update is the promised 'increase in age of the main leads from characters in their twenties to early thirties now'...:P
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3 lostmysanity
September 22, 2016 at 12:10 PM
So he will be playing a reporter like in One More Happy Ending? That's cute. Looking forward to him acting in this!
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mary
September 23, 2016 at 6:48 AM
Will he dive into 1 foot of water again? They're in an island after all... *preparing my laughs*
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4 Aly
September 22, 2016 at 12:23 PM
I'm dying to see him in an action drama. He was amaaaaaazing in "Heartless City".
He should have been cast in "The K2".
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nimagooy
September 22, 2016 at 12:50 PM
Same!! I want to see him in something like Heartless City again!
I'm not as excited about him being in this.
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roake
September 22, 2016 at 12:54 PM
Yea, he totally transformed for heartless city. LOVED him in it, which surprised him since I usually see him in comedies.
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Sera The Ms Temper
September 22, 2016 at 6:39 PM
Heartless City! I miss him in this kind of role.
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5 Deedee
September 22, 2016 at 12:39 PM
It is becoming less and less exciting. I was in for Kang Hangul. Even if I know Jung Kyung-ho is a good actor, I am not very interesting seeing him on a desert island.
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6 manisha
September 22, 2016 at 12:54 PM
I have been in love with this guy since Falling for innocenexe. His character gave me a major husband goals and now i feel like I'll die spinster because of James Kang. Like dude FTW he killed it in that drama. I am still crushing over Jung Kyung ho and as well his Falling for innocence character even after two years of the broadcast!?
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zia
September 23, 2016 at 1:39 AM
Falling for Innocence is also the reason why I'm a fan of him now. SNSD's Sooyoung is one lucky girl.
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Nina Chikovani
September 23, 2016 at 3:17 AM
I remember how people were saying that this drama should be called Falling for Jung Kyung Ho
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7 dramakid
September 22, 2016 at 1:18 PM
if this was before he did Falling For The Innocent, I would've said no. but after watching him in that,I'm definately on board if he accepts.
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hyades
September 22, 2016 at 2:44 PM
Same here :). His acting in Falling For The Innocent was fabulous. It is the show that make him in my list for actors their drama should be watched.
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8 BROWNCOAT_78
September 22, 2016 at 1:23 PM
Run away, Jung Kyung Ho! Run far away! You are too good for this dumpster fire! More roles like Doctor's Son, less tripe that wastes your talent!
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9 CatoCat
September 22, 2016 at 1:33 PM
38 Task Force Writer in and story has become much more exciting and kind of dangerous too!!?
Jung Kyung Ho is the hero in Smile, You naa!!?
This show now looks like a Survival reality show.
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10 bbstl
September 22, 2016 at 2:17 PM
I luuuuuurve JKH. I'm thrilled for anything that brings him back to our screens and hope it will be more worthy than Happy Ending and Innocence. And make him a huge star! KHN, thank god you dodged Hyeri and go forth soon and do well in another show where you are the lead and get the girl.
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11 Grapes
September 22, 2016 at 2:22 PM
JKH and his girlfriend casting news are in the same page.
Excited for this change of casting, I've been his fan after Cruel City and endless Love.
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Chandler
September 22, 2016 at 5:24 PM
And he might be working with the writer of her last drama!
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12 deedee
September 22, 2016 at 2:42 PM
With all the changes with this drama's topic it really seems as if the writer has nothing to tell us.
Seriously writternim do you really have something coming from your heart and soul that you would enjoy sharing with us?
I fear that you will end up filling your script with amnesia, caricatural second female lead and others uninspired patterns because you already looks like overwhelmed with the situation.
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kaybee
September 22, 2016 at 3:13 PM
Those kind of cliché tropes really don't describe this writer's work. From what I've seen so far he always does things differently from the usual kdrama plot devices.
And the female characters in TF38, while they may not have been huge roles, the women all felt real and strong, definitely not like caricatures imo.
