We haven’t had much news about the musical-themed drama What’s Up, but the production has just released a four-minute trailer giving us our first real look at the show. And I have to say, I’m pretty impressed with the results; the characters seem well-developed and the cast looks strong.
In the trailer, several students at the university musical department are asked why they decided on their major. Series lead Im Joo-hwan (Tamra the Island) kicks us off with a punchline — it’s because he made a mistake. Contrast that to his nervous, earnest colleague, who declares that being a musical actor “is my destiny.”
You may recognize the opening song; it’s the famous solo from the Jekyll & Hyde musical, and you can hear Jo Seung-woo‘s version here. It was, in fact, a very popular pick among aspiring actors when the drama held its open auditions.
Meanwhile, Daesung seems to be playing an affable sort, which suits his personality; in contrast, I love that Im Joo-eun (Hon) is playing a surly, tough type who retorts to their teacher (musical and television actor Oh Man-seok) she doesn’t care to become a star. Jang Hee-jin (brought in to replace Jeon Hye-jin) looks like the uptight, snooty type who clashes with Im Joo-eun’s laid-back attitude, while lanky model-turned-actor Lee Soo-hyuk is a reclusive genius composer who holds the other students in awe.
Im Joo-hwan’s main character has a few dryly humorous lines sprinkled throughout, such as, “What’s a musical?” He’s the outsider with a cynical take on this world that the others hold so dear, but I’m guessing that he’ll soon discover his own hidden talent, whatever that may be. (Funny enough, that reminds me of Kim Soo-hyun’s character in the similarly-themed Dream High, in that Kim’s character also gets his start for other reasons and then discovers his own skills once he’s part of the school. Even funnier, Kim and Im have long reminded me of each other — both have a similar tall, lanky appearance and strong, intense screen charisma.)
The drama, which still doesn’t have a solid airdate scheduled, is looking at a 2011 premiere.
Thanks to user crysalide for pointing me to the trailer. Watch below.
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- What’s Up adds rising star Im Joo-eun
RECENTLY RECAPPED
AHHHHHHHHHH! SO. EXCITED.
Looks like a movie
No matter what his role is, he will always be Park Kyu to me. I love him (omg his voice) and is soooo happy he is getting more work!
Who’s the ditzy sounding one the one who sings like a virgin
She seems to be Im joo hwans love interest
That’s Kim Ji Won
Wow. So I guess the drama trend nowadays is all about singing (Gloria, Please Marry Me, Dream High, What’s up). I’m honestly looking forward to this more than Dream High because it’s based on musicals. Woot. =D
Does this drama have a broadcast station?
You forgot i am legend
ooh! first one! This show looks interesting. It seems to be a take on the show Fame and the song at the end is from Fame. Don’t know any of the actors, except for Oh Man Seok. Will def put it on my list of shows to watch.
correction , I though I was first…oops. =p
Korean “Fame”?
Can’t wait.
Im Joo-hwan looks awesome in it already.
Haha, FAME did come to my mind too. And I love Asher Book and Kay Panabaker there. Plus the song “Try”. Awesome!
Whatever, I am on board on this since Park Kyu is here.
This version reminds me more of “Un paso adelante (One Step Beyond)” the 2000/2005 Spanish drama version of ‘Fame” with Penelope Cruz younger sister Mónica Cruz!
For the looks of it it has the potential of being a very good drama, at least the preview looks promising….
Same with me, looking the last minute of video (the picture almost same with “FAME”). I hope the music will much better and there isn’t love square like another drama normally (like American film, but be focus on character line). Can’t wait to see the drama!!!
Wow impressive looking. Has a movie-like quality to it. Looking forward to it!
For me, What’s up definitely has an edge over Dream High.
But then I think about Kim Soo Hyun and I get torn. . .
xiaoSxin and I already spazzed about this quite a bit on Twitter. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Seriously, though, this looks AWESOME. And not just ’cause I love LJH to pieces. I’m gonna be all over this when it airs, just watch. <33
HaHa!! We did! But it’s OK and I’m still high over this teaser and Lim Ju Hwan’s tweets.
I can still spazz, rant and rave! 2011? Dang that’s too long!!
