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Lee Min-ho declines lead, Playful Kiss still looking for its cast

Aw, man. For one brief moment I got totally excited. One story published today reports that Lee Min-ho has been cast as the lead in Playful Kiss, aka the remake of Itazura na Kiss / It Started With A Kiss. And girlfriday and I literally, and I mean literally-out-loud, squealed in glee when we thought it was happening. However, his representation was quick to deny it as untrue.

According to the initial source, Lee Min-ho supposedly chose this project out of loyalty to Group Eight, the production house that cast him in Boys Before Flowers and basically jump-started his career as a leading man and hot commodity. However, according to Lee’s management, while it is true that he received the offer, he has politely declined. (Granted, the role would probably have gotten him typecast, but I say he’s young and hot and has plenty of time to branch out in the future.)

There has been a lot, and I mean A LOT of noise about Boys Before FlowersKim Hyun-joong or You’re Beautiful‘s Jung Yong-hwa taking the main role, but nothing has been confirmed and casting rumors remain hazy and noncommital.

Top contenders for the female lead include Park Shin-hye (You’re Beautiful) and Kara’s Han Seung-yeon. Despite some legal problems, Park Bo-young‘s name is still being tossed about by some. (Could you imagine if she were cast with Lee Min-ho? That would be almost too good to be true; I think I’d burst of excitement.)

Via My Daily, Star News

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i wonder how korea is going about this story tho... are they simply focusing on the highschool/college years? they cant just cast teenagers for this role since the story goes through about 3 phases: highschool->college->professionals. casting should really be careful. this is why i dont think this adaptation can beat the taiwanese - unless it's guaranteed we'll have about two seasons worth.

this drama cant just end at their marriage. what makes this story soooo endearing was the development of the relationship, the comical struggles of their married life and of course the comical struggle of kotoko as a professional. shrugs. im excited yet worried for this adaptation.

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Park Shin Hye and Jang Keun Suk please. I still want to see more of them together.

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I had that thought, Gala, about how much of Itazura Na Kiss they would try to encompass in one series. IF they are going for the entire opus, then younger actors would still work as long as the talent and chemistry were there to begin with: aging a person is much easier than 'youth-anizing' them (sorry, that's our writer's group pun).

And I'm really not a fan of repeating the same pairings from previous dramas/movies. At some point, almost without fail, you are watching two people who've worked together numerous times work together yet another time and rarely are the actors able to make the characters so distinct from previous works that I buy into their act. (Ahn Suk Hwan and Choi Ran, anyone? cute as they are)

I am just SO SO SO tired of trying to believe 30 year olds are 20, 25 year olds are 18 and so on ... and you just know there is so much talent laying around ready to spread their wings and soar in these roles.

But, back to whether this will be one series or two .... I'm guessing two. I hear a CASH COW mooing over this drama IF the production team get it right.

As a fan of the manga, but not the anime, and of the Taiwanese, but not the Japanese, dramas, it's about time Hallyu did its turn.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE first last and in the middle, get the casting right??

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bummer!
I want Lee Min Ho!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I knew it. I knew he wouldn't take the role!

KIM SOO HYUN Pleeaaase!

And NO Kim Hyun Joong or Jung Yong Hwa T.T.

Park Shin Hye would be perfect ^___^.

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@2
i completely agree with you.park shin hye and jang keun seok make me very excited about this drama.h love both of them sooooooo much

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You know who I would LOVE to play that role?

Kang Dong Won :)

I saw him in Temptation of the Wolves (Romance of Their Own or True Romance) and loved him!

He would never accept it though. He said in one of his interviews that he'd never go back and do dramas again.

I think he's perfect for the role.

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Oh God. Lee Minho's one of my currently favorite Korean actors, and it's not because I found him hot or what -- I think he does have a lot of potential. Bummer he skipped this one!

And I really, really, REALLY hope that Jung Yonghwa, Hyun Joong, and Park Shinhye get a lead role in this drama. Noooo. Yonghwa and Hyunjoong's acting are too dry (at least in my opinion) and Park Shin Hye just annoys me, even though I loved YB.

