Lee Min-ho’s drama City Hunter is still months away from premiering, but already fans are abuzz with anticipation and have taken to their Photoshop with fervor, creating some nifty-looking mock posters.
Frankly they’re pretty damn good, much like the fanmade posters for Mary Stayed Out All Night, which I thought were even better than the official set. It’s amazing how much you can do with a few photos, a keen eye, and some creativity.
In the drama, Lee plays the main character Kang Jin, who is modeled after Saeba Ryo of the original manga and anime series. In the Japanese versions, Ryo is a private eye running an underground operation with a female partner, Kaori, and works to rid Tokyo of crime. She keeps her feelings for him under wraps, while he has a decided partiality for pretty females and is an outrageous flirt.
Sound familiar? That’s because a very similar character and setup exists in the currently running series Runaway Plan B, which drew a lot of notice because Rain’s Ji-woo character is essentially a version of the lecherous Ryo. And while some character types are familiar enough to be archetypes — the bad boy, the Duckie, the Darcy — the pervy P.I. isn’t one of those; it’s pretty distinctive and unusual. Plus, the two projects also share the same private-detective-runs-secret-firm premise.
I think Lee Min-ho has the acting chops and charisma to put his mark on his version, but unfortunately I do think Runaway stole his thunder a bit. Now, no matter what he does, he’ll have to weather comparisons not only to the original character but to Rain’s. Even if he does a fabulous job, I can see him being accused of merely copying Rain.
(This isn’t meant to spark a fan-war, by the way; I think Rain’s doing a great job in Runaway, which I’m still enjoying.)
The Runaway similarity was enough to (reportedly) send City Hunter producers scrambling into meetings to discuss whether this would be an issue, and if so, how to deal with it. What City Hunter will have to do, I think, is emphasize their differences, and aim in a different tonal direction.
For instance, if they were initially planning to go for a humorous vibe, now’s the chance to draw out some of the darker elements of the source material to distance themselves from Runaway. The original dealt with the Tokyo underground, so this is an opportunity to explore Seoul, instead of heading overseas for foreign shoots.
Lee Min-ho’s female co-star, the Kaori character, has yet to be cast and remains a topic of fan speculation. She’s described as “more attractive than pretty,” which is a way of saying that the role will be in need of a strong, charismatic actress. (That doesn’t mean she won’t be gorgeous — with the entertainment industry’s fixation on physical beauty, I’d bet she will be — but that she’ll need to be kickass as well. Gah, I know Ha Ji-won’s a long shot, and probably too old for Lee Min-ho, but a girl can dream…)
City Hunter plans to begin shooting in December, and is aiming for a broadcast in the first half of 2011.
Via E Daily
RELATED POSTS
- Did Rain steal Lee Min-ho’s thunder?
- Runaway Plan B: Episodes 1-2
- Lee Min-ho cast in City Hunter
- Personal Taste: Episode 1
- City Hunter comes to U.S. television (maybe)
RECENTLY COMPLETED
Where’s the picture of Lee Min Ho holding a gun from? Which drama was it in? Not Personal Taste. I don’t think he held a gun in BOF too.
I think the face belongs to Lee Min Ho, the gun and hand to someone else. Man, fans sure are awesome.
I would so back Ha Ji-won as the female lead!
me too! at the words “strong, charismatic actress” Ha Ji Won was the first that name that popped into my mind..
actually i think this character would be too similar to the one she played in SG.I think UEE should be the female lead.
The picture of Lee Minho holding a gun, it’s from Anycall Magic Hole Commercial Film.
Lee MinHo also with Kim HyunJoong and Uee in that CF.
OMG the 4th picture O.O
Anyways, back to article: It’s sad that Lee Min Ho may have to be compared to Rain… but then he’s also been compared to other Dom-Doms in BOF and he’s proven that he could do his own Jun Pyo pretty darn good.
That aside, fanmade stuff is awesome. I still remember that haunting trailer full re-editted clips of BOF.
*Sigh* If only I was half talented……….
Maybe by the end of the year it’d be nice to have a poster contest instead of a trailer/vid contest?
I know, right?