Im Joo Hwan has a Twitter??? where??? must follow! lol
Same with me, looking the last minute of video (the picture almost same with “FAME”). I hope the music will much better and there isn’t love square like another drama normally (like American film, but be focus on character line). Can’t wait!
Wow. Did the trailer admit that it was the Korean version of “Fame”, by actually playing the theme song?
Thank you for posting this!!
I am so excited for this!! And Lim Ju Hwan is looking so adorable and giving out those smiles!!
The teaser really looks promising.. I hope they promote it well before broadcast!!
It looks awesome! It looks like Korean drama camerapeople are beginning to change the frame-rate they shoot at – this as well as Dr. Champ look more like movies than dramas. Does anyone know why the drama industry stuck to the higher frame rate? (i.e. shooting so it looks more like American daytime dramas as opposed to movies?)
P.S. The drama’s apparently being shot with a RED camera. Those things are mad expensive, but the images that come out of them are absolutely GORGEOUS. It already looks pretty
I. CAN’T. WAIT
I wish I knew what they were saying in the trailer…
It’s subbed on viikii =]
http://www.viikii.net/videos/watch/113972/0/what-s-up-zero-plus.html
Looks good!
Thank you for the link!! Now I can understand the rest of it.. 풓하하하하하!!!
Wow, even better with subs.
I didn’t even notice Oh Man Seok until I viewed the trailer again.
Now, I’m really stoked!
This drama looks awesome. Surprisingly awesome.
This looks so amazing already. I love the cast and I’ve been dying to see Daesung in his debut drama (hopefully he’ll get a bigger part, so it’ll actually showcase his acting rather than getting a role that’s exactly the same as his personality.)
The camera work seems to be a lot better than most dramas I’ve seen so far, so that’s a definite bonus.
yeah – like others have said, this feels like Korean Fame.
The whole time, every time Im Joo Eun comes up I keep thinking that it’s a Korean Hilary Duff.
And Im Joo Hwan looks more like the lead guy in You’re My Pet than Jang Geun Suk!!!!!!
this does seem to be a high quality production – it’s just a question of whether it will do well. Ohsie wells, Dream High has high standards to catch up to with their trailer…
LOLZ @ Hilary Duff.
hmmm… i think Im Joo Hwan might not fit because Momo is supposed to be a really young dude – he may come off as too old
PREPOSTEROUS!!! ^^
Im Joo Hwan can not be too old!!!!
Daesung!! Oh I do love shows about musical. I loved the original Fame and this looks like it will be very good
Yes! Looks really good. My most anticipated drama of 2011.
yay, can’t wait!
If Im Joo Hwan is in it, I will be watching. That is all.
HaHA!! well said my friend.
True!
And he’s totally hilarious in the trailer! I love how he say “What?”
Joo-hwan oppa, fighting!
I cannot wait for this to premiere. At least once a week or so, I find myself wondering what happened to this show and googling updates of its progress.
I hadn’t even been thinking about this show but my interest has DEFINITELY been piqued. Or peaked. Or peeked? Anyway, it looks exciting. And I spot at least three hot guys (yay!) and two interesting females.
I wonder if this will actually incorporate musical numbers like Glee? I’m a huge fan of both Bollywood and Kdramas, so it’s been my dream to see a musical done in the Kdrama format, where the characters just break into song and dance with no warning. Would be even cooler with original songs…
2011 seems like a long wait but I’ll be watching when it finally airs!!!
Bollywood <3<3 shahrukh khan <3<3 xD
lol SRK….i abandoned him for my kdramas
Daesung looks promising in this preview… I am looking forward for this little one’s performance. I just recently did a ‘tamra island’ marathon and so I’m a Im Jo Hwan fan already. This drama looks really interesting. I can hardly wait for it’s start!
