Zombie webtoon remake Dreamcide hyped as Hallyu’s next big hit
by awcoconuts
It may be a bit premature to be calling Dreamcide Hallyu’s next Descended From the Sun, but the upcoming drama certainly has a lot of tried-and-true elements going for it: zombies, time travel, and a scrappy high school student out to save the world. Add to the mix a popular film director signing on to produce, a talented small-screen director, and the country’s best visual effects studio, and it’s no wonder the project is beginning to generate quite the buzz.
Dreamcide is based on an eponymous webtoon written by Hong Jung-hoon, which itself was based on a popular web novel by the same writer. Through the manhwa and the novel, the story about a time-traveling high school student who discovers mankind’s imminent destruction at the hands of zombies grabbed the attention of over 1.4 million subscribers.
While tales of the undead may be all the rage (Signal writer Kim Eun-hee’s Joseon-era take, Kingdom, will be available on Netflix either late this year or early next year, and Train to Busan was a blockbuster hit), in this version, our boy hero is able to travel seven years ahead through his dreams. He’ll witness the proliferation of zombies, and he’ll use his unique ability to attempt to change the future.
Film director Kim Yong-hwa (Take Off, 200 Pound Beauty) has signed on to executive produce, while Kim Hong-sun (Voice, Pied Piper, Liar Game) will direct. Monster Union, the production company that spun off from KBS last year, is managing the project, and Dexter Studio will handle the visual effects. The various players seem to be taking the adaptation seriously, claiming that this project will be the first of its kind in Korean television—a cinematic drama with impressive zombie effects.
Writer Kwon Soon-gyu (Warrier Baek Dong-soo) will bring Dreamcide to the small screen. He also penned Jackpot, which, err… at least he isn’t being asked to come up with original (illogical) content for this project? Pre-production on Dreamcide will begin before the end of the year, shoots will begin in 2018, and the parties involved hope to release the drama in the latter half of next year.
Via Dailian
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Tags: adaptations, Jang Nara, kim Tera, Ryu Hwa-young, Seo Hyun-jin, Seo Ji-hye, Sohn Ho-joon, Woo Do-hwan, Yang Se-jong, Yoo Ji-tae
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1 michykdrama
July 31, 2017 at 4:10 AM
I'm always wary when they call something the Next Big Hit. Especially when we all know it's generally not a guarantee.
(I may have remembered wrong but wasn't Uncontrollably Fond hyped as the next DOTS too?)
That being said the premise sounds very interesting, so as long as people aren't Zombied Out by then, who knows, maybe it will be?
A high school student eh... is it too late for Bogum to get his wish fulfilled and get to wear a school uniform in this drama? ?
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Sera The Ms Temper
July 31, 2017 at 4:22 AM
Bogum can still wear school uniform for the next five years and will still look like one. ?
If it is supposed to be the Next Big Hit, getting a big name is one of the steps that needs to be done. PBG can be a good choice, because they won't cast the real teen actors for the leads, right?
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gadis
July 31, 2017 at 4:56 AM
Yeah, it seems impossible for them to cast an actual teen actor. Though I want them to give a chance to someone like Kwak Dong-yeon or Seo Young-joo. But Park Bo-gum is a great choice, especially since he declined Hong sister's drama. Maybe this will be the one?
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Sera The Ms Temper
July 31, 2017 at 5:16 AM
Yeo Jin Gu can be a good choice too since he is already a certified time traveler - but his reunion with the writer of Jackpot isn't sound so good. lol.
Since this drama is an ambitious project, I think they will choose bigger names than KDY or SYJ for male lead.
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michykdrama
July 31, 2017 at 6:46 AM
I'm loving Yeo Jin Gu but I feel like the boy needs a break, plus this sounds too similar to his current dramas.
Also, I'm really missing Bogum and wouldn't mind a drama with him as a non romantic lead.
Sera The Ms Temper
July 31, 2017 at 7:11 AM
I want to see YJG as a normal person in his next drama. Probably just an ordinary college student. ?
Yes to Bogum. This writer wary me a bit but maybe we can be hopeful a little since this is adapted from webtoon.
KaniaDJ
July 31, 2017 at 7:06 AM
Yes please!! I need bogum in my live... I've been replaying reply 1988 & MDBC far too much.
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changhyun
July 31, 2017 at 8:51 AM
I vote Choi Woo Shik! Redemption for TTB!
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urnaa
July 31, 2017 at 10:39 PM
Vote for Choi Woo Shik too.