Its a damn good thing I don’t have flatmates anymore – my hyena lol at pic #4 would most likely have had them shuttling me off to the nuttery.
lol please, show, please, use the 4th picture as the official! pretty please. …made me laugh so hard.
lol @ the fourth poster! these posters are awesome. also, shout out to the artists who make Dramabeans headers! Those are also really amazing! I need to get me some editing software so that I can make headers/posters too!
I’d love to see LMH in a dark role. I can imagine him being unbelievable smooth, to the point where ladies wonder after speaking with him how in the world he got their number… lol. I miss seeing him. He should do a movie soon
*unbelievably smooth, sorry
I AGREE WITH YOU, OFC! =)
I’d love to watch Lee Min Ho in a dark role side of him for this drama, heh! Ooh Ooooh! (fans my hand over my face)
the 4th poster is hilarious. reminds me of the jibjab elf videos.
i agree with your suggestion that they go for a slightly darker vibe centered in seoul…and ha jiwon would have been so awesome, but at least we can watch her in secret garden (my new drama addiction).
Even though I’m not a big fan of Rain, I do agree with you that Rain is doing a great job, especially he acts as a Pervy. Haha. I’m still enjoying Runaway even though it’s not my favorite show.
After MGIG, I’m really digging for Secret Garden. I can’t wait what happens after body swapping. Hyun-Bin will become Oska’s fan and Ha Jiwon will become Anti-fan. Also, how both of them will interact with Philip Lee. Haha.
I love the first one but hahahah the one with 5 smiling head figures just makes me laugh! too funny! its a total winnnner kekeke
In case you were wondering, the comic one is a spoof of the movie Dachimawa Lee:
oh heheheheh this poster is like a mix of cute,funny and strangely attractive!! I must check out this film!!
This is awesomely hilarious! Especially that second pose!
OMO! OMO! Agreed. The last pic is friggin’ hilarious! I just scrolled down past the other pic but stopped at the last pic. Totally funny!
The first two posters are awesome. Actresses that can do kickass aren’t that many,but agree with you HJW is doing a great job in Secret Garden. It will be interesting to see which way they are going to play the city hunter character. Lee Min Ho has the acting chops to own the character as he did in BOF.
I hope that he won’t have to deal with too many issues. I was looking forward to this and think that sure, Bi’s role is similar to Ryo on paper but from what I’ve seen of the anime, Ryo makes a completely different impression on me. Overall, I think that Kang Jin will be an interesting character and I’m hoping for a more dark aspect. Not as funny ha-ha as Plan Bi. Perhaps they can take the “womanizer as cover” approach.. IDK.
Can’t wait Min-ho!
wow! these fanmade posters are amazing! i especially liked the 3rd poster – it looks quite real.
Dear kdrama-land, both pro and fans- please stop doing those posters where everyone has an enlarged bobble-head (often blushing) on a normal-sized body. I see those everywhere, and always find them really creepy~
I can’t wait to see this version of City Hunter. I’m a big fan of the manga and anime, and am curious to see what they do with it. Mokkori~
Oh My…. the fourth poster is freakin hil-lar-rious! I love it!!! So Awesome! Seriously some of these fans should have a job making those posters. They’re really good.
The first poster of him have this tiny glance of Go Soo. I think that just me….
Ha Ji-Won would kind of kick ass in that role, wouldn’t she?
I still put my hope in Lee Min Ho (after all he did surprise us all with his BOF performance) and I was also thinking of Ha Ji Won when I read the description about the female lead but that’s only a wish.
He did really well with BOF… and he had all those comparisons to the Japanese original, yet he made the character his own. I think he can handle the comparisons to Rain’s show, even if they are similar. He’s very charismatic and put his own spin on the character. He can do it!
I hope Lee Min-ho does well.. and I am sure he will, he truly is a great actor.. *BUT* I still can’t get over the fact that he is way too young to play RYO! That sort of saps my excitement for the show, since part of Ryo’s appeal includes his age.
And, great work by the Fan!
This is really random, I guess, but I noticed that you had an extended metaphor on weather up there!
Runaway stole his thunder a bit. Now, no matter what he does, he’ll have to weather comparisons not only to the original character but to Rain’s. Even if he does a fabulous job, I can see him being accused of merely copying Rain.