Daesung looks promising in this preview… I am looking forward for this little one’s performance. I just recently did a ‘tamra island’ marathon and so I’m a Im Jo Hwan fan already. This drama looks really interesting. I can hardly wait for its start!
o wow…this looks ahmmmmmmaaaaazin!!……i’m seriously impressed by the trailer..(Dream High who?)…is it a coincidence that we get to have 2 im joo hwan post in one day??….lol….but god does he look emaciated in the trailer….also if Jeon Hye Jin is gone they might need to make a new poster….and OMFG…..daesung!!!!……also this is a Song Ji Na drama!!…..also Oh Man Suk!!
i’m blabbering again…too excited after seeing the trailer
who’s the girl that’s doing kang hye jung’s monologue from “welcome to dongmakgol” for her audition?
I am really looking forward to this drama (IJH’s smile kills me), but am I the only one who thought the version of ‘Fame’ they used in the trailer was quite sucky?
I mean, as a pop song, I suppose it kinda works, but ‘Fame’ is supposed to be a musical song, sung in a musical voice. It just sounded lacklustre in the trailer. But maybe that’s just me. I hope the drama will have many proper musical songs that aren’t ‘pop-ified’.
Im Joo-hwan!!! I love you!
This looks very good,hope that they will fix faster a release date,i’ll surely watch this one
This looks promising. Already better than Dream High. I’ve never seen Im Joo Hwan before in anything.. Apparently he was in Boys Over Flowers but I must have missed him. Anyway, I think I like him already!
Daesung makes me happy. I get to hear him sing and from photos previously release, be half naked. I was on bored for this long ago and every smackerel of info that gets released only confirms my interest.
Looks good, especially Lee Soo-hyuk.
i feel high. i’ll be dreaming about this drama. heh
Been waiting for this. The Daesung fangirl inside me just died from joy by watching this, for the 100 time today ^^
this drama looks really good ^^
OH!!! I see Ji Won!! <3 that girl! Im Joo Hwan is such a cutie. Totally going to watch this, the cast seems more promising than Dream High (though I'm looking foreword to it also xD)
LOL. At first I thought Park Kyu’s snot was sparkling. You know, after sparkling vampires all is possible…
Team Park Kyu~!!!
<3 Daesung <3 <3 <3 his voice just makes me melt…
Looking forward to this for sure!
i agree! team park kyu all the way!
yes! TEAM PARK KYU!!!
Wow, i loved that trailer! That aside, glad to be seeing Im Joo-eun in a drama again! I loved her in Hon! Plus, Daesung is just so darn adorable!
Overall, everything looked promising! I’ll definitely watch this!
Word. Im Joo Eun was fabulous in Hon, so I’ve been looking forward to this drama for sooo long! And if the trailer is anything to go by, it’s worth the wait.
waah Team Park Kyu ♥
some scenes remind me of US show So you can think you can dance
Oh wow, it’s very amusing, lolz. =)
It’s exactly as same as American movie “Fame”— then, THIS new drama, like, is Korea “Fame” drama, eh? ^_^
Ooh, I am bit of surprised that Daesung is suddenly involved, too! O_o Bravo-Bravo, heh.
*(Aw, I love this Daesung part in trailer – 0:15 – 0:30)*
this looks really good! can’t wait until it premieres ^_^
so many musical dramas lately, we got whats up, dream high, gloria and the musical…this must be the new one behind the “contract marriage” and “sports drama” trends!
YES!
Im Joo Hwan and Daesung <3
innnnnnnn love already
the girl with the short hair remind me of park shin hye.i thought it was her at first
I would like to watch this drama, but I just hope it don’t take on a cheesy High School Musical type of quality.
this looks like it will be pretty good! i don’t really have an interest in glee (idk why, just haven’t felt that “pull” to watch it.. not now, anyway) and i only say that because they’re both musical drama things. but yeah, definitely interested in this! hehe.
D-D-D-DAESUUUUUUUUUUUNG!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, I know that a lot of people hate idols becoming actors, or hate idols in general, but I loved Daesung not for Big Bang (a group I only really know and like about three songs from) but for being the Dumber half of Dumb&Dumber in Family Outing. So I hope this will allow his career to expand, because from what I know, outside of FO, he’s not the most popular member of his group. Daesung HWAITING!!!
Ok. Im Joo-eun (loving her character already!), Oh Man-seok and Im Joo-hwan is all I care about.
So can I take this drama as the Korean version of Glee, that popular American TV show? It felt like it.
Oooh. can’t wait!