Im Joo-hwan, Ryu Seung-soo for fantasy historical drama
by girlfriday
MBC’s next Monday-Tuesday fantasy romance drama Shine or Go Crazy is still waiting on leads Jang Hyuk (Fated To Love You) and Oh Yeon-seo (Jang Bori Is Here) to confirm, but offers are now out to potential supporting cast members Im Joo-hwan (Watch Out For Fools, What’s Up) and Ryu Seung-soo (Wonderful Season, Empire of Gold) to join them. Honestly the drama sounds weird, but so far the cast is an interesting mix and has potential… that is if all the folks “considering favorably” end up signing on.
The fusion historical drama is set in the twilight years of the Goryeo era, during the changeover in royal houses to the Joseon Dynasty. Ryu Seung-soo has been cast as King Jeongjong, the second king of Joseon. We’ll probably meet him when he becomes a prince (rather late in life, when his father overthrows Goryeo and becomes King Taejo). Brotherly strife puts him on the throne, but he only gets to rule for two years before his much more powerful brother forces him to abdicate. Im Joo-hwan has been cast in a supporting role as well, but there’s no information on his character yet.
I’m actually not certain how much is fictional and how many of the characters will be based on historical figures, but Jang Hyuk has been cast to play a Goryeo prince who’s part of a secret society and is originally first in line for the throne. He’s cursed by a prophecy that he’ll bring Goryeo to ruin, and the drama is the story of his romance with the last princess of Balhae (Oh Yeon-seo). He’ll be cursed and she’ll be his “light,” whatever that means. Thematically, I like the setup that they’re both from royal houses of waning nations.
Directing is PD Sohn Hyung-shik of Two Weeks. Shine or Go Crazy follows Pride and Prejudice on Mondays and Tuesdays in January.
Via MBN, Sports World
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Tags: Im Joo-hwan, Ryu Seung-soo
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1 ujsid
October 28, 2014 at 8:05 AM
The casting sounds good to me, but seriously does Jang Hyuk never rest? :O
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jensredshoes
October 28, 2014 at 8:37 AM
Noooooo, don't let him rest. Stay on my screen!
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Rachel
October 28, 2014 at 10:45 AM
Well he did go on a holiday with his family after wrapping FTLY, if that episode of 1N2D with Jo In Sung is anything to go by. LOL.
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2 meenuby
October 28, 2014 at 8:36 AM
Got so excited to see Im Joo-hwan's name and then disappointed that it's only a supporting role.
Come on, K-ent PTB, give him an awesome lead role already!
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Chandler
October 28, 2014 at 9:39 AM
Right? I mean, I'm glad he's getting something, but I've been waiting for him to be the lead again ever since What's Up and in something that isn't just a sitcom!
Oh well, I'm still happy to see him come back to dramaland. I LOVE Ryu Seung Soo too and I'm definitely liking the sound of the cast so far.
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3 tina
October 28, 2014 at 8:55 AM
im joo hwan needs to headline another drama ive been waiting and waiting since ugly alert finished (kang sora has done 2 dramas since it!) so it makes me a little sad that's his next project is a second lead role but just seeing him again will make me a happy girl.
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4 fab
October 28, 2014 at 10:01 AM
Does Jang Hyuk really wants to be in this?
And
Oke this is a serious question: are there historical/saeguk dramas that don't revolve around a kingdom in ANY way? Tia.
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PPasun
October 28, 2014 at 10:41 AM
If you mean the backdrop is not some sort of a Korean kingdom, no. Because it had been one kingdom after another or several kingdoms simultaneously since antiquity to the demise of Joseon in the early 20th century. Unless you want to go back to the caveman years or hunters and gatherers' time.
If you mean politics is not one of the main themes, the answer is again no because it's always been about power struggles. Hee, I sound like a Marxist.
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RyeBlossom
October 28, 2014 at 12:01 PM
Arang & the Magistrate wasn't high on the national politics, though, of course, there was some local politics involved (on a small level). I'm trying to think of others, but I can't think of anything else other than Iljimae.
Well. I guess that answers your question, and demonstrate well the previous reply ^_^
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fionnula
October 29, 2014 at 1:31 PM
I'm afraid Arang wouldn't count as a sageuk. Neither would Gu Family Book or Iljimae- those are historical fusions.
Hwang Jin Yi, Yi San, Dong Yi, King Dwanggaeto The Great - those are sageuks.
