When recent casting news put forth that Jang Hyuk was in the running for another sageuk drama, Gaksital (Bride Mask), there was a bit of backlash from those in the camp of Jang Hyuk Does Too Many Sageuks, or maybe it’s more like Jang Hyuk Plays Badass Sageuk Fighters Too Much. Psh, like that’s a bad thing.
In any case, Jang has officially turned down Gaksital, which would have had him playing a freedom fighter against the Japanese imperialists. I hardly think doing a period drama set in the 1930s is akin to playing a slave hunter in Joseon times (Chuno), or a revenge-seeking warrior in, okay, more Joseon times (Tree With Deep Roots), but Jang’s reps explained that he felt it would be too much of a burden doing sageuk after sageuk. I guess that means the netizens win? I just hope that doesn’t mean he’s going to go off and do more Midas-es. (I tried. So boring.) Although I DO think he’d be great in a contemporary comedy.
Oh well. Jang Hyuk bowing out of Gaksital frees up a potentially fascinating character up for another actor. The hero may seem ordinary and dull in his everyday persona, Lee Kang-to, but transforms into the deadly avenger Gaksital who sets out to kill the invaders and take down his family’s enemy. Based on a 1970s manhwa by famed manhwa-ka Heo Young-man (Gourmet, Tazza), the drama is hoping to translate that into success.
Gaksital will continue in its casting efforts, while Jang Hyuk plans to keep searching for his next project.
Via Sports Chosun
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Hong sisters drama? I think he could be hilarious, and there’s a lot of fun tropes they could send up with him.
Tehee. perfect!
IIRC, he turned down Secret Garden.
http://www.dramabeans.com/2010/08/secret-garden-jang-hyuk-out-hyun-bin-in/
How different would that show have been with him?
Holy moley!
OMG! YES!!!! gahhhhh!!!! now that u bring it up i suddenly REALLY want him to take the role!!!
Yes! He had awesome comedic chops when it came down to some of his funnier scenes in Thank You even if it was rare and far apart.
that’s exactly what I was thinking. Jang Hyuk as a dokko jin type prancing about!
or something like the lee min ho character in personal taste?
just something….different.
Too bad, he would have killed it. On the other hand, it would be nice to see him in something funny and happy for a change.
I would love to see Gong Yoo in this role.
Lee Dong Wook for this role?
or Uhm Tae Woong ^__^
Not buying either of them. Plus Uhm Tae Woong was horrible as Kim Yushin in QSD. I don’t think sagueks are his thing.
ditto.if not for kim nam gil, i dont think the male villain / love triangle part would be a hit.
Is Midas boring? My korean co-worker recommends that one, if it’s boring, i’ll cross it out of my list.
I couldn’t last even one episode. And I love both Jang Hyuk and Lee Min-jung. It didn’t help that they had zero chemistry.
I loved Midas because of Jang Hyuk and the leading lady – and the senior cast , as usual but the second couple didn’t know how to act and it was unpleasant . It was a good entertainment on the whole .
Yeah I was so disappointed with Midas. I made it through all the episodes because I kept hoping it would get better. It was boring ,and I agree with the above statement. JH and LMJ had zero chemistry.
Thank you all for the reply, I’ll cross it out of my watching list
Midas is 20 hours of complete and total TORTURE. god that drama sucks. If an actor is good at playing a certain role that made him a superstar, i dont think its such a bad thing. whatever, he was great in Chuno
i ditched the drama come episode 10. dont let yourself be tortured for 20 hours. (as the below post have experienced)
As much as i love Jang hyuk (just a little bit more than I do my husband ha ha), Midas for me was slow and boring. I only watch scenes with Jang hyuk in them.
Please oppa, do a rom-com for a change. Pretty pleaseeeeeeeeeeee.
Why not Yoo Ah In….. oh wait he did that role too in SKKS
And in strongest Chilwoo.
Lee Jun Ki? But the character looks like Iljimae
Jang Hyuk and Song Ji Hyo in bad-ass comedy!!
That would be ridiculously awesome! *fingers crossed*
Who else though? There aren’t many actors who can pull off this type of character. I don’t think any of the already mentioned actors can. How about Lee Jong Hyuk? Lee Chun Hee would be good for this type of role too. The problem is they are not usually (ever?) offered the leading man role. They should be given a chance though. Go Soo? I don’t know, maybe. Or not (never seen him in a sageuk). I hope not someone like Song Seung Hun, I just can’t imagine.
Jang Hyuk, if it’s a good script, you should just give it a shot. You’re good in these roles, who cares about the naysayers.
Well of course he’d be great in a contemporary comedy — haven’t you seen Please Teach Me English? (Or Windstruck?) This rejected drama sounds interesting though. That was a fascinating time in history for sure.
I have a feeling that they will have a hard time casting a Hallyu star for the male lead role. He’ll be fighting against/killing (?) Japanese nationals and Hallyu’s #1 market is Japan…
I’m with you on that ! Why re-open old wounds ,don’t they they have a lot of other topics to explore?
