Lee Min-ho cast in City Hunter (?) (!)
by javabeans
WHAT?! I won’t believe this until it’s on the air, but Lee Min-ho has reportedly been selected to headline a Korean drama adaptation of City Hunter, the popular 1980s manga and anime about a womanizing detective.
The lead character is Saeba Ryo, who runs the City Hunter business with his partner, Kaori Makimura, and is a bit of a perv. (He almost exclusively takes cases from pretty women.) He also fights crime with the help of his trusty partner (some might call her his Girl Friday
I wrote about City Hunter back in 2008 when a Korean-Japanese production was being planned starring Jung Woo-sung. I’m going to guess that fell through. This version is slated for SBS and sounds like it might actually make it.
City Hunter was created by Hojo Tsukasa in 1985. There have been a few live-action adaptations attempted in the past, but none seemed to be that successful. According to one rep from the production company, the series has received numerous requests for drama adaptations, but those hadn’t come into fruition because they didn’t satisfy the creator’s requests. However, Hojo Tsuaka was reportedly satisfied with Lee Min-ho as the lead — no doubt thanks to his star-making role in last year’s uber-hit Boys Before Flowers.
The original was set against 1980s Tokyo; this version will take place in 2011 in Seoul. The Ryo character has been renamed “Kang Jin.”
OMFG. I may love this, or love to hate it. Either way, love.
Via Hankyung
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1 kooriyuki
September 12, 2010 at 8:45 PM
first first!!!
lee min ho is LOVE!!!!
i'm sold already!!! XD
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mae ann
September 14, 2010 at 2:48 AM
if ever lee min ho will be casted for this action drama, i hope he will be reunited with goo hye sun as his partner....hehe...
lee min ho..fighting!!
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rhyn kahlil
October 16, 2010 at 10:48 AM
i like it...
:)
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sEiku usui
February 7, 2012 at 5:15 PM
..oMg!!! lee min ho is MINE!!!!!
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elaraine
October 27, 2010 at 1:40 AM
yes....that's right...hi kuya!!!!!!!!! miss u!!!!!!!!
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2 jons
September 12, 2010 at 8:46 PM
thank god! i miss him!
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3 vie
September 12, 2010 at 8:51 PM
I want him to end up with the trusty sidekick - I'm tired of random pretty woman coming out of nowhere with a sob story and him falling for her!! I want a sidekick or friend to be the one for him!! lol
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Jane
September 12, 2010 at 8:56 PM
lol... like in Coffee House?
Well, I already ship him with his "Girl Friday."
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anon
September 12, 2010 at 9:02 PM
But... in the original series he DOES end up with the trusty sidekick. :)
Ehhh... hope that wasn't a spoiler or anything... :/
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4 rainbowcolorrs
September 12, 2010 at 8:53 PM
YEAHHH
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5 :D
September 12, 2010 at 8:55 PM
he better not drop out at the last second like in playful kiss!
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Nanci
September 12, 2010 at 9:06 PM
he was slated to play the lead guy, really?
although I feel he might have brought in more views, I do also feel that he wouldn't have been right for the role.
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LMF
September 12, 2010 at 9:26 PM
The role was offered, but he never accepted it. So technically, he didn't really 'drop out' at the last min :)
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carla mae mateo
January 6, 2014 at 8:15 PM
so that!! :}
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6 anon
September 12, 2010 at 8:56 PM
today is a good day in the kdrama world
MGY and now this
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7 ockoala
September 12, 2010 at 8:59 PM
Lee Min Ho as Saeba Ryo?!?
Oh geez, don't know if anyone has read the source manga, which I followed book by book as it was released in the 90s.
It's Shonen and not Shoujo first of all, and the manga tone gets darker as its progresses.
I don't think SBS can do a real City Hunter adaptation (and LMH's age is ALL wrong, like 10 yrs too young, at least).
It'll likely be CH lite, or the Young CH Chronicles. Either way, I'm game to watch it, and won't except to see City Hunter of the manga on screen. Actually, the explicit and violent nature of CH means that it really isn't suitable for any drama adaptation IMO.
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amhrancas
September 12, 2010 at 9:16 PM
I have to agree with you here. I'm open to see what they DO end up doing with it, but the original material is a little dark for network.
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karen
September 13, 2010 at 5:52 AM
it's not a matter of age, but rather if the actor can bring out what is required in the character. Lee Min Ho may be only 23 this year, but if he has to look like a 30years old, he can give you that.. just look at Personal Taste, does he looks like he is 5-6years younger than Sohn Ye Jin?no. not that he looks older, but rather, his character and his acting makes him more matured than his actual age.. but if you want him to be playful, he can do it too.
i am very sure he will be able to bring justice to the character. Don't forget, he is an actor.
