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Answer Me PD returns with new tvN series Prison this fall

This is a welcome change. As much I like the Answer Me franchise, I do think it’s time for the creators to branch out and do something new, so it’s exciting news to hear that PD Shin Won-ho (Answer Me 1988, Answer Me 1994, Answer Me 1997) will be returning to tvN this fall with a brand new series. The working title is Prison, and it’ll be a black comedy about prison inmates. Well, that’s certainly a departure…

The new project will be another collaboration with writer Lee Woo-jung of the Answer Me franchise, but she’ll only be involved at the creator level. PD Shin will co-direct with a junior PD from the Answer Me series, and one of the franchise’s junior writers, Jung Bo-hoon, will pen the script. Shin stated in an interview about the upcoming project, “I was searching for a subject that I hadn’t always seen in dramas, something fresh, and came up with a prison drama. I want to show people living their lives in an unfamiliar space. It’s not about being wrongly accused or about escape.”

He discussed the research he’d done: “I’ve continuously been researching prisons. It’s not a space we’re used to, and because it’s veiled in mystery, I had a hard time researching the system and the language of that space.” The focus seems to be on everyday life within prison walls: “The foundation of all stories that I want to tell is just people living their lives. I was curious about the stories of the people who live in prison. But just because it’s set in prison doesn’t mean the drama is heavy or serious. I think it will be very different from the way [prison] has been portrayed before. It’ll be a black comedy with pathos.”

He continued, “Prison seems like a faraway place, but it’s not that far. I don’t have plans to romanticize it, but that setting creates fresh empathy. In most dramas, prison is a place you need to escape or a big hindrance in life. But in reality it’s a place where people need to come to terms with their lives. It’s not a place that can provide bright laughter; I think it’ll be a place that gives us bitter laughter.” Well, some of the most stirring human dramas I’ve seen were set in prison (The Shawshank Redemption, Miracle in Cell No. 7), so I have no doubt that a moving mix of dark comedy and empathy is possible.

Plans are underway for Prison to be a 16-episode Friday-Saturday drama sometime in October, though nothing has been set in stone, and casting will begin shortly. PD Shin was also asked about the next installment of the Answer Me series, of course, and he said that no concrete plans have been made, but they are considering a new season sometime next year or the year after that.

Via E Daily, Sports Seoul, Star News, Ten Asia

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Well, I wouldn't mind at all with an Answer 1977 or something like that...

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Yeah, I was expecting another Answer Me series... didn't they announce that they'll be one, though? They didn't decide on the year, but that was supposed to next, right? Guess I'll have to wait a little bit longer.

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Me, too. It's not even funny how much I love all the replies series. They seriously engraved a special place in my heart.

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I read somewhere that it gets harder to find props the further the years go back. They had some difficulty for 1988 so I must think it'll be extremely difficult for 1977.

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+1

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Or maybe a Reply 1983!

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Ooooh, K-dramas going a little bit Orange Is The New Black? Count me in!

I do hope that they do an Answer Me 2001 or something in a few years, though...

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New Millennium would be awesome. Everything was supposed to shutdown in 2000.

It's a bit close to 1997 but if they went for full on adults, ya'know 27+ that would be a cool workplace to explore.

Then they would be 45 for 2018. Let's cast some 35-38 year old actresses.

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Everything was supposed to shutdown in 2000. Lol! Now I'm imagining the characters going berserk over the possibility of the world ending and then their reactions when it doesn't.

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There's actually 1 episode about this in Reply 1994 and it was pretty funny!

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Fantastic news! Both members of the Answer Me duo are incredibly talented, but half of AM1988 plot was recycled from 1997 and 1994.

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Agreed! That's why Answer me 1997 will always be my favourite. Also cause they didn't drag out who the husband was. I couldn't finish 1994 or 1988 cause I was annoyed with the way they dragged it out.

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What? So people really watch the reply series to know who the husband is?? I've always thought of it as a plot device to tell the lives of these characters, and to me 1988 did it brilliantly. But oh well, to each their own!

