MBC’s preparing another big-budget special production sageuk drama, titled God of War, to occupy weekends starting next month, and recently released a full set of promotional posters.
The drama is set in the Goryeo (Koryo) era, which preceded the Joseon Dynasty (Goryeo spanned 918–1392) and stars Kim Joo-hyuk as a man named Kim Joon who was born to the slave class and rose to power. He’s based on a real historical figure, and in several of the posters below his tagline reads, “I’ll break the chains of fate. From slave to the height of power!”
Also in its cast are actors Kim Gyu-ri (Portrait of a Beauty), Jung Bo-seok (Can You Hear My Heart, Park Sang-min (Giant). Kim Gyu-ri plays the granddaughter to the most powerful man at the time, and daughter to Jung Bo-seok. It’s love at first sight — or maybe it’s attraction — when she spots Kim Joo-hyuk.
MBC recently announced the timeslot for the drama, which was a bit of a surprise: It airs on Saturdays and Sundays at 8:40 pm, apparently making it the first sageuk to air in that timeslot. There was a bit of a disgruntled reaction from some quarters, since God of War is being touted as a blockbuster period drama and that hour is usually home to contemporary family shows. The bigger productions take up the 10 pm hour, and with God of War’s 25 billion won budget, they were probably expecting a grander timeslot.
There’s also the understanding that shows that air earlier are home to more family-friendly content, not blood and guts and battle. I wonder if this shift is an attempt to grab a new audience, or a blunder by the broadcaster. You never can tell with MBC.
Well, I can’t say I’m terribly intrigued; it sounds like most sageuk dramas, really. Which could be a great thing if you’re a sageuk buff. I don’t really care for Kim Gyu-ri, but I do have newfound appreciation for Kim Joo-hyuk after his SNL stint, where he was fabulous.
God of War is written by Lee Hwan-kyung (of sageuks Tears of the Dragon and Wild Days), and directed by Kim Jin-min of Road No. 1 and La Dolce Vita. It premieres on February 11 and will run for 50 episodes.
Via Newsen, TV Report, My Daily
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Eeeep!
Kim Joo-who?
These eyes only see an inevitably EPIC Park Sang-min and Jung Bo-seok reunion~
Oh, a quick question to history buffs. This is meant to be set during King Gojong’s era – wasn’t he King during Joseon era’s latter days?
Just the costumes seem to belong to a much earlier era — I’m thinking Gogoryeo.
D’oh! I’m both blind and ignorant. Answer’s right there in the description – Goryeo.
EPIC reunion, indeed!!!
LOL Kim Joo-who, hahaha
I’m normally totally into saeguks but that doesn’t sound interesting at all and the cast…. I don’t know… they don’t look very promising…
Oh, but they are all good, i mean the 4 of them. They had me laughing and crying one way or the other, in all the movies and kdrama that i’ve seen with them as casts.
But the costumes alone, would make me watch this saguek kdrama, specially that of Kim Joo Hyuk =). And the king is Lee Seung Hyo, i loved him since QSD. I hope he will keep doing well.
A ha finally Koryo era. I have been spoiled by Josean era fusion sageuks lately that it will be kind of hard to go back to the standard 50+ eps sageuks.
I’m kind of intrigued… possibly because half of the main cast was in Giant, but the story sounds like it could be good too, if done well. All depends on the writing.
Oh yeah Korean Spartacus!! Without the sex of course =]
Starz’s Spartacus was the bomb! I wish korea had something like it *_* ahhhh what an eyecandy that would’ve be!
Korea had Han Seok-kyu’s Sejong. ‘Nuff said.
I love Kim Joo Hyuk, but I’m feeling a little sageuk’d out.
Can anyone tell me why his hair is so short in most of the stills? Is it because he’s a slave?
His hair is cropped short because his character is, at this point in the story, a Buddhist monk.
Ermmm…is it me or are the costumes more Chinese than most sagueks? Is it the time period?
It is the era before Joseon dynasty.
