Lee Bo-young to become Mother for tvN remake
by tipsymocha
Wow, that’s a quick return to dramaland, especially given that the gap between Lee Bo-young’s last two projects God’s Gift–14 Days and Whisper was 3 years. Not that I’m complaining, because I think her role as the titular Mother in tvN’s upcoming remake of the Japanese drama is perfect for her. I actually thought that this project was dead in the water because we hadn’t heard of any developments since last October when reports first announced that Lee Bo-young was offered the lead role, so I’m happy to hear that tvN is moving forward with the show, and that she has confirmed the project.
In contrast to its pretty benign title, the plot sounds really tragic and heartrending: An elementary school teacher notices that one of her female students is being abused at home, and impulsively kidnaps her in the hopes of giving her a better life. Obviously, I don’t condone kidnapping, but I can’t help but empathize with that impulse, and I guess the emotional dilemma both for the characters and the viewers is the morality of choosing between inaction and action by way of illegal means. Oh dear, I just read a one-sentence plot description and I’m already feeling invested; I’m gonna be a total mess when it actually airs. But in a good way. I’m really looking forward to who they cast as the little girl Lee Bo-young kidnaps, because it’ll be their rapport that gives the show its emotional weight.
No news on the director attached to the remake, but reports last October named film screenwriter Jung Seo-kyung as the main writer for the drama. Her credits include The Handmaiden and Thirst, and while I haven’t seen The Handmaiden, I remember Thirst as being pretty dark, with a dose of even darker humor that made it really eerie and disturbing, so I’ll be interested to see what tone she brings to tvN’s Mother.
Thankfully, there’ll be some time for Lee Bo-young to rest after Whisper. Filming for Mother isn’t due to start until October, tentatively, and from the sounds of it, the show still needs to sign on a director and the rest of the cast. This probably puts the show’s premiere very late in the year or sometime in early 2018. In the meantime, I’m going to pray to the drama gods that this drama won’t pull a repeat of the last time Lee Bo-young played a mother desperate to save her daughter—or at least how it ended.
Via Sports Donga, Osen
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Tags: cable programs, Dark Hole, Falsify, Lee Bo-young
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1 Jrr
May 27, 2017 at 1:13 PM
woah that's a really fast comeback! i really wonder who will be casted as her daughter.. ? any suggestions?
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Jrr
May 27, 2017 at 1:14 PM
oops i mean the female student ?
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chingu
May 27, 2017 at 5:03 PM
Got ahead of yourself, there, Jrr! ?
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annyeong
May 27, 2017 at 1:22 PM
CAST HAYOUNGIEEEEEE
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UmbrellaMan
May 27, 2017 at 3:26 PM
Don't know what age they are aiming for, but that little girl from Lookout is super freaking cute!!
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kiara
May 27, 2017 at 7:33 PM
If the child is required to do a lot of acting then Heo Jung-eun ("Oh My Geum-bi" and "Moonlight") would be great.
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michykdrama
May 27, 2017 at 8:05 PM
Yes! I second this! ?
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kiara
May 27, 2017 at 8:09 PM
Cheering hard for her like I did with Kim Yoo-jung when she was that age.
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Sera The Ms Temper
May 28, 2017 at 12:24 AM
great minds think alike ?
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yhang
May 28, 2017 at 12:27 AM
Gal So-won! Ye-seung of Miracle in Cell No. 7. Agree?
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2 katami
May 27, 2017 at 1:23 PM
yéééééy ..so happy to hear about the project again :D ..... Actually it's been few months since i watched the original version ...it made me cry rivers TT (prepare ur tisues people) ...can't wait to watch the korean version ..but till 2018 we gonna have to wait a bit :(
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3 redfox
May 27, 2017 at 1:24 PM
she is like the Queen of England: you can see her in yet another location before she even left the previous.
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4 anna
May 27, 2017 at 1:32 PM
Oh man, Mother. For some reason, I only remember how pissed off I was when they were at the train or bus station. She just left all her belongings there. I couldn't continue onto the next episode lol Maybe one day I'll watch it again.
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5 NewComerDb
May 27, 2017 at 1:32 PM
wew.the handmaiden writer helm this drama im in.Such an amazing film and story is just dark and twisted hope the same as this one but without the sexuality things lol /:
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kiara
May 27, 2017 at 2:04 PM
Park Chan-wook is a filmmaker. There is no way he is going to take time for dramas.
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vivi
May 29, 2017 at 5:45 AM
The writer will - as said in this article. I suppose Park Chan Wook directs The Handmaiden, not write?
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6 michyeosseo
May 27, 2017 at 1:33 PM
OOH, I'm interested in this one.
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7 genger
May 27, 2017 at 1:34 PM
I'm satisfied..
Her role in Whisper was underutilized and sometimes made no sense...I hope this drama will erase Whisper from my memory.
I hope her performance this time will be on the same level of GG
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Caesalpinia
May 27, 2017 at 8:46 PM
Is Whisper that bad?