How about Min Jun(sorry can’t remember his whole name) of romance Town
That character seems a bit like The Scarlet Pimpernel, one of my favorite books of all time, so I’m kind of sad that Jang Hyuk didnt take it up…
a bit like the asian batman?
I hope someone else does step up to do it though. I mean, being a badass in period clothing is difficult to pull off and I dont see very many actors being able to do it…
I think it would be good for Jang Hyuk to play an iconic character, like he would have if he’d actually done Secret Garden. Oh well. *plays sad music*
I’d say Dae-gil was pretty iconic.
NO! No one else would suit this!!! I was so looking forward to it. SAD DAY.
Maybe anti japanese imperialist role is a bit risky a role to do if he might be harboring intentions of doing a dorama? Especially in the context of the anti hallyu sentiments around.
how about Song Il Guk, he kills historical drama and he is very killed in all the fighting arts.
I freaking love Midas! Its like seeing Jang Hyuk in an entirely new way ^^
I really like/love him in “Thank You.” He plays a burned out physician (surgeon). I hesitated to watch it since the description of the story stated it revolved around a child with a terminal disease. However, it is a beautiful drama with wonderful writing which has much to say about a number of issues. This is a pretty serious role for him even though there are some funny scenes.
I feel that he is smart to turn down a role that will etch the viewers brains into thinking he can only portray a certain type of character (much like seizures forging pathways in the brain and going down that same road on a regular basis). Personally, I think he can do anything, so why shouldn’t he try to find another challenge.
I am very interested to see how the character he plays in “Tree with Deep Roots” develops. He cannot possibly endure if he continues to want to kill the king.
And, off the subject — maybe — I think the child who plays Ddol Bok is astonishing. I just think he should get some credit even though he may not be such a likeable person. The suffering and pathos he endures is shown in quite a remarkable way. My favorite scene is when he tells his father he should be protecting him and not visa versa. Also, it is the boy Ddol Bok with whom Dam falls in love.
oh wow . i thought midas was good. haha.
midas is a totally unique genre by itself.it doesnt suit everyone,but i think any self respecting kdrama expert shd at least go thru e first 10eps.in e later half e writers accede to e requests of netizens n it kind of marr e show.
hyuk is really due for a romantic comedy or anything funny.i think he is typecast too much as a serious actor.
to put it n record,he didnt turn dwn secret garden.his agency got into some dispute w e production pple involving jay park.hyuk was loyal enuf to standby his agency n so e whole deal didnt go thru
Ahh that was a pity.
Yep, it is time for him to give himself a break and do something fun, funny and purely romantic.
I would love to have seen him do the Gong Yu role in “Waiting For Mr. Destiny”.
Nooooooooooooooo…
Why netizens, whyyy?
And stay far faar away from Kim Eun-sook please, Hyukie.
From general newbie perspective like me, Midas looked similar to Story of Man which you praised high.
Anyway, I find both of them not interesting.
hahahahaha how bout song seung heon oppa do a sageuk!!! hahahahha errr can’t imagine it..
Midas had a great premise. I was very much into it, for the first few episodes. But then it all started unraveling and I stopped watching.
The older female lead was fascinating. It would have been interesting to keep her just on the edge, but when I realised where they were going with her for sure…
I stopped watching.
I miss the young, silly, troublemaking early Jang Hyuk roles. Please Teach Me English and Windstruck were fantastic. He’s been literally doing the same cold, broody, romeo since 2000 freaking 7.
That’s GREAT!!
Hey, I think it’d be AWESOME for YOO AH IN [First] in this drama, keke. (squeals) And….Secondly — Lee Jun Ki….oh yeah!
Well, give it to Lee Min-hoo then. Would love to see him in a sageuk.
Midas was great tho… lol
I just love Jang Hyuk. I wanna see him more but not in another sageuk.
Enough suffering for oppa, bring on the rom-com for him pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
BTW, Midas was wayyyyyyyyyy to slow for me. he he.
Midas was so much like East of Eden hahaha. It was a little too dragged out for me. But oh well, that’s epic TV dramas about revenge and greed for you. He was totally suave in that show though, aside from all the cheesy side glances and intense eyes.
Ooh I like the photo of him.
I think he can play many different roles, the tragic hero, regular salary man, womanizer, person with mental dysfunction , he can fit in, why not try another character, don’t wear the same clothes every time, the only thing don’t try is “get fatty”,haha!!!
Maybe the hong sisters will snatch him up! gah, if they do then he better take it!
Maybe this means he’s free to do that new Hong Sisters drama… ? XD
After Cha Seung Won with Best Love, I think Jang Hyuk should try a rom-com too
Like JB, don’t see how something set in the 1930s is the same as the typical sageuk.
I’d say someone like Joo Jin moo or Han Jung soo (Gen. Choi in “Chuno”) would be good for the role, or maybe the sageuk regular, Song Il gook.
I would love Lee Seo Jin take up this role. (what? I love the guy)
Or Yoon Kye San (he needs a lead role where he can be bad-ass like he was in Phoosan Dog)
Or Song Joon-ki (but he still looks like a baby but he has the acting chops)
I thought he was very funny in the movie, Please Teach Me English. Funny and touching. I want to see him in a comedy.