I’ve always liked Kim Joo Hyun and Kim Gyuri is ok I guess….the veterans are just fabulous…what I’m worried about is MBC…I’d be disgruntled if I were the producers too…none of MBC’s decisions in recent years have worked
Jung Bo-seok AND Park Sang-min?!!!!???? Hmmm… I haven’t watched anything that takes place in the Goryeo time period.. so this is a definite maybe, especially with those wonderful two.
Jung Bo-seok!! ack…. He’s amazing.
Great cast, let’s hope they give them material to keep us awake during 50 v e r y l o o o o o n g episodes.
Did’t JB, GF and Heads just decide 24 was the optimum number? So why do they spend so much money on 50 eps?
I didn’t see any kids to drag us in at the start. They start with KJH as a grown-up slave?
These stills look like Gladiator, too.
24 episodes is optimum for fusion, but dramas like these aren’t normally skewed to appeal to a younger audience and length+weekend=older, more seasoned sageuk watcher. I love me some sageuk, but the 50+ epics aren’t normally my cup of tea.
Kim Joo-hyuk in a sageuk? Interesting.
Esp. in a Goryeo sageuk – haven’t seen one of those yet.
The best thing I’ve seen Kim Joo-hyuk in is the film “Singles” with the departed Jang Jin-young – which is one of the best romcoms the Korean film industry has ever done.
I didn’t know he and Jang Jin Young has another movie together, I watched them in Blue Swallow and like them a lot. Must check out this one. Thanks!
I can’t help but laugh at the fourth poster from the top where he’s wearing an ill-fitting mask and holding a whip (or something). I love Kim Joo-hyuk and think he can be very charming, but that is one very unflattering and laughable picture. His pose, his facial expression, the clothes and the color… everything just looks so over-the-top and dramatic that it makes me laugh. It looks so funny!
The cast interests me, but I don’t usually watch or like sageuks. I’m pretty sure I’ll tune in for at least the first two episodes. It’s the least I can do for one of my faves.
Wow, I almost didn’t recognize Kim Joo-hyuk! I totally loved him in Lovers in Prague. I might have to check this one out because I’ve never watched him in this type of role before.
Interesting, but blood and guts aren’t my thing.
Nah after them ruining ATK I cannot stay around to be tortured for another 50 episode show. The stills look good but MBC has shaky writers for long drama’s so I am jumping ship for KBS and cable drama’s Good luck to everyone rooting for this drama just make sure you have lots of soju and prayer.
It is grand but where’s the eye candy?
I can’t look at that guy without picturing him dressed as a Na’vi.
The guy from I don’t need love? liked him with Moon Gun Yung. It might be a good drama.
Aparently, it was not the first time a network would air a Sageuk in that slot. In fact, SBS did it on Yeon Gae So Mun
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Yeon_Gae_Somun
Am I the only one who is happy that Kim Gyuri is casts as the leading female role? I think she’s a terrific actress who can portray emotions perfectly. She’s one of those under appreciated actresses who is talented and pretty. I’m happy that she’s finally in a drama as a lead character.
I think Kim Joo-hyuk is an eye-candy (he’s manly, mature, and handsome looking. *Drool. Not those flowerly, pretty boys.) I’m looking forward to the drama. I just hope someone would do a recaps. Anyone know if someone is doing a recap on this drama? Please let me know. Thank you in advance.
This is a good drama. Their combination is perfect. But why it takes long time to get english subtitles?
I’ve watched 22 episodes with eng subs and recently watched 23 – 28 raw. The acting is good enough to understand what’s going on, but do wish to find a site with recaps for certain scenes.
This is a fabulous drama. Just started in with it and saw three episodes. Hard to watch, it is so brutal but you really have to stay with it once you begin. I am kicking myself because I miss today’s episode. I will surely get the one tomorrow. I agree about Kum Gu Ri. I think she is one brave actress and she has the talent to put it right up there. I must say I wish that Kim Nam gil was playing the lead male role this time. Oh well. the rest of the cast is wonderful. all good actors and look right for a sageuk.