“stole his thunder”, “weather” and “Rain”. hahaha
Sorry. Just an awesome but random observation! Chemistry has killed my brain. 
major LOL since you pointed it out:
“stole his thunder”, “weather” and “Rain”. hahaha Sorry. Just an awesome but random observation! Chemistry has killed my brain.
Haha. You’re not the only one who thinks it that way! I think chemistry just made me bonkers too!
luv u oppa Rain Bi…LOL
I like Park shin hye for female lead…they really seem good together in etude house commercial, both of them are young and fresh
YESSSSS! I am sure that we’d LOOOVEE to watch Park Shin Hye to be with HIM in THIS drama, of course.
Ah….but Park Shin Hye is really busy while she’s already in other drama in Taiwan with these Tawianese people, yupz.
I loved him in Personal Taste, so I’m definitely looking forward to this project. I am also a huge fan of Runaway. I agree that the similarities between Runaway and City Hunter will probably spark comparisons between them, but I also believe that Rain’s style and Lee Minho’s style of acting are completely different. Although the pervy PI is rare form, I think that’s pretty much all that these two series will have in common. After all, the same premises are used time and time again for film, TV, and literature. As javabeans said, if production and the writers set out to put in their own vibe and style, then there is no reason their similarities should interfere with the differences in setting and storyline. I have confidence in Lee Minho’s acting ability, and I’m sure he will create his own caracter.
4th is hilarious but I really dig the 2nd. It reminds me of the posters for late 60s/70s movies about really chill men who are lone wolves, sometimes accompanied by equally cool, strong, sexy, wild at heart female counterparts. Perhaps one with Steve McQueen starring.
I totally think Lee Minho has the acting chops to pull this off.
I believe Kaori is described to be more handsome, Ryo jokes that she could be a man a pretty man but I don’t think this will be the case in the korean version.
LMH in gun is quite hot!!!
LEE MIN HOOOOO!!!!! ^__^
I am sure that he really HAVE a lot of confident inside yourself for his acting abiltiy, ofc!
I enjoy watching him in “Boy Before Flowers”, lolz. So, I am looking forward for THIS drama, woooot wooot!
FIGGHHHTTTIIINNGGG, Lee Min HO!
Where did you get these posters from, jb?
Each of the five are great in their own way,
although version #4 seems to be the popular
favorite with the crowd around here. That alone
should tell you something. Ha, ha.
I can’t wait until our ‘ole pal Lilly clocks in,
with the usual LMH (the non-actor) comment.
Yeah, we know…….
THE JAPANESE CITY HUNTER POSTERS WERE BETTER.
*
Nô matter what, Lee min hoo is better than rain.
Ok, now I know Kim Sun Ah is waaay to old for this role…but come on!
*drops a penny in a wishing well*
Can’t wait for this! Go Lee Min Ho!
Cheers to Dramabeans for the article on “City Hunter.” Very heart-warming to see his fans so supportive of him with the various excellent posters. Lee Min Ho is an experienced actor although he is young. He is now a Hallyu Star with 1.5M followers on facebook and has proven his worth in dramas BOF and Personal Taste which even so called “third world” countries buy the rights to air the very popular dramas. Rain is a good actor but I believe each person will have his or her own personality and abilities. Comparing human beings to see who is better, more superior, etc is not good. I hope everyone will just enjoy both dramas and give the actors comfort in knowing that they have put in their best and the audience is rewarding them by enjoying the dramas.
i love the second last poster. it aptly displays the ‘comic’ tone of the drama.
and perhaps you may call me biased but so far i’ve yet to be won over by Rain’s acting in Runaway. but i can tell he seems to enjoy playing a dorky character… but I don’t find his acting too believable/natural.
Lee Minho is a very good actor, I know he can portray any role that will be given to him.
Park Shin Hye should be his next leading lady. She is a talented actress, they are both young. They look good together. They are popular in other Asian countries. Will be a big hit for sure.
they look like brothers and sisters though..
HE LOOKED LIKE DANIEL HENNEY IN THE FIRST POSTER O_O
park shin hye for the role!