Playful Kiss needs to get a really good cast, because I'd love to watch this drama.

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I love the Taiwanese version so much. I hope the Korean can do better
( Love BOF the Japanese version more. Sorry for the fans).

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Automatic hit if lee min ho was in it. Because of bof-I think it would attract a lot of fans. I'd love to see him in this but I understand why he is not

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I 'm so HAPPY that he WON'T be in the drama!!!!!!! YUPEEEEEEEEEEEE. IT WOULD BE LIKE SEEING BOF AGAIN !!!!!
HEECHUL PLEASE!!!!!! HE IS SO MUCH BETTER

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I'm a big fan of the manga and the anime. I watched the Taiwanese version but it just annoyed that hell out of me. My main question is where will the story end.

Because the couple were showed from high school, college and then as professionals. I'm a nurse and I get a headache when I see the female lead working because she was such a klutz, such a danger to the patients. Anyway I'm getting off-topic. In the anime they showed them having a daughter.

So if they plan to show the couple after high school and college, they should cast actors who are believable as teens and young professionals.

I would love to see Kim So Eun again. For the main guy maybe a new face i think eagletwill be better.

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LMH was super smart to decline the role...this could be next Gu Jun Pyo and he doesn't need that

btw Kim Hyun Joong declined too? Jung Yong Hwa is too busy and its not a role suited for him

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Man, I've been seeing slot of kjh playing the lead. I really hope
not. But it's looking likely. :(

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I'm really not familiar with kdramas and actors and stuff @.@
I was thinking Kim So Eun? PSH annoyed me in YB but prob writers fault~
Han Hyo Joo? :?

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Come to think of it- i really didnt like iswak... But i honestly think kim soo hyun would emulate kashiwabara takashis hotness brilliantly. For that, i could forgive any female lead.

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So far all the names I have heard on this site for the kotoko role have been too old, too pretty or couldn't act.

Character info: She is pretty but not the most beautiful thing by a VERY long shot. She has to be able to look plain jane and pull it off convincingly. She also has to be stupid, not just any kind of stupid...but extraordinarily so without coming off like she needs to go with the special kids on the short bus. High energy is a must, dare I say perky. Also she has to be able to pull off a high school/college role.

This is why I am having a heck of a time finding anyone who matches this.

Kim So Eun- It would make zero sense for people to be making fun of how she looks and only one boy to be after her. Without make up in a crowd of 1000s she would be noticed and stand out for her beauty. Not Kotoko

Park Shin hye- She can be dressed down, but in YB she was mildly annoying as a fish out of water, but her cute big doe eyes made up for it sometimes. However as this full blown idiot, I shutter to think what would happen.

Han Hyo Joo - She will be playing a role very similar to Dong Yi in that she needs to have high energy in the face of everyone putting her down. They won't have that awful Dong Yi director so it might be possible, but she will be still making Dong Yi during this. Not Kotoko

Sandara Park - Ok aside from her being 26, her acting ability and availability to carry this role is in question. 2NE1 is to have a come back album soon. It will conflict with this drama. Still not impossible to pull off but we don't want to see collapsing on sets and what not.

Moon Geun Young - If she hadn't said she didn't want to play teenagers anymore. I would have been all for it.

lee min jung - 27 and in a movie.

Park Bo Young - A little too pretty but at least she could pull it off. Unfortunately whatever legal mumbo-jumbo is ruining that.

I swear to goodness my head hurts thinking about this. If this wasn't the drama that got me to be an addict in the first place I wouldn't be like this, but for heaven sake why is it so hard. Park Ki Woong= Naoki :: ?= Kotoko It is like a horrible SAT problem with no right answer.

I will now go watch Super Junior till the pain goes away.

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i like LMH but the other 2 males just don't seem like that great of actors. i hope they pick someone capable like JGS or even a new/unknown actor. i like PSH best.

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Since LMH already declined, which I preferred because he'd definitely be typecasted, and it's time for a semi new face to get fandom boost. I am in full support of KIM SOO HYUN if he is in the running!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1q8BthhFkw

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I want some new faces for this drama~~~ That's what made BOF so popular and that's what'll get this drama remake going~~

And please....no UEE as female lead and no KJH as male lead = I'll be happy with anything besides those two *shudders*

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I'm glad reading this news. Thank goodness PBY is still in the loop 'cos she's my ultimate choice.