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daaaang exactly! you've just said it right and i couldn't agree more; am1988 was a treasure, definitely a warm drama for keeps

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Orange is the new black, huh? Yes, this is brunch from usual, but I'm not sure that this brunch to the right direction though.

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I'm looking forward to this. I'm glad the PD is trying something new.

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Same!

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Huh. I was on board with the Reply PD doing this, but this is the first I've heard that the Reply writers were also involved. Which gives it a 68% chance that there will still be some sort of annoying twisty trolly husband-hunty thing happening. We'll see, I guess.

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Oh, dear. "Hubby" hunting in a prison cell could be - unconventional.

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Maybe if it's a co-ed story. I immediately thought single gender, possibly female. But most likely to he male.

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I find having a husband twist a bit difficult to involve within a prison, unless it's on the assumption related to the outside world?

This new move does sound interesting, glad they're trying to go in a new direction and tackle something different.

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Or who's facing death sentence. Ain't that depressingly fresh? Does SK have death penalty?

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Oh, dear... (copying the sound of Donkey from Winnie The Pooh)

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That sounds like a really cool idea. I hope it's going to go well, fingers crossed.
I actually just yesterday night that it would be nice if there would be some dark comedy in kdramaland....
I don't really know of any show that took that approach, maybe Come back mister a bit and I guess White Christmas could be almost seen as a satire at times.
However, the closest thing I have come across in kdramaland concerning dark humor is probably the scene in Hwarang where Kwang soo's character and Sun Woo climb the city wall and see those dead bodies.
I am interested to see how dark it is actually gonna get.

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I've heard that Heard It Through the Grapevine is described as a black comedy, but I haven't seen it so I can't say for sure.

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I have watched that show and it definitely is a black comedy, it's not laugh out loud funny but you will smile.

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I've only seen the first five episodes yet, but the tone struck me as more satirical and farcical and less actual black comedy. But I guess that happens when I'm exposed to twelve seasons of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

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Yes it is black comedy. I am usually do not watch black comedy that much, but Heard It Through The Grapevine is among the one which was done right.

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Yes for more dark comedy! As long as they don't insert slapstick comedy or toilet humour. Because those two are usually the things that korean drama go for their funny scenes

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Anybody else watched the anime called Rainbow truly a masterpiece. Go check it out them feels, shed some manly tears. I hope it will be like that, bromance at its best the anime was all about having dreams, friendship and brotherhood.

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Ooh now you have me dying for a epic bromance. Possibly with one of them on death row.

I'm imagining Park Bo Gum and Song Joong Ki (because they are my obsession at the moment) and I'd cry BUCKETS.

And someone mentioned it would be like a sequel to I Remember You with Min in prison. And I'd totally watch the hell out of that!!

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Me too anything with a good bromance im definitely in

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I'm looking forward to the new faces Shin PD will bring out this time. :)

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From prison it's only a short step to:

Answer Me Interrogation Room

Answer Me - Or Else

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Lol! "Answer me–Or Else."

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Answer me, please! I'm using my one phone call on you!

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Lolol, I think we've got the title and tagline for this prison show. ??????

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We're sorry the number you have reached is not in service at this time

Please check the number, or try your call again

*dooot*

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Boring..... Next!

Why would I care about life in prison? Unless I plan on being there someday... To my knowledge, I have no plans to commit any white-collar crimes in the pursuit of my day job.

I know. I know. Spoken like a true a*s-hat...

Gee, I should have more empathy. Sadly I'm all out.

I want fantasy and aspirational romance.

A day in the life of Bank Heist Willy and his My, Aren't They Just Like Regular Guys underlyings sounds positively drab...

Count me out. I'll let the door hit me on the way out.

;D

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*underlings

(Geez, you'd think I'd get my spelling correct if I'm gonna lay down shade. Pft... Amateur.)

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I guess it's not for everyone. I welcome a range of genres and stories. Even if I don't watch because someone will.

At least you like the most popular types. So there will always be something new.

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I know.

I'm being rather closed-minded and narcissistic.

(I'll stop being an a** now.)