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8 Elaine Wong
May 27, 2017 at 1:37 PM
I hope they cast Shin Rin-ah as the student. She's already been Ji Sung's daughter.
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Mango Juice
May 28, 2017 at 3:22 AM
I second this. She's such a great child actress. Plus there'll be meta written all around.
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9 Arhazivory
May 27, 2017 at 1:38 PM
I really enjoyed the jdrama - one of my favourites. I know Lee Bo Young will be awesome. I hope they keep the drama tight - 12 episodes will be enough. I'm comforted that of late, kdramas are veering away from being all about the romance because that's one thing Mother was not.
I rarely watch remakes but I will tune in to this one to see how they spin it. I don't expect the subdued and poignant style of the Japanese but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It will likely have more 'omg' moments. Haha
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10 Sera The Ms Temper
May 27, 2017 at 1:40 PM
This drama is still far away - i think the earliest we get to see in Dec or maybe in the early of next year. LBY still has enough time for break?
Can we get the kid who played Geum Bi - Heo Jung Eun? I am curious how little this student will be - but if it is elementary school student, I think she will be perfect.
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kiara
May 27, 2017 at 8:10 PM
I picked the same child actor before I read yours :).
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11 wonhwa
May 27, 2017 at 1:44 PM
The original show was quite good, but very, very hard to watch. I don't know if I'm up for going through this particular story again, but I do hope the remake keeps the focus on the female characters and the many ways that societal structures fail women and children.
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12 phochu
May 27, 2017 at 1:49 PM
After the break, looks like she's back full gear. I enjoyed her in ICSYV
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13 miss h
May 27, 2017 at 2:09 PM
Whisper was very much a no go for me, so I'm glad she'll be back in dramaland sooner rather than later. Not sure this will be my type of show, but hopefully it will give her some good material.
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dee
May 27, 2017 at 5:51 PM
same to me. I gave up on whisper in 2nd episode despite I adore LBY so much. I'm expecting for this one, and I hope it'll be happy ending
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mmmmm
May 28, 2017 at 6:56 AM
Yes, me too. I've tried 5 eps. and I just wish this show didn't exist at all. Apologies to Beanies who love the show, for me it's just a no. I actually felt suffocated while watching it.
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14 leibeme
May 27, 2017 at 2:27 PM
Ah, the difference between legality and morality. Old-age question.
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leibeme
May 27, 2017 at 2:45 PM
*age-old
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15 astromantic
May 27, 2017 at 2:48 PM
Oh lord I remember bawling my eyes out when this drama came out. Ashida Mana was incredible as Tsugumi, I hope they find a child actress who can do just as well!
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16 Lunabird
May 27, 2017 at 2:57 PM
Before I congratulate her comeback (which I just did), can I just say that she is still looking so pretty. I'm happy that she is back in another show, after Whisper. Luckily, before she films for this new show, she still gets a decent break. The writer for this show has been said to be good at writing these darker themes, although I personally never watched any those shows.
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17 Miky
May 27, 2017 at 3:14 PM
Woo,so she accepted the offer after all....She sure is on a roll
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18 bebeswtz
May 27, 2017 at 3:17 PM
My top picks for the role of the little girl:
- Shin Ri Na (Uee's daughter in "Marriage Contract")
- Seo Ga Eun (Lee Joon Gi & IU's daughter in "Scarlet Heart: Ryeo)
- Lee Chae Mi (Lee Joon Gi's daughter in "Two Weeks", also his niece in "Scarlet Heart: Ryeo" that he "married")
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bqk318
May 27, 2017 at 7:10 PM
Heo Jung Eun, please!!!!
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bebeswtz
May 27, 2017 at 11:00 PM
Oh right!! There's also sweet little Heo Jung Eun!!
She could also be a contender for this role while she waits for the opportunity to act in someone with Song Joong Ki =)))
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19 bambi
May 27, 2017 at 3:26 PM
Oh shiet the writer for the Handmaiden??? Umm ok this is like a must-watch, if not a must-follow-on-dramabeans :P
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20 mindy
May 27, 2017 at 3:56 PM
I think we can all agree this is perfect casting.
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21 Shek
May 27, 2017 at 4:12 PM
Well that sounds interesting. I really like Lee Bo-young.
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22 junny
May 27, 2017 at 4:17 PM
Another remake. *facepalm*
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boraflok
May 27, 2017 at 6:14 PM
Come on.. be positive. Not all remakes are bad ones. :D I don't know if you enjoyed TLAHL. From your comment, I'm guessing probably not. :D but plenty including myself did. Adding a bit of the Korean drama flair that is the source of our love for dramas can't always be a bad thing. :D
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junny
May 28, 2017 at 3:05 AM
I could give you a list of shitty remakes. And no, adding korean drama flair does not make it better.
I watched one episode of The Liar and his Lover (I think it was ep 14). I bailed after cringing for the bulk of the episode (this with the help of fast-forwarding). I'm sure plenty of people enjoyed it, but plenty others did not.