That said, of course it can't be easy to try and create something this quickly while having to base it off of someone else's ideas, so it might not be that comparable to his previous works.
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13 Don
September 22, 2016 at 3:02 PM
I hope he declines. He is such a mediocre actor.
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junny
September 22, 2016 at 4:49 PM
He was excellent in Heartless City.
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Nina Chikovani
September 23, 2016 at 3:35 AM
and in Falling for innocence, and in One More Happy Ending.
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Sera The Ms Temper
September 22, 2016 at 6:46 PM
I don't about anyone else, but put him in the same line with Lee Min Ho, Lee Jong Suk, Ji Chang Wook- I will definitely choose him the first over the other guys.
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faith
September 22, 2016 at 10:35 PM
your taste, i think only fit chungmuro level...
this guy you called mediocre?pftt!!!
he's far from mediocre...he's acting is better than current model turn actor u'know...
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fab
September 23, 2016 at 12:57 PM
*sobs in pillow* How dare youuuuuuu
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Sur
September 24, 2016 at 1:58 AM
I'm curious as to who you find good then. Seriously if anybody has seen Heartless City and any of his comedies would know his acting range and depth.
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14 rowanharper
September 22, 2016 at 3:11 PM
Next week they're in talks to recast the island. Poor island, this was set to be his breakout role.
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youcallitwinter
September 22, 2016 at 3:14 PM
Hahahaha, A+++++ comment.
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redfox
September 22, 2016 at 3:26 PM
they will turn it into a peninsula instead, but the stranded people dont know it and despair.
(there is actually an old estonian comedy film, that used such a set-up.)
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redfox
September 24, 2016 at 11:31 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo4vGFwIQOU @24:09 men trying to escape the "island", @24:37 they say: "Damn it, that old shack again!"
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dilemma
September 22, 2016 at 9:40 PM
lmao
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15 youcallitwinter
September 22, 2016 at 3:14 PM
This drama has been vastly fun and majorly wtf to follow from initial conception to now. It's so weirdly amusing how it's the same drama but a completely different drama and everything about it is just completely different from how it set out, including the leads and possibly genre.
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Kestrel
September 22, 2016 at 9:27 PM
I would watch the drama within the drama about the "Making of The Island/Missing 9/Picnic/WTF."
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16 juniper
September 22, 2016 at 3:27 PM
I guess I don't see what's so special about this project that they keep resurrecting it after it's been through two other writers? Just going by what has remained constant (idol castaways) it's not as though this has the potential to become the Korean Lost or something. It just sounds like your average run-of-the-mill comedy we've all seen 50 times before, whether it's prickly 20 somethings or washed up 30 somethings, except on an island. The only thing that might set this apart is a break from Subway PPL.
Maybe this will surprise me, but I think Jung Kyung-ho can do a lot better.
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bossu
September 22, 2016 at 9:00 PM
It's an SM C&C production so maybe they're the one who's pushing it. I just want to see JKH in something I actually want to watch, definitely not from the same company who produces To The Beautiful You and D-Day
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Nina Chikovani
September 23, 2016 at 3:41 AM
I should admit that they have perfect taste in writers, all writers previous works were good: Angry mom, Healer, Police Unit 38.
The description of this drama is so simple and mediocre, but their choice in screenwriter gives me hope
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tist
September 23, 2016 at 5:27 AM
but that same company produced jealousy incarnate, squad 38, neighbourhood lawyer and the merchant.
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juniper
September 23, 2016 at 11:46 AM
Oh, that would explain a lot. D-Day and To the Beautiful You are about as bad as it gets lol. D-Day was especially disappointing because it butchered an interesting premise.
I'm glad the Angry Mom writer is passing on this. She really had something to say with her debut project, so I'd like to see her continue writing something she wants to write.
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17 mk
September 22, 2016 at 3:30 PM
I just want a Korean version of Lost.