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YES YES YES!! AFTER WATCHING DEFENDANT I KEPT THINKING ABOUT HOW GREAT IT WOULD BE TO HAVE A SHOW ABOUT PRISONERS. HALLELUJAHHH MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED

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... so like, a Korean Orange Is the New Black? Hey, I'm down. My next question: will it be a female-centric show set in a female's prison or a male one?

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I am 99% sure it is a male centric drama. The moment I heard about the plot, I just knew that there is more work for actors. How many series/ movies are about women in unconventional setups?

But I am glad there are more diversity in kdrama genre/ stories.

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Can't the two worlds of male inmates and female inmates be shown simultaneously!! I would love to watch both bromance and girlfriends on a single show.

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The only thing that stood out from this post for me was there is still a possibility for another season of the Answer Me series. I don't have the heart anymore to watch her dramas. Nothing short of a sequel or spin off giving JungHwan his happily ever after can change that.

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Guess this will be inspired by Orange is the New Black, if not Prison Break. But, is it unreasonable to hope there would be a Korean-style Prison School too? It's cable after all.

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Black comedy? OK this sounds great. Contradict with the Reply franchise, isn't it? On top of that, it will be in prison. It is impossible to do for both male and female prisons, so maybe male prisons this time?

As long as no love triangle which cause unnecessary and boring fanwar between the two men over one girl, I am all in. Looks like there will be no. This PD also said will cast new and fresh faces, instead of that can you give chances for underrated actors? You know someone like Lee Sang Yub? Mix fresh and old faces will be great.

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This sounds great! It reminds me of Jeffrey Archer's Cat O Nine Tales, where he wrote short stories based on the tales he heard in prison, where it was much less dark and more human, such as the back story of a clever crime or why they are in there for, such as (SPOILER) a homeless man purposely committing crime to get food and bed for the winter. Yes, prison is a pretty bleak place but it is still made of a bunch of people who are broken in some way and if we don't solely focus on the crazy crimes like murder and rape, I think it can be a warmer story of new friendships and growth with a large dose of guilt and repentance.

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i REALLY want an answer me series set in the 1950s, it would be really interesting to watch like a slice-of-life drama set during/after the korean war and the division of korea, and how the lives of everyday people were affected

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I am willing to give it a try. The team behind it is competent so I look forward to it.

As far as any future Answer Me shows, the husband search theme has ran its course and needs a rest.

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This sounds really interesting. I've seen plenty of dramas where characters go to prison, but none where the drama is actually set there and focuses more on how people get by in prison. I really hope they create something interesting, hopefully with some fresh faces.

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Answer Me in Prison hahaha I'm in!!!
I support PD Shin Wonho. Nothing interests me much from the reported 2017 dramas except this one.
Plus, I like Miracle in Cell#7. I think Prison is kinda the same :)

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Yahoooo!! Please cast awesome veteran and senior actors. So many of them from my favorite serial dramas.

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I love black comedy and satire. I'm looking out for this one. But is it going to be about males or females?

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"It’s not about being wrongly accused or about escape.” hmmm.....I don't think I can find empathy with real criminals through. Unless it's about why they did what they did. Not sure about this one.

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i never knew a film that revolves around prisoners would be worth-the-watch until i saw The Shawshank Redemption; and now that this new drama gives similar vibes to it, count me in right away!

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I think the PD nim even said that they would hold off on another Answer me to give people time to get over 1988. Even though it's been a year, I agree that they should do something else or else it will become overplayed.

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i want new series for these dramas ONLY. i'm waiting for it from last season. tvN must keep this drama.

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I really love The Shawshank Redemption, so this is going to be interesting, my only complaint that with this setting there won't be a big opening for diversity in characters. For example: if it is set in a prison for men, there won't be any big (or at all) roles for female actresses and vice-versa. Also if it isn't about inmates being wrongly accused, then this means most characters will be criminals. Which narrows the field for character diversity as well. While this might work for a movie or a few episodes I'm afraid this won't be very stimulating.

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I LOVED the Answer me franchise because they gave us this big diversity, especially 88. This cast was huge and had a wonderful mix of characters, which made the interaction so very interesting.

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