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Police Unit 38 writer overhauls castaway drama Picnic

Again? Are we really changing this drama a third time? Doesn’t it seem like a smarter move to scrap Picnic, Gaia, and whatever else it might’ve been called, and just pretend that this third version is a new drama altogether? There are probably reasons of the legal variety that prohibit that, but this is starting to look bad. In its third incarnation, the castaway romantic comedy formerly known as Picnic will be called Missing 9, and here’s the good news: Taking over the script from Angry Mom’s Kim Ban-di will be Police Unit 38’s writer, Han Jung-hoon.

None of the writer’s past projects — slick OCN thrillers like Bad Guys, Vampire Prosecutor — sound anything like a romance drama about castaways on a deserted island, but he’ll actually be changing the story a lot from the original concept. Also good news, considering the fact that I was in no way drawn to the idea of Gilligan’s Idols.

The title alone is a huge upgrade, and I’m hoping that the writer will add a darker bent to the story, given his previous shows. The new version will age the leads up from twentysomethings to thirtysomethings, and instead of a hot young idol star as the male lead, he’s a has-been idol well past his glory years. Well that sounds funnier to me. The character is now an on-camera reporter just barely scraping by and eking out a living as a celebrity, and the heroine is his stylist.

It’ll be interesting to see how this changes the casting direction, because they might have to start over with an entirely new cast now. Kang Haneul (Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo) has been attached to the drama since its start as Gaia, though he was never confirmed, and Hyeri (Entertainer) bowed out of the project in early September. I think Kang Haneul could play up in age depending on how they cast the leading lady, though he might still be too young.

The rest of the cast includes Lee Sun-bin (Police Unit 38), Fiestar’s Cao Lu, EXO’s Chanyeol, and actor Oh Jung-se (Beautiful Mind), but it remains to be seen if any of their original roles from Picnic will carry over into Missing 9. Can we scrap the idols and add a serial killer, a conman, a cop, and a prosecutor who doesn’t like sunlight? That seems more like something up this writer’s alley.

For now, Missing 9’s broadcaster and air date are undecided.

Via Star News

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would be nice if the idols (who doesn't have the best track record nor experience) aren't cast.. because I'm really loving Kang Haneul x Lee Sun Bin x Squad 38 writer

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u n me both

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I third!

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This! It's seriously a waste of Kang Ha Neul's talent that he's constantly partnered up with idols (who cannot necessary act) in his projects. I mean, he did act with idols who can act but....

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they should've said that Picnic was cancelled and was replaced with this new drama with a different story... no leads, no broadcaster, no air date... #mess

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Haha. Woww. I'll admit this new version sounds a lot more interesting but I'm worried about all the pre-production drama.

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Same this new one sounds so much more interesting, plus if they're bumping the age up they won't need to cast more idols!

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ok okay I really like this writer + kang ha neul....if we ignore the other idols and cast a good actress this could be something worth watching.

i kinda hope that it's a bit dark and sarcastic..now that would be a fun watch!

anyone have any suggestions for the female lead? i'd love han groo but it seems like she's gone missing or isn't acting anymore after her marriage :/

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Jung Kyung Ho now considering the lead role. And MBC stills pick it up. Please update.

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Jung Kyung Ho would is excellent choice. I didn't care for his last few dramas but this writer would give him something solid to work with.

He can do sageuks better than most of these actors who are being considered or currently doing sageuks.

Dramaland casting *sigh*

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*is*

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Yeah, he hasn't done anything interesting since Cruel City imo. He was pretty good in Ja Myung Go.

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I was thinking about JKH when I read this. It would be great if he picks it up. He is a totally underrated actor and this writer can give him the big break he deserves.

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OH. Jung Kyung Ho as a has-been idol!?! Give this to me now. This project has gone from being promising, to being remarkably less so, to now being even more promising than ever. This writer + the changes in the premise + JKH pretty much make it a must-watch for me. Now they just better not screw up the female lead casting...

I am sad about Kang Ha-neul though. I hope he gets a leading role soon.

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I find it funny how in his last drama he was paired up with a has been idol

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Yasss!!! The end is not lookin good for KHN in Scarlet Heart, so I desperately want to see him headlining this!

Some of the most enjoyable dramas are about has-been idols! (Think Best Love) And since I just finished watching Reporter Jung Kyung Ho in One More Happy Ending, I'd be more than happy to see him as the washed up idol in this. Maybe Jang Nara could cameo as an ex-GF/wife?

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OMG OMG GIVE IT TO ME :D

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My first reaction was ''wasn't he one in One Happy Ending?" Oh no that was Jang Nara.
And speaking of, please give him an age appropriate love interest.

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How about a LOST season one-esque type of show. I would love it to be lead by KHN, but he's already been burned this year. I have faith in the writer so I'm not so sad about the overhaul, please overhaul away and also pair up with a good director.

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the writer is a yes, kang haneul is awesome, and I can't wait for more lee sunbin!