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What's the Taiwanese version title of this drama?

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@sno

"It Started with a Kiss"
惡作劇之吻 (恶作剧之吻)

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How about Kim Bum. and yes I said it Kim Hyun Joong...take that back...I hope he waits for another offering and blows all the haters away...I mean soon as I saw his name I steadied myself for all the ....oh no ...oh lord no....
I mean come on even LMH was a tad rough around the edges..and to me just as rough as KHJ.. OK I'm through.

Kim Bum or perhaps Jang Geun Suk.....even the other male actors from YB.How about Taec Yeon?
female leads ..neither of the ladies from YB please. Seo Woo perhaps...

I know the pool has to be bigger than it seems....but I do agree to keep pairing up previous 'couples' is not necessarily a good thing.
Think I will go back and watch ISWAK again.

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I want KIM HYUN JOONG & PARK SHIN HYE!!!!
I wouldn't mind Jang Geun Suk either. ;D
I don't think HJ's acting is even that bad...plus he's HOTTT. <3

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@ 96
The younger version of Go Soo was played by Kim Soo Hyun :)
I really hope they would consider KIM SOO HYUN!
Superb Acting.

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Very, very, very happy he decline BBF was enough. Personal Taste was a good choice. I wish it could have be Si Won, he would have been perfect for this role. In the drama 19 vs 29 Si Won has already display the WTF expession down pack! I don't hold out much hope that this remake is going to be successful, this is really of of those times when the cast is more important then the script and the Directing (GOOD LUCK) coming from behind the eight ball....fighting

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Park Bo-young & Lee Minho = PERFECT! :D
But sad that it's unlikely it will happen....

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@43 ISWAK is one of the few drama I re-watch more the 3 times. I enjoyed the Japanese version as while but like one viewer stated I watch ISWAK first so it win by default. The naturally chemistry between the two leads was (bananas)........and the second part TKA was even better!....

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Ughhhh.
I N E E D a gooodd cast.
or elsee.
Idk?
Im not watching.
I dont want a lame cast then good storyline line.
ughhh.
Hope Park Bo-Young or Kim So-Eun
with KimBum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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as Korean dramas are known for just holding hands and a peck on the lips I wonder how they will redo this drama??.......as the title suggest, this drama has lots of kisses and skinship between the leads as I have seen in the Taiwanese version( have not seen the Japanese one as am not a fan of Japs dramas) but Taiwanese dramas doesn't shy away from this, almost all of their dramas have 'hot' kisses between the leads but of course I still prefer Korean dramas as quality wise they are way better than the Taiwanese dramas as most of Taiwanese dramas are OTT either in acting or their story plot.....though ISWAK has lots of annoying scenes especially those of the supporting roles scenes which I just fast forwarded most of the time and just look for the scenes between the main leads, but what makes me stick to watch this series and its second season (which I say also has more supporting roles annoying scenes than the first one) is the great chemistry between the leads so whoever will be cast in the Korean version I hope the leads will also have great chemistry as that of the Taiwanese version, will patiently await for their version hopefully good luck is again on their side just like what happened in BOF.....

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waahh!!! my heart REALLY HURTS!!! :(

I have also heard that JOE CHENG (the male lead of ISWAK in TAIWAN VERSION) also have sensed that LEE MIN HO will be the best to fit the role of IRIE NAOKI!!! :(

I, like girlfriday and the others SQUELED... (I belonged to your club!) :)

seeing his FACIAL features that were SO GREAT, his HEIGHT, his SERIOUS FACE, seeing him in a JEALOUSY aura, the way he smile, walk, and he also looked so smart, omo!!! he really fit the role of NAOKI!!! haizz....

but then, why did he declined it! :( HEARTBROKEN me.. :(
I really miss him so badly... :(

but I hope group eight will be casting a worthy actor too...
hmmm.. my next choice will be Jang Geun Suk

then on the girl lead, hmmmm... Moon Geun Youn or kim so eun can fit the roles :)

haaizz.. can't wait for this remake.. :)

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Hmm I think the male lead should have a youthful, unassuming look. It is a pity Lee Minho declined it. Maybe Heechul from SJ can try it out?! :P

He does exude a similar charisma to Takashi Kashiwabara in the Japanese version!