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kanz
October 28, 2014 at 3:36 PM
Like previous comment, there is no drama without historical kingdom backdrop because most sageuks revolve around politics. But there are few dramas with almost no connection to kingdom/politics:
1. Arang and The Magistrate
2. Gu Family Book
3. Hwang Jin Yi
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meenuby
October 28, 2014 at 9:22 PM
Also, Tamra the Island
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Because of Reasons
October 30, 2014 at 6:29 AM
There was a fair amount of politics in Tamra, though. The paranoid king who felt that his son was plotting to depose him, the merchant who wanted to take over Jeju, partly in revenge for her father's death during the overthrow of the previous ruler, the debate over whether or not to open Joseon to foreign traders, all the corrupt court officials seeking wealth and their own personal aggrandizement, the former king who found peace and true appreciation for his country on Jeju. It was a love story at its core, and the politics wasn't represented on the same grand scale as in other sageuks, but national politics were an important aspect of the plot.
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5 captaincrunch
October 28, 2014 at 10:08 AM
I'm up for Im Joo Hwan in anything, so I'll watch if he signs on. He's so underrated :/
I'm not really fond of MBC's fantasy sageuks (aside from Arang) but I'll remain optimistc about this one for now.
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6 mir
October 28, 2014 at 10:44 AM
May I ask a question? If an an actor's manager joins the production cafe of the drama he is reportedly considering, does that mean it's actually a done deal already? Jang Hyuk's, Oh Yeon Seo's, Im Joo Hwan's and Ryu Seung Soo's mangers have all joined the production cafe of Shine or Go Crazy.
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paroles
October 28, 2014 at 2:42 PM
To me, that just means it's a done deal. I heard about JH's manager joining a very long time ago though, not sure why they are delaying the confirmation when they've already decided on it.
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7 PPasun
October 28, 2014 at 11:05 AM
By the way, something is not adding up. The only time Balhae and Goryeo existed concurrently was some time in the 900's, at the beginning of Goryeo Kingdom. But they are talking about the time of Goryeo's fall and Joseon's beginning, in late 1300's, if I am not mistaken. So where is this Balhae princess coming from, 4-500 years after Balhae was destroyed? Is she like a reawakened mummy or something?
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Chandler
October 29, 2014 at 9:14 AM
LOL now THAT I would watch!
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8 Because of Reasons
October 28, 2014 at 11:28 AM
I'm on the last episode of Tamra the Island, and I've been really impressed with Im Joo Hwan's acting. I'm looking forward to seeing him in something new.
I was looking at the photo above trying to figure out where I'd seen Ryu Seung Soo before, and what character he would have played that made me want to smile just seeing his face. Then I realised that I'd seen him on Running Man (Im Joo Hwan was on the same episodes) and he was hilarious. I'd like to see more of him as an actor as well, so I hope that both he and Joo Hwan sign on, and that the show turns out to be good.
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halo120
October 28, 2014 at 12:24 PM
Ah yes that's where I saw Ryu the first time as well. On that same episode of RM they stated he was an acting instructor. He was Song Ji Hyo's teacher along with Jo In Sung. Ryu boasted he was one of the nation's best acting teachers. Yoo Jae Suk asked who then was his teacher, Ryu replied 'life's pain is my teacher'. Such a crack up :)
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9 AJ
October 28, 2014 at 12:26 PM
I love Im Joo Hwan. But I prefer to see him leading a drama instead of being a supporting cast. Regardless, I'll still watch if he's in.
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10 matinsoleil
October 28, 2014 at 12:48 PM
Im Joo-hwan oh yes!!!! He should be a lead though but he's back that's the ost important!! :)
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11 Quiet Thought
October 28, 2014 at 1:51 PM
That last photo was kind of startling. Did this guy have his brain removed by the Fungi from Yuggoth? Because that would make for a great plot to use in a sequel to You From Another Star.
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12 annnsow
October 28, 2014 at 6:38 PM
I've loved Ryu Seung Soo as an actor for years. I really need to catch up on his latest project. I wish he had a great leadf role in a big production.
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13 bossu
October 28, 2014 at 10:49 PM
Im joo hwan sure has a slooooow moving career. He was honestly good, poor guy is underrated
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14 bomsu
October 29, 2014 at 4:08 AM
Oh I'll see Im Joo hwan soon right, but so sad when heard that he just a supporting role. I always hope that he will the leading role in new drama but it's not like I hope but even like that I will support him until the end until you be the leading role I'm looking forward Im Joo hwan fighting....
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Chandler
October 29, 2014 at 9:19 AM
Aw, at least it seems like a lot of people feel this way about him though. And this project could actually be his way back to getting lead roles, if it goes well.
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15 josie
October 29, 2014 at 6:06 AM
Im Joo Hwan will be in a one act drama Sunday (11/2), part of MBC's Drama Festival. The photos show that he is in hanbok again.
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