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I'm all for this as long as they keep Kang Ha Neul as the lead. It's long overdue for him to be the lead in a good drama, and it would be interesting to see him playing an ex-idol who peaked early and now is way past his prime.

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I am watching LotJM right now with all the PU38 music they are using and it made me miss the squad, now this! and with lee Sun Bin! can we please swap the idols for Ma Dong Seok and Seo In Guk and have them play the "natives" of the island who fight the newcomers for resources (with the means of nipple biting and other tricks?)

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weirdly.. i would pay for tht

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best. idea. ever.

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Or Seo In Guk can just come dressed as a castaway Louie!

Yes yes yes to the playground biting and kicking ... just upgraded to an entire desert island?!

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They don´t know what a "fair fight" is. No, they really actually don´t know!
BUT the locals have a Queen they too must bend to. when she appears, the locals turn into wimps and crawl under her feet

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*sits up in attention*

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SO HAPPY this happened. Yes. Although now I'm wanting a Winter Christmas-esque drama.

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Love the new writer+KHN+changes+Lee Sun Bin..

but that pre production drama, *whew*

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This could be a bad thing: now I'm totally interested! Where will I ever find the time??? (Please air during school break, please air during school break). I've only heard the title, but if they keep anything about a deserted island, 9 missing... things and a writer like that? Consider my attention grabbed.

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KHN is definitely not attached to this project anymore, because he already confirmed three movies a long time ago, that are shooting from this fall to early next year. The production company kept releasing statements that KHN is still considering but his agency kept mum and continued on preparing for his films. Now that Jung Kyung Ho is up for the role SM finally released an article saying KHN has bowed out.

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Oooooooohhh. This changed everything. LOL. I don't even care if the cast is full of idols, because I trust this writer. I'm now fully onboard on this flight. :D

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I'd love to see the KHN x Lee Sun-bin couple. They look so pretty together ❤

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If Kang Ha-Neul is in it, I'll give it a try. I hated Police Force 38. I watched 4 episodes and was totally bored with it.

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i got cancer from this comment

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She only stated her opinion, nothing wrong with that! Everyone has a different taste.

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Nabilah, better go to a doctor soon..

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People are allowed to have opinions. They didn't even say anything rude or ignorant.

I've always hated the "gave me cancer" joke, even with something is bad. I've lost loved ones to cancer. Please don't joke about it.

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on one hand, too bad for you to miss all the good parts. It got REALLY exiting after ep 4
on the other hand, I find some sly and greedy joy from someone not getting a share of the awesomeness. Makes it all the more an exclusive treat for the rest.

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You are stronger then me. I kept falling a sleep & quit the first episode after 20 mins.. Never went back. My biggest issue is that I hate it when bad people get away with stuff and that seem to happen from the beginning

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well, they dont get away. ah, if only folks had a crumb of the patience of Jung Do...

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Altho I didnt hate PU38, I am not happy with this news at all. and tbh I'd rather someone else do the lead role despite my love for Kang Ha Neul. Angry Mom was an INCREDIBLE drama and also one of the most woman positive and female centric narratives i've seen in a kdrama in my 9 years of watching them. and to go from Ban-di to the writer of bad guys and vampire prosecutor? the plots can be fun and the male characters interesting but im more interested in women and their stories. i also prefer romance. and this male writer is not good with either of those. so i'm not excited about this at all. (and would rather khn be in something else i'd actually want to watch. sigh)

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Oooooooh! This looks and sounds much better! Now depending on the leads we may have a good drama our hands. Fingers crossed.

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Okay. Now, that is something I might want to watch. Idol castaways sounds like a nightmare to me, so this change is gladly welcomed.

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Omg GF you're KILLING me in this article. "Can we scrap the idols and add a serial killer, a conman, a cop, and a prosecutor who doesn’t like sunlight?" I love it.

Also... wow,I had no clue Lee Sun-bin was THIRTY! Not that 30 is old, but while watching Police Unit 38 I just assumed she was in her early 20s.

Kang Haneul, Lee Sun-bin, and the PU38 writer? Now I'm excited!

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WHAT. Lee SunBin is NOT thirty. Seo InGuk is her oppa and he's not even 30. She's a 1994 baby, meaning that internationally, she's 22.

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THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT BUT WHEN I GOOGLED IT THE FIRST SOURCE I SAW SAID DIFFERENTLY

But you're right! Every other source says differently!

My brain hurts now.

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actually the Lee Sun Bin that comes when you google the name is the South Korean figure skater Lee Sun Bin who's 30 .. not our actress LSB XD

"Lee Sun-bin is a South Korean figure skater. She is the 2002 South Korean national bronze medalist. Her highest placement at an ISU Championship was 18th at the 2003 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships."
this what I got from Wiki .. it's also the name that comes first when you google LSB..

our girl LSB is 1994 liner :)

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Phew, this already sounds miles better than whatever the initial premise was going for. I have confidence in the writing now. I just hope the whatever actors they end up using can pull it off.

