Hyun Bin adds a film, I’m Happy, to his year-end plans, bringing his upcoming project count to two.
He’d first gotten his fans excited for his long-awaited comeback with the recent announcement that he would be returning to television by the end of the year. Cast opposite Song Hye Gyo in November’s KBS miniseries The World They Live In, it would be his return after a rather quiet three years (yeah, he did act in Snow Queen following Samsoon, but that drama met with lukewarm — if that — reception).
In the film, which started shooting at the end of last month, Hyun Bin plays a patient who connects with a nurse while in the psychiatric ward. I’m Happy will be directed by Yoon Jong-chan of 2001’s mystery-horror film Goosebumps [소름] and 2005’s Blue Swallow [청연], and co-stars Lee Bo Young (so, not exactly strong on the acting front then).
The release date for I’m Happy isn’t yet fixed, but it looks to be around the same time as the airdate for The World They Live In.
Song Hye Gyo made a surprise appearance at Cannes Film Festival on the 20th in conjunction with the announcement that she will be appearing in 1949, director John Woo’s next film, he of the stylish Hong Kong and Hollywood action blockbusters (Mission Impossible II, Face/Off, Broken Arrow).
Not only that, the screenplay was written by Wang Hui-ling of the much-lauded Lust, Caution and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Song co-stars with Chinese actor Chang Chen, and startled reporters at the press conference for 1949, where she appeared alongside Woo and producer Terrence Chang. (Apparently Song arrived at Cannes on the 17th, but remained hidden in her hotel room until her appearance on the 20th at Woo’s request. Woo had made no mention of Song’s participation in the film until she arrived at the press conference.)
She explained, “John Woo contacted me [in January] after watching Hwang Jini. I’m incredibly honored to be working with a director I admire so much.” (According to a Korean article — so take with a grain of salt, naturally — owing to Song’s popularity in China from her dramas Autumn in My Heart and Full House, the Chinese press in attendance focused their attention and aimed more questions at her than her co-star Chang Chen.)
1949 is described as a “big-budget romance” based on real-life events that took place at the end of World War II and in the last years of the Chinese Civil War.
As for the language issue, the film will be Chinese-language, mixed with English; Song Hye Gyo is currently studying both. She also assures us that 1949 won’t interfere with her participation in director Pyo Min Su’s upcoming drama co-starring Hyun Bin, The World They Live In, as the drama starts in July and will end this year, while 1949 will start filming at the end of the year and aims to release sometime in 2009.
I know I’ve been skeptical of Song Hye Gyo as well as crossover acting roles in general, and John Woo’s had some misses recently, but this one sounds really promising.
Jung Jae Hyung - “지붕 위의 고양이” (Rooftop cat) featuring Jang Yoon Ju, who I’ve just realized is also the fashion model judge in I Am a Model. Small world. [ Download ]
This ought to make fans happy. The stars of two of the most popular kdramas of recent years, Full House and My Name Is Kim Samsoon, have been cast together in a new drama, The World They Live In.
Song Hye Gyo and Hyun Bin, both 26, have been confirmed as the leads in the new drama by PD Pyo Min Su (Full House, What Star Did You Come From, Insoon Is Pretty) and writer Noh Hee Kyung (Goodbye Solo, Several Questions that Make Us Happy).
This marks Song Hye Gyo’s return to television after four years away (her last TV role was 2004’s Full House); since then, she’s had an unremarkable turn attempting a film career with the romantic drama My Girl and I (co-starring Cha Tae Hyun) and the disappointing large-scale epic Hwang Jini (with Yoo Ji Tae). She’s also been working on a U.S. debut in the low-budget U.S. indie flick Fetish — which doesn’t sound terribly appealing to me.
Hyun Bin may have shot to national heartthrob status after Samsoon ended in 2005, but his follow-up starring in The Snow Queen had a disappointing broadcast run in 2006, and this is his first project back since then.
Apparently Song Hye Gyo was PD Pyo’s top choice, and was sent the synopsis early. Her character is described as strong and straightforward, conveying a mature image as a professional woman; both she and Hyun Bin play drama PDs at a broadcast station. The World They Live In plans to air on KBS in November.
I’m not sure about this — it could be entertaining. I’m a little bored with dramas set in the entertainment world, although at least they aren’t actors. The writer has some good projects under her belt (Goodbye Solo, for instance, which is really a writer’s drama), and despite what I thought was excessive hype for the overrated Full House, I enjoyed watching it, at least until the final run of nonsensical plot turns. As for the stars… I’d say they’re both likable actors, but neither has made a mark through their actual acting talent. Still, it’s one I’ll keep watch for. And hey, we’ll always have the eye candy.
On December 1, stars gathered in Seoul for the 6th Annual Korean Film Awards, honoring the latest achievements in (what else?) Korean cinema.
Notable among its winners were the multiple talents behind one of Korea’s most critically acclaimed films of the year, Secret Sunshine — which won raves at Cannes Film Festival, where its also won its star, Jeon Do Yeon, the top acting honor.
Take a look at the winners and attendees after the jump…
Hallyu stars are increasingly trying to capitalize on their fame by traversing the cultural divide and attempting the Hollywood crossover. The latest to announce her intent to make the leap is one of Korea’s loveliest (and most famous) natural beauties, Song Hye Gyo.
It’s just been announced that she will be soon heading to New York to shoot the indie flick Fetish (way to skirt that whole Asian commodification and fetishization issue, huh?), co-starring opposite German actor Arno Frisch (photo) of the film Funny Games.
Song Hye Gyo met the casting director at the recent Pusan Film Festival, who was struck with her beauty and appeal in the film Hwang Jini, and was offered the role. Her management company explained that although Song Hye Gyo has been offered other roles in Hollywood films in the past, none of the characters seemed right for her. However, they felt this project would allow her to show her talents properly and effectively. She’ll be leaving soon for New York to begin work on the film, which is described as dealing with occult matters.
Hm. Of all the Hallyu actors to attempt the leap, somehow I feel Song Hye Gyo is ill-equipped for the challenge… I don’t think she’s at all fluent in English, and I’ve never exactly been wowed by her acting talent, either. She is, like Kim Tae Hee, a very beautiful and likable star whose acting skills are the weakest point about her acting career. I dunno about this…