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Zanna
August 2, 2017 at 9:47 AM
Me three
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2 wapz
July 31, 2017 at 4:10 AM
I am still unable to decipher if DOTS was a bigger hit than Goblin? I mean it (Goblin) scored plus 20 for a cable tv network, shouldn't it be bigger?
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Katy
July 31, 2017 at 5:30 AM
I wouldn't say each is bigger than the other. Both inspired trends (soldier talk for DOTs, the knife photoshop for Goblin), had shippable couples (Song-Song, Reaper-Queen) and had chart-topping OSTs.
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michykdrama
July 31, 2017 at 7:04 AM
I think DOTS was a worldwide hit, (it was even on the news on BBC!) whereas Goblin comparatively was less international, but adored by the Koreans. But that's just my opinion, I have no eveidence or numbers to back it up. ?
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kabsy
July 31, 2017 at 7:08 AM
I agree. Goblin is rooted in Korean mythology which made it harder to sell internationally but was still reasonably popular. But with Descendants of the Sun, the army theme and the whole thing about duty and loving your country meant that it was more appealing internationally. Especially as it mentions in the BBC article, many governments encouraged people to watch it to remind them of duty to country etc...
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sorrynotsorry
July 31, 2017 at 9:03 AM
Yep, this is the way I see it as well. When you have the Chinese government telling their women to quit expecting men to be like the dudes on DOTS, you've hit a pretty high level of fandom. Taiwan is already making their own version of DOTS.
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3 Juliesean
July 31, 2017 at 4:19 AM
I'm always skeptical about all the hype. How many times have we been left down. Especially that writer....couldn't they have gotten Kim Eun Sook although she's already working on the zombie flick for Netflix. I'm sure there's a better writer out there. I'm curious who will be in the cast.
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4 Sera The Ms Temper
July 31, 2017 at 4:28 AM
"Signal writer Kim Eun-sook’s Joseon-era take, Kingdom, will be available on Netflix ...."
I think it should be Kim Eun Hee. ? Kim Eun Sook is the one who wrote DOTS, Goblin.
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awcoconuts
July 31, 2017 at 6:21 AM
Updated, thank you!
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Sera The Ms Temper
July 31, 2017 at 6:25 AM
Welcome ?
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5 Niall
July 31, 2017 at 4:30 AM
no more zombies please, i don't understand that obsession.
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manohira
July 31, 2017 at 4:38 AM
Me neither! I'm gonna pass even if bogum in it. I like horror flicks or series as much as the next person, but for the last 7 years don't we have too many zombies on screen?
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myheartisomg
July 31, 2017 at 5:39 AM
I usually hate zombies too, but everything else about this project sounds so promising that I'll probably end up watching it anyway *sigh*
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sorrynotsorry
July 31, 2017 at 9:05 AM
If I hear it's well done, I'll probably check it out but I feel like zombies should be on the wane. I think this is a reaction to Train to Busan. At least vampires are over.
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Jessi Bear
July 31, 2017 at 7:13 PM
THANK GOD vampires are over
I say as I watch Vampire Detective (only watching it for LJ and the bromance I swear!)
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urnaa
July 31, 2017 at 10:54 PM
I am a big zombie fan. I am a fan of TWD. I love first 3 seasons so much. I like Z Nation. So i say bring it on.
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6 stringofpurls
July 31, 2017 at 4:34 AM
I'm on board! I was skeptical about zombies until I got to the Netflix part of it. Since Korean channels blur out blood and gaping wounds, I didn't see how it could work. This could work though! I'm going to be optimistic about it.
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7 martha
July 31, 2017 at 4:47 AM
GOBLIN WAS BIGGER hands down..it increased even tourism in korea in all the spot they shot the fil and everything the characters were wearing bcame instant sold off
not to mention 20% on cable
best visual effects
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martha
July 31, 2017 at 4:48 AM
ok this was 4 @wapz
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8 dee
July 31, 2017 at 6:00 AM
Usually I don't like zombie movie too because if you already know TWD, nothing can be compared and the others just meh.
They'd better watch The Walking Dead until 7th season just like myself (lol) so this project will be good, at least for zombie movie fans.
Be more 'real' than Train to Busan please
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sorrynotsorry
July 31, 2017 at 9:07 AM
I enjoyed a lot of the story arcs of TWD until season 7. I just knew how it was gonna go and read recaps though I'll probably watch 8 but I really wish I knew how long they were going to continue the show.