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8 Rizzy
September 12, 2010 at 9:00 PM
I super love Lee Min Ho. ;) Glad that he is getting a new drama series soon. Thanks for the info Javabeans.
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9 Ashley
September 12, 2010 at 9:00 PM
Please work out! Please work out! Please work out!
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10 theedie
September 12, 2010 at 9:01 PM
ooh sounds promising. I'll have to keep this on my radar
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11 *o*ren
September 12, 2010 at 9:02 PM
it's quite a news, really he will play this character?! Minhooo xD will be waiting for this...
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12 danna
September 12, 2010 at 9:02 PM
i was thinking the same as anon...wonderful day indeed.....i hope this comes through!!
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13 iamyournoona
September 12, 2010 at 9:03 PM
Yes!!! Omigosh I am so looking forward to the upcoming drama line-ups..WOOOTT!!!
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14 Nanci
September 12, 2010 at 9:04 PM
You know, that picture is just a tease, why is buttoning up his shirt when he should be doing the opposite...fangirl much, I know.
But this sounds interesting, as I'm hoping they keep that sort of womanizing bit in it, it'll show another side to him (which I'm glad he's been doing). But I'll probably ship him with his partner...but not if he doesn't earn her trust.
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15 LMF
September 12, 2010 at 9:07 PM
hmm interesting...
another manhwa adaptation...
but heck, I'm sold as long as LMH is in it!
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16 ck1Oz
September 12, 2010 at 9:09 PM
Man oh man Sept shaping up to be a great month for KD and casting news.... I am giddy with happiness :-)
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17 amhrancas
September 12, 2010 at 9:09 PM
OH. MY. GOD.
This would be so EPIC if it does actually happen (and they write it right). I would love to see Lee Min-ho take on a role like Ryo. XD
*giddy*
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18 mishane
September 12, 2010 at 9:17 PM
Saw him in NYC on Saturday night when I was partying with friends. I wish that I'd actually seen him in a drama because I don't think he's physically attractive so I'd have to be attracted to his charm/character. He did have a nice little smirk, which I'm sure attracts all the ladies, lol.
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19 Minnette
September 12, 2010 at 9:17 PM
lol! I want to see Min Ho as a womanizer! hahaha... he was such an innocent as Jun pyo, and then in PT he was so cold to women, except to his mother... this is really a new image... hehehehe really want to see this..^^
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20 chel
September 12, 2010 at 9:22 PM
is it just me or is it that lee minho looks fatter when he goes for promotional events as compared to how he looks onscreen and in posters/pictures?
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21 Li~~
September 12, 2010 at 9:25 PM
Lee Min ho = womanizing detective? I'm game. All sorts of game. <3
Lots of good casting news lately. First Moon Geun-young + Jang Geun-seok and now this?
I'm very happy. ^^
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therainhouse
September 13, 2010 at 2:17 AM
Ditto.
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22 Hannah
September 12, 2010 at 9:26 PM
Whoaaa, is that the same as the Jackie Chan City Hunter? Because that was so much fun! And hilarious! But also miles away from what I imagined LMH to ever star in - still, this sounds like it could be great fun. And LMH is so cute.
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23 tetsi
September 12, 2010 at 9:26 PM
nononononono please don't.....
I'm happy to just watch the anime.... that Jackie Chan live action adaptation was awful enough to gave me nightmares for years....
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24 Keylye
September 12, 2010 at 9:26 PM
Interesting... I'll have to wait and see how this turns out.
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25 kopi_adik
September 12, 2010 at 9:27 PM
Lee Minho! ok that's enough to get me on board!
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26 shelly
September 12, 2010 at 9:32 PM
*right click. saves picture*
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27 belleza
September 12, 2010 at 9:35 PM
My guess is they'll kinda model City Hunter after the Jackie Chan vehicle. But it would be really cool if they made a Korean version of DEATH WISH. Lee Min Ho playing Charles Bronson playing Charles Bronson? Priceless.
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28 Jenju
September 12, 2010 at 9:42 PM
Oh. YES.
Lee Min-ho I entrust you to make this amazing.
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29 hapacalgirl
September 12, 2010 at 9:42 PM
New dramas for both Moon Geun Young AND Lee Minho, is it already Christmas. Usually both of them take awhile to select new projects (especially MGY, she usually takes 1-2 yr break between) so to have new projects in the future so soon is awesome.
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Cam
September 13, 2010 at 8:43 PM
I KNNOOOOOWWWWWW!!!! =) =)
It's very AWESOME to hear about this best news! Bravo!
