While news is quiet of the 200 Pound Beauty sequel, plans are under way for a musical version, starring SES lead singer Bada. (The film sequel will be losing the sleeper hit’s original plastic-beauty Hana, star Kim Ah-joong, who opted not to return to the franchise in favor of other projects now that she’s catapulted to stardom.)

This musical version will be the follow-up stage role to Bada’s previous theatrical turn as Esmerelda in Notre Dame de Paris, for which she received favorable reviews. She’ll share the double-cast role of Hana with musical actress Yoon Gong-joo (really, Yoon parents? You named your kid “Princess”?). The male lead role, originated by Joo Jin-mo in the movie, is yet to be cast.

The musical version of 200 Pound Beauty will begin its theatrical run on November 27.

Via My Daily

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Tags: 200 Pound Beauty, Bada, Kim Ah-joong, musicals, sequels

Filed under: Theater/Musicals by javabeans - 8 Comments →

Sleeper romantic-comedy hit 200 Pound Beauty is preparing its sequel, because what’s more natural after a film unexpectedly hits big than to milk that cash cow for all it’s worth? Still, despite my problems with the way the film resolves, it was more entertaining than I’d expected, and the writing was a cut above your average Korean rom-com fluff-fest. So maybe there’s hope for a sequel yet, although first the producers will have to win over the breakout star of its original, Kim Ah Joong.

Kim Ah Joong has had CF contracts and lots of offers post-200 Pound Beauty, but hasn’t struck it big with a follow-up project, so her wariness is understandable. Her management states that “as the lead actress in the original, it’s natural for people to wonder over her role,” but her participation is by no means definite: “The production company is still in the process of making its sequel, and we’ve asked to see the screenplay when it’s completed.” He adds, “Because it’s not yet finished, we aren’t ready to discuss whether she wants or doesn’t want to appear in the film. After seeing the finished script, she will consider it.”

With both actor and director yet unsettled, the screenwriter is currently penning the script. The basic plot outline describes main character Hana, who’d beautified through massive plastic surgery in the first film, undergoing the “yo-yo effect” to regain weight in the sequel.

Hm, sounds an awful like the true life tales of actress-comedian Kim Mi Ryeo — who got slammed for “beautifying” via exercise and surgery (Botox and lipo), then for regaining weight — doesn’t it?

Via Newsen

SONG OF THE DAY

Kim Ah Joong - “Beautiful Girl” from the 200 Pound Beauty OST [ zShare download ]

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Filed under: Chungmuro/Film by javabeans - 7 Comments →

(The lovebirds of Bad Couple and Bad Family)

 
I find the following article (indented stuff in dark blue font is the translated article; the rest are my comments) particularly interesting because I’ve thought this topic over a lot in the past, and pretty much completely disagree — not with the article’s logic, but the conclusion. The piece draws upon comparisons between kdramas and their American drama counterparts, which have multiple-season structures that differ from the kdrama format (of single-season, finite series). I have long believed — strongly, at that — that in this respect, the kdrama format far outstrips the U.S. model.

But I’ll get more into that after the article. First, here’s what it’s got to say:

“Demanding More Seasons of Television Dramas”

When popular dramas end, you’ll find these sorts of comments on the audience message boards: “Produce a season 2!” That was the case not long ago with MBC’s Coffee Prince Store #1, as well as Time of Dog and Wolf.

 
(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

The Hi-Lights - “Mister Tambourine” [ zShare download ]

 
Full article and comments >>

Tags: Auction House, Bad Couple, Bad Family, drama production, drama ratings, Hello Franceska, Lovers, sequels

Filed under: Drama Casting & News by javabeans - 35 Comments →