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dee
July 31, 2017 at 5:37 PM
Glenn's death still left a huge pain in me.
Let's wait till october
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urnaa
July 31, 2017 at 11:05 PM
Glenn and Rick are my favorite characters. Glenn's death left me broken. T.T
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dee
August 1, 2017 at 12:02 AM
Daryl & Glenn are baes
9 poliwag
July 31, 2017 at 6:04 AM
Buh me Liar Game 2
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callie
July 31, 2017 at 7:05 PM
Remember how we were supposed to get season 2 in 2016? lololol
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poliwag
July 31, 2017 at 7:18 PM
I'm growing old here
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10 merisoo
July 31, 2017 at 6:06 AM
I am always here for a well-done zombie drama. And the premise of a time-traveling high schooler is interesting. Looking forward to this.
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11 alasecond
July 31, 2017 at 6:31 AM
Scene looks like straight lifted from walking dead episode
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12 Pickwick12
July 31, 2017 at 6:45 AM
If Bogum wants to play a student, this would be one project possibly big enough for him. I hope the quality can justify the hype.
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13 korfan
July 31, 2017 at 6:53 AM
Never been a big fan of the whole zombie thing. It doesn't help that I immediately think of Halloween regarding anything zombie-related, as in, they're just holiday characters. ..... But I know there are many fans of zombie stories and I'm ok with there being a variety of stories out there. Something for everyone!
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14 gem28
July 31, 2017 at 6:59 AM
They should not talk this big, never a good idea...let the finished product speak for itself. All one should do is make it properly and promote in a good way.
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15 C
July 31, 2017 at 7:23 AM
every hype project since last year has failed or hasnt lived up to the expectation so i wouldnt count on this
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16 bqk318
July 31, 2017 at 8:10 AM
It's too soon to said it a hit or miss, we even don't know how much budget, the casting (they can add a idol so random into lead roles), also the writer is a bit..
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17 candycane
July 31, 2017 at 8:21 AM
writer of Jackpot?! can't they get a better writer if they really wish for a "Big Hit"?? Jackpot failed because of its poor plot, such a waste of acting talents!! yikes!!!
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18 sweetsour
July 31, 2017 at 8:40 AM
This doesn't interest me at all, because it sounds very similar to those silly super-hero movies (and now tv shows) we are inundated with every year in the United States.
I also don't see how they think that this will be a hit, when its genre is so different from "Goblin" or "DOTS", both of these dramas (though I didn't like them) still had a male and female lead, and had romance at their heart (despite all the fantasy in Goblin). Whereas this sounds like a straight up super-hero tale, for teenage boys.
Anyways happy watching to those who plan to check it out
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sorrynotsorry
July 31, 2017 at 9:10 AM
I think it is because Train to Busan was a monster hit in Korea and, heck, they are even selling the dvds of TTB at my local big box store.
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19 cantbothertologin
July 31, 2017 at 9:51 AM
I don't like high school students as protagonists. They are often either too old, or too raw. Honestly, the plot sounds like a mash of a lot of different things that don't work together.
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20 maryxiah
July 31, 2017 at 9:55 AM
I don't mind another apocalyptic zombie show if it's well done. But Jackpot writer? Hmm, that sure gives a pause. I do like the premise of the story with time traveling and high school kid(s) against a horde of zombies. Will be looking forward to this as long as it sets itself apart from Kim Eun-hee's Kingdom.
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21 FerG
July 31, 2017 at 6:43 PM
Webtoons have acquired a lot of love from the international manga/anime community in the recent years, so it's really interesting to see the differences between Korea and Japan on this. While popular Japanese mangas and anime seem to generate the same fervor internationally as they do domestically (meaning what is appreciated IN Japan is appreciated just as much by the international fandom), with Korean webtoons it seems it's the opposite! A lot of the popular ones internationally never seem to reach nation wide succes, even when they are somewhat popular and the ones that turn out hits in Korea and get TV and movie adaptations have either a low key international following or go completely under the radar, case in point: this webtoon. Try as I might I can't seem to get any info (in english) on it. I wonder why that is?
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22 Ah In
July 31, 2017 at 9:46 PM
I thought of Park Bo Gum immediately I read this !
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23 kooriyuki
July 31, 2017 at 10:42 PM
Totally weary of the writer. But then at least he has source material here?
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24 yen
August 1, 2017 at 2:46 PM
This looks like a pretty big project.
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