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30 Mary Poppins
September 12, 2010 at 9:43 PM
Bad choice for this drama ! This is all wrong!! Unless he totally break his metro sexual image, take some muscle and refuse to wear OTT trendy cloth, it won't work. Unfortunately (i've seen it very often) korean actors seem to play the same role again and again in every drama they do after the first success. The guy in Bad guy died on tv for the third time (c'mon!!!). Following this logic, we should expect another take on Goo Jun Pyo character action aside...
Nota Bene : City H is very dark and sexually oriented.
Plus the balance between comedy and action never worked in a live show.
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belleza
September 12, 2010 at 9:51 PM
I think it can work, but it'll take really good writing. I mean, the dude actually does kill people.
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amg01
September 13, 2010 at 1:29 PM
@belleza, I think it has a lot of potential, if they turn it into a "Hard Core Dark" melodrama,
but than again I do not know whether Koreans have the stomach to put that kind of "Dark, debauch," character on their prime time line up, I think that if they go for a "mild"case of comedy a la Jackie Chan it will be a total failure!!!!!!!!
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karen
September 13, 2010 at 5:57 AM
his roles from BOF until Pesonal Taste, are 2 different characters. when did he play the same role again and again?
he is 1 of the few young actors who doesn't go for the same kind of roles one after another.
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31 nileey
September 12, 2010 at 9:49 PM
*drool *
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32 Autumn
September 12, 2010 at 9:53 PM
oh didn't know there were other remakes of the manga other than Jackie Chan's version, man, i enjoyed that tremendously. But i really can't LMH in this...who knows, he might surprise me...
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33 Molly
September 12, 2010 at 9:54 PM
OMG! This is great news! I hope they don't name the character Kang Jin though, because then I'll keep thinking of Go Soo. Which isn't a bad thing, but subconsciously pitting two of my favorite celebs against each other isn't a good thing.
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34 Masaya
September 12, 2010 at 9:57 PM
Oh god, no. This dude is in his early 20s, too young to play the role. They need a veteran actor in his 30s (and tall. The character is a gun for hire who has numerous partners in the past. Can't make it by 20s no matter how you slice it unless they butcher his background all together which is what they probably will do.)
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mskololia
September 13, 2010 at 3:20 AM
I agree especially looking at some of the detective stories here played by younger actors in movies not series. For a drama series, the lead needs to be in his 30s at least to be believable.... ;/
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ant
October 8, 2010 at 4:28 AM
agree with u. You know who will be best suit for the role...Jin Yi Han, if you just saw his comical, romantic and sexiness in Happiness in the wind. Also his muscle macho figure in Breakaway movie...not to mention cute face in his early thirty...boy that role will be magnificently alive in his hand.
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35 soiia
September 12, 2010 at 9:59 PM
If Lee Min Ho is in this, playing a a slight pervie, this might not be suitable for kids.
.
.
.
Omg please make this come true !!
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36 Ani
September 12, 2010 at 10:02 PM
Ooooooooh!!!! (wait do you spell the 'u' sound in English, cause that's what this is supposed to be.)
Whoa, I like the idea of him challenging a new character type. Now, who would make the perfect Kaori? X)
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37 nom_kitteh
September 12, 2010 at 10:02 PM
I don't know anything about the source material and so have nothing substantial to add to this convo, but might I say, JBeans, that your choice of LMH pic is deliciously yummy-exquisite, especially considering how the pic in the source you cited is boring as hell.
So thanks for the fan-service.
*now back to fantasizing about buttons that unbutton*
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38 pohonphee
September 12, 2010 at 10:19 PM
Kang Ji-hwan, Jang Geun-seok & Moon Geun-young, next Lee Min-ho...
What a day from kdrama news...
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Cam
September 13, 2010 at 8:45 PM
I FFEEEELLLL YYYOOOUUU, OF COURSE!!!! ^_____^
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39 ais
September 12, 2010 at 10:20 PM
I'm not sure if this role will fit him.. but yeah, I'm excited as long as Min-ho is in it.
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40 koreandramalover/kay
September 12, 2010 at 10:31 PM
Wow wee!!! Yabedabedooo!!!! Thanks so so much Javabeans!! You've made my day!
First with
(quoting nom_kitteh here, thanks so much nom_kitteh)
"your choice of LMH pic is deliciously yummy-exquisite"
AND
with the side-splittingly hilarious "OMFG. I may love this, or love to hate it. Either way, love."
I totally agree with both of you dear LMH fans!!
EXCEPT...