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michykdrama
May 27, 2017 at 8:06 PM
Was the jdrama good?
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junny
May 28, 2017 at 3:02 AM
Of course.
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astromantic
May 28, 2017 at 11:26 AM
It's one of the best ones out there. Sakamoto Yuji (writer) usually writes great dramas, and this is one of his best.
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boraflok
May 27, 2017 at 8:55 PM
Just fyi, I'm not the one who downvoted you. I feel like I would be the prime suspect and feel guilty for no reason... Upvoting you to ease my guilt even if I disagree with you. :D
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Sera The Ms Temper
May 28, 2017 at 12:22 AM
LOL this downvote seriously has become like an offence here ???
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CrimeFighter
May 28, 2017 at 12:56 AM
Same sentiments. That's why I stop to downvote anyone here even though I disagreed with what they were commenting.
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Sera The Ms Temper
May 28, 2017 at 9:44 AM
I was fine with this downvote thing until I saw some beanies are not that happy with it. I also stopped downvoting anyone despite of my disagreement with any comment after that. ?
junny
May 28, 2017 at 3:01 AM
@boraflok
Why would you feel guilty? Your response was reasonable.
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23 ladyjaye
May 27, 2017 at 6:06 PM
The only thing better than Lee Bo-Young is *more* Lee Bo-Young! Looking forward to seeing her onscreen soon!
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24 bqk318
May 27, 2017 at 7:10 PM
Heo Jung Eun, please! I miss her so much!
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25 jadea
May 27, 2017 at 7:19 PM
I wanted her to take this one over whisper in the first place, so I'm definitely excited for this.
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26 Mrs. and Mr. Clarewalt joint account
May 27, 2017 at 7:19 PM
I really love her and Ji Sung too. The premise sounds extremely interesting, and I hope they tackle the question well and with nuances.
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27 bqk318
May 27, 2017 at 7:48 PM
Is a loveline in this drama ? I checked original version on Asianwiki. There're so much character too.
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Arhazivory
May 28, 2017 at 2:44 PM
Nope. No loveline at all in the original.
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28 chahaya
May 27, 2017 at 7:52 PM
I'm guessing they are still casting for the child? I think they must make Boyoung to act with the child for the audition part to see their chemistry.
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29 michykdrama
May 27, 2017 at 8:18 PM
Ooh this could be very very good. As a mom, and with a good friend and relative who are struggling so much to conceive a kid of their own, I get so frustrated and heartbroken when I see kids that are unwanted, abused or unloved. So I can understand the impulse to take away a child from a unhealthy environment, although obviously it will be fraught with emotional turmoil since it's illegal. I hope Lee Bo Young and the little girl they cast are up to the task and the wring lots of tears and twist my heart. If I dare to watch that is. ?
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30 ChaimaaF
May 27, 2017 at 8:48 PM
I hope they find a new child actress. It's always a treat when you discover new talent.
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31 Satinder
May 27, 2017 at 9:31 PM
This could give LBY an award if done right. Rooting for her and it.
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32 Majo1997
May 27, 2017 at 10:01 PM
Do you know that the actress Mana Ashida who plays Tsugumi only was 5 years old when she did this drama?
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33 Majo
May 27, 2017 at 10:16 PM
What about the actress Kim Seol who played Jinjoo in Reply 1988? Is she still working?
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Melania
May 28, 2017 at 12:43 AM
That would be a great idea, she's so cute.
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34 CrimeFighter
May 28, 2017 at 12:58 AM
Wow she was so good portraying a mum in God's Gift - 14 Days but the ending.....
She was so underutilized in Whisper that I dropped in halfway. Maybe the script or smth, it just can't get me to continue with it. The only thing I like in Whisper was Lee Bo Young but too bad that doesn't help in making me continuing with the drama.
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35 mango
May 28, 2017 at 1:39 AM
I'm getting ready for the emotional ride !
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36 blueribbon
May 28, 2017 at 1:45 AM
Finally we get to hear some news I also thought that the project had been scraped. When news about this remake first came out I started watching the original just to see how it was and I agree that Lee bo young is perfectly casted for the role. As for the little girl I think it would be great if they casted the little girl from "Marriage contract" and "Defendant"
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37 Samurai
May 28, 2017 at 6:32 AM
I recently watched bits of the turkish remake. It was really good until they threw the original story out of the window (when they ran out of the 12 episodes worth of original story material) and started deviate from the original story. I hope this one manages to stay focused.
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38 Kip
May 28, 2017 at 7:31 AM
Yes!!! This is the Lee Bo-young drama I was waiting for. I'm glad tvN didn't scrap it, and I'm always down for darker stories about ladies. Would be a nice break from all the Candies and Cinderellas in dramaland.
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39 salt N pepper
May 28, 2017 at 7:53 PM
Yesss! Happy to hear she's still doing this project. It sounds like it has the potential to be a really good drama, especially if they manage to get the writer for Handmaiden. I need them to cast Shin Rin Ah or Heo Jung Eun as the daughter.
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