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jessi
September 22, 2016 at 4:07 PM
Basically, this.
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Catz
September 23, 2016 at 3:17 AM
Oh please no. It was one of the reasons I gave up watching U.S multi season dramas - they just don't know when to stop until it's a sinking ship.
Though I did like the Good Wife Korean version only because they ended it decently.
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18 michykdrama
September 22, 2016 at 4:17 PM
Can I ask if the part about Lee Sun-bin's character correctly translated?
Because Hemolytic anemia does not in any way cause massive bleeding when you get cut. Could it be Hemophilia instead?
Hemolytic anemia is a condition where the red blood cells die prematurely compared to normal people. It doesn't affect bleeding when you get injured.
Hemophilia is bleeding disorder where the blood doesn't clot properly and can cause massive bleeding when a person is cut or hurt.
(Sorry it was really bugging me when I read it, as much as I know it's a small irrelevant thing.
Think of it as a Medical News Flash- Brought to you by your friendly doctor drama addict. Now back to your regularly scheduled program. ?)
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loveblossom
September 22, 2016 at 5:12 PM
Yaassss I want to see JKH in a new (and good) drama! I didn't think I was a major fan, but I've watched like 3 of his dramas already, lol. He's so underrated.
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loveblossom
September 22, 2016 at 5:13 PM
Whoops, I meant to post that ^ as a new comment. >w<;;;
@Michy, I do like reading the medical info you share though! :)
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girlfriday
September 22, 2016 at 6:07 PM
It's correctly translated, but I wouldn't be shocked if the character description were medically wrong. Hemophilia sounds closer to the condition described, but the dictionary says hemolytic anemia.
It might be the dictionary's fault too. I wouldn't really trust the Korean-to-English dictionary on the finer points of medical conditions. Public service announcement of the day :)
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michykdrama
September 22, 2016 at 8:02 PM
감사합니다 Girlfriday for clarifying and checking! ?
I really appreciate how you guys bother to personally reply to even the smallest of things. Makes Dramabeans feel so personal, and also a site of the highest standard that cares to be correct. ❤️ Much love!
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Dhiah
September 22, 2016 at 6:40 PM
I was about to post the same thing??
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19 siesta
September 22, 2016 at 7:13 PM
i'm more curious about why are they so determined to make this show happen.. was the original writer a producer's wife/husband or something?
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20 erratic
September 22, 2016 at 8:59 PM
Hyeri's exit?
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daloula
September 22, 2016 at 11:27 PM
She turned down the drama when it was named Picnic to focus on promoting with her group Girl's Day
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21 ObsessedMuch
September 22, 2016 at 9:38 PM
I miss Jung Kyung Ho on my screen a lot, so I am willing to see any show with him in it, even though the behind- the- scenes sounds like a disaster!
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22 chiyako92
September 23, 2016 at 12:14 AM
But the real question is: will "My Sassy Girl" undergo the same treatment?
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23 jasmin
September 23, 2016 at 5:03 AM
This sounds like a huge mess and I'm not sure I want Jung Kyung Ho to be involved in it. I want him in a good project, not a rewritten pile of ideas. O.o
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24 Myka
September 23, 2016 at 7:51 AM
me: *sees Jung Kyung-ho considering a drama* OMO! HE'S GONNA BE BACK IN MY SCREEN! OMO! SARANGHAE, OPPA! OMO! I CAN'T!
also me: *sees what the drama he's considering is* Oh, God. Why. Why be so cruel. Why do this to me. Why.
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jasmin
September 23, 2016 at 10:07 AM
+1000
Is is too much to ask for another dark role like the one in Cruel City? Like with a good writer and not with such a BTS mess?
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jasmin
September 23, 2016 at 10:15 AM
And with BTS mess I mean Missing 9.
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25 Diana Hansen
September 23, 2016 at 9:19 AM
i miss him so much! but he needs to be in a very good drama, not a mess of a one. i trust his judgement and hope he is back soon.
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