I wish LMH can do some weight-lifting exercises to beef up his arms - they are far TOO SKINNY on a REAL MAN...
Hehe...
BUT...
just the THOUGHT of the "buttons that unbutton"...hmm...
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koreandramalover/kay
September 12, 2010 at 10:36 PM
Ooops!! Sorry Javabeans!! I should have made it clearer that the “OMFG. I may love this, or love to hate it. Either way, love.” quote is from Javabeans.
AND I AGREE...I just LOVE the idea of LMH in anything...I mean, in any role...ehem...hehe
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41 aX
September 12, 2010 at 10:47 PM
I would really love to see him get paired up with Lee Min Jung, Kim So Eun, or Moon Chae Won! :D
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42 crazedlu
September 12, 2010 at 10:56 PM
i might be able to dig this.
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43 Nano
September 12, 2010 at 10:59 PM
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh........why must this happen right when i start term? the great ones begin their casting notice in the fall now...some special way to torture me? first moon geun young, now this....
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44 ann
September 12, 2010 at 11:17 PM
omg i might actually watch this just because of him. LOL
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45 Christine
September 12, 2010 at 11:37 PM
Just logged in to the site....saw Gong Yoo in the header, Kang ji hwan in musical rehersal article and lee min ho in drama news.................
i can spend the rest of the day dreaming......!!!!
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46 Jenny
September 12, 2010 at 11:42 PM
What I know about the character he should be way older (early 30s). I think Lee Min ho is the wrong choice unless he seriously bulks up.
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karen
September 13, 2010 at 6:02 AM
i think you should see his previous dramas before commenting. In BOF, other than Kim Bum, Lee Min Ho was the other one that saved the cast from branded as 'lousy acting'. In Personal Taste, there were also many positives reviews of his acting too.
He is 1 of the very few young actors in korea who can act.. (and i mean really act, not just showing their face on the tv screen only)
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koreandramalover/kay
September 13, 2010 at 7:18 AM
Thank you Karen for the comment because I am in total agreement when it comes to LMH's acting talent-wise...
I have mentioned this before under my comments on his acting in Boys Before Flowers and Personal Taste...
I believe he is like an unpolished gem of an actor and he has shown that he has got what it takes to literally carry a drama, the way that he did with BOF, even at the tender age of 21/22...
A truly talented and gifted actor is one who is able to convey the deepest and most complex of human emotions with just his eyes and facial expressions...and LMH is one such actor...
For those who wish to criticise LMH's acting, do bear in mind his young age and lack of experience in tackling truly challenging roles - both of which, however, were not evident from his star-making turn in BOF and convincing take in PT.
Let us remember that ALL of us start our lives from knowing, and being able to do, nothing and learn what we need to along the way.
It is unconstructive and non-productive to simply criticise. What would be useful and beneficial is giving the person a break - allow him/her the time and space to learn and develop, while giving advice, suggestions and providing support, encouragement and patience.
Don't we all wish the same for ourselves? Don't we all wish that others would not be so easy to highlight our faults, and failing to see, or worse, failing to allow us the time and space to strive to achieve, our potential? :)
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febe
September 14, 2010 at 8:09 PM
I agree that Lee Min Ho needs to bulk up if he takes up the role. He's really too skinny.
I also think he looks too young & cute for the role of Ryo, unless they do a "when he was younger" version of CH. I would prefer an older actor who may be able to play the "lecherous" Ryo more convincingly - maybe Jang Hyuk or Gong Yoo?
@Karen, Jenny is just commenting that LMH needs to do some bodybuilding to build up his physique so that he can be a better fit for the character, who is pretty tough & muscular.
I don't think its really nice to say things like "I think you should see his previous dramas before commenting", especially since she's not even criticising or commenting on his acting.
And yes, I have seen his previous dramas & I am not criticising his acting as I think he's a pretty good actor. However, I do believe that I am entitled to have an opinion as to whether I think his looks fit the role.
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47 laora
September 12, 2010 at 11:47 PM
2011, here I come!!! :D :D
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48 vis
September 13, 2010 at 12:45 AM
Oh wow! That's really good news :D Definitely something to look forward to next year <3 <3 <3 Really hope that it pulls through~ This could be a very cool drama if done right ^^ At least Lee Min-Ho seems to be perfect fit for the lead role.
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49 Purpleclouds
September 13, 2010 at 12:45 AM
I think LMH can play this character really well. I'm glad I've not read the manga so this drama will be new/fresh for me. I think LMH is classically handsome and he's a great choice. I really look forward to it.
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50 Ning
September 13, 2010 at 1:00 AM
I hope LMH doesn't grow moustache just to look older hahaha
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