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YES to all these new changes! Excited, wonder if maybe the writer will plot some crime happening on the deserted island and maybe there'll be an unwanted guest on the deserted island, besides the two and how they work together to leave the island behind, though the has-been idol actor has nothing going for him back home?

It's funny if you try to string all the titles into a sentence:
Picnic on Gaia goes Missing?!

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Since SM produce this drama, I kinda hoping they would cast Jung SoMin as the female lead! I mean, Come On, SM! This girl is soo good. Let her shine! and now with PU38 writer, It sounds much better!

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Can we please have Kim Ji Won as the female lead. I would love to see her and Haneul reunite. I hated heirs but love these two and their chemistry!

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I'd watch Kang Ha Neul + Kim Ji Won pairing in any story!

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Oooh this sounds a whole lot better now! I think that is the effect of the name "38 Task Force writer".

Also someone mentioned above that Jung Kyung Ho is the new choice. I adore Kang Ha Neul but I really need Kyung Ho back on my screen. It has been way too long since I saw his cute antics with Jang Nara.

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This is a much better drama plot & title. Omo, the title! I kept forgetting about this show because of the boring titles but Missing 9 won't be leaving my head any time soon.

I'm sad to lose KHN and his leading opportunity but I love Jung Kyung Ho-sshi. And he would do this marvelously.

Let's keep Lee Sun Bin eonnie & Oh Jung Se. Please! I'm neither here nor there on Cao Lu.

But Channie, Channie run away. I don't care about filming starting, just please don't do this project. Too bad it's SM production. They'll fit an idol in, even if it's not a good match.

Unless he's playing someone light, like Baek who I can't make myself watch ML: SHR for, I doubt how convincing Chan can be.
But he's my idol bias, so I'll hope for the best. No impact is better than a bad impact.

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Me yesterday: News about the drama Picnic? Huh? Oh, that idol drama I couldn't even remember? Meh, I'd rather be forced to watch all the Heirs episodes on repeat.

Me now: Gimme gimme! I need to know moreeee!!!!

The TF38 effect is powerful indeed.

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"...a serial killer, a conman, a cop, and a prosecutor who doesn’t like sunlight..."

lol....I see what you did there.

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Now this IS interesting! Missing 9 is truly an eye catching title!
Can we have cameos from the serial killer, con man, cop, n prosecutor as the one who cause 'missing case'? Missing case 1 with the serial killer, missing case 2 with the conman, ... and at the end, the writer would make a mind blowing twist. Ohhh give me that!

Anddd, can we make that conman cameo a little longer??? Oh, I just can't stop with him haha.

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Why aren't they fighting over this drama now? Don't let me down SBS/KBS.

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I wasn't that into this to begin with, but now? Yes, this sounds like it could be really, really good. I hope Kang Haneul confirms. I'd love to see him in this!

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Ooh, the new changes seem good.

I would like to see Kang Haneul in a lead role, but OMG! Jung Kyung Ho's name being mentioned instead makes me even more excited! He is so good at badass and funny characters. Would love to see him have a big hit on his hands.

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I'm loving the writer change! Can't they just turn this into a LOST-eque type of drama instead (but a lighter, funnier version)? Also, I like Kang Ha Neul but Jung Kyung Ho's great, too! And Lee Sun Bin!! She was great in PU38.

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Im feeling anxious about this project... I love the writer change but the people behind it all are all hot and cold in the blink of an eye... if its about people in their thirties(?) And not idols, what are they gonna do with the young idols they already casted? its quite weird... may it be due to whos investing? Idk but I just hope Haneul's next project does well ratings-wise.

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Wait-- I just remembered, isn't the OCN team working on Bae Doona's come back too?

Or is the Bad Guys writer not part of that team?

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Good writer comes with good title the moment I read missing 9 my imagination was going wild & dark.. glad they changed picnic...

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The previous title/concept seemed so superficial that had little interest in it despite LSB having been cast, but now w/ Han Jung-hoon on board as the writer and pretty much an entirely new scenario - definitely will give this a shot.

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Oh my god this drama NEEDS Kim Ji Won like bibimbap needs gochujang.

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I guess I'm the only one who still wish KHN would reunite with his former co-star in Monstar. But I guess it can only happen in my dream. But hey, he still owed her several coupons, though. Guess I'm just crazy.

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indeed, you are not... I can't never get behind him in any role (as good as he is in every single drama) because I'm still a bit mad with him for not seeing (and choosing her) the awesome of Hana...damn, girl! I thought you had him with the bass solo scene but no... she didn't :'(

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Lol, don't see that they'd need to change the story much!

Put a has-been fringe celebrity on a remote desert island with his stylist and a handful of SM idol rookies and their managers, and maybe a paparazzi nemesis - that could be a deadly survival game in every sense of the word!

Then they find out that the whole reason for them being on this island is a Truman Show/Law of the Jungle set up and SM is trying to rig the competition ... (okay, just kidding)!

But seriously, having this writer on board changes everything!! I'm so excited now!

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This sounds like an entirely new drama lol

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Full House 2 with a Pride & Prejudice/Signal twist? O_o

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