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i think when we see the japan version min ho is no realy good be naoki right but riht person is gona be is kim kibum cos he great iq he smart look at kim ki bum n naoki is them have similiar face n brain im not telling that min hois stupid but idont no

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OMG!! if Seung-yeon from Kara got the part i would be SOOOO HAPPY!! i loooove her and kara <3

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i want choi minho from dream team/shinee...he's really cute and fit with the character..minho oppa..saranghae~

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I know there's not even a single chance of it, but the first name that came to me when I heard there would be a Korean remake was Joo Ji Hoon...

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Maybe Min-ho had enough playing in romantic comedy drama such as BBF and PT and he wants something different such as action or thriller...AJA AJA FIGHTING MIN HO OPPA !!!

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how about Ji Chang Wook or Song Joong Ki as Naoki? i think these two can pull off the cuteness and arrogance. thinking of who can play the female lead is making my head hurts. are there any young and good actresses there without thinking of idols?

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Chansung or Taecyeon from 2PM would be a good cast though.

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I think LMH would've been perfect for the role. Sigh. Another dream dashed.

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I thought Dara is also considered as the female lead of this coming drama... I wish she could be the female lead and her partner would be lee min ho... this will only be a dream because lee min ho already declined the project... T_T I feel sad...

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Kim soo Hyun PLEASE!!!
U WON'T REGRET IF U CHOOSE HIM AS NAOKI, PD!
TRUST ME!

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i vote for kim bum to take this role!

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aaah nightmare.....KJH has been verbally confirmed as the lead! FAIL EPIC FAIL! ok hopefully goong's pd knows what he is doing is all i can say :( wooden acting central ermm playful kiss here we come!!

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omg if he were cast with park bo young, I would die of excitement too.

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haha dramabeans, i can already imagine your reaction when the news of khj as the male lead is out. seriously omg, with really not bad actresses, do they have to ruin the show with him? i'm not being mean, but seriously, his acting skills is just ..

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Nothing against Lee MH but for this drama, it would be a mistake to cast him as the lead.

I've watched the Taiwanese version with Joe C & Ariel L - it is excellent and well portrayed. Acting was superb and there's definitely chemistry between these 2 Taiwanese actors.

I'll go for Park SH & Jang GS - and I don't have any doubt in my mind that they will be perfect for the roles. PSH & JGS have both shown their acting capabilities in several dramas in addition to having so many followers not only in Korea but worldwide. This can be shown by the all the comments on various blogs, viewership on youtube & others.

Besides, depending on how the writers & directors would like to start the drama off, the drama would start when they were young then move on into university & eventually beyond. If the Korean version would incorporate this in one drama, this remains to be seen.

As for Lee MH being typecast for a certain role - I believe this doesn't have to do with it. He has been successful on BOF, admittedly, but that was it. This was more due to a joint effort by everyone including the strong fan base of Kim Hyun Joong & Kim Bun and others. The story was also solid considering that the Taiwan & Japanese versions already came out before. The viewers, therefore, are curious on how the Korean version would turn out. His latest drama, Personal Preference, did not draw in the viewers as expected despite the popularity of his co-star & lead actress.

I'm also hoping that the appropriate actors be cast for this very promising & entertaining drama.

Just my two cents.

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Allkpop is reporting a confirmation of Kim Hyun Joong as the lead.... Please lord let dramabeans tell me it's a lie..."Say it ain't so joe"

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Seems like the worst has happened: not only has KHJ been confirmed For this drama but lame DSP has turned down the role for the kara girl which puts sulli as a candidate for the lead. This is horrible. I feel like i'm going to die of ulcers before this drama even starts airing. Excuse me, while i be-moan these miserable, heart-burning horrors in the corner. :(

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