Yoo Yeon-seok to reunite with Han Hyo-joo in period movie

23 January 23, 2015January 23, 2015

Yoo Yeon-seok to reunite with Han Hyo-joo in period movie

by javabeans

Yoo Yeon-seok (Answer Me 1994, The Informant) is, happily and sadly, lining up another film as his next project — happily because it’s great his career is booming and keeping him fully booked, but sadly because I want my favorite actors to be in dramaland as much as possible. Films are great and all, but they just don’t bring you immediacy and intimacy with an actor the way that dramas do.

The project Yoo Yeon-seok is reportedly in the final negotiation phase for is Haeohwa (pronounced hey-uh-hwa), a period melo film that recently cast Han Hyo-joo (Cold Eyes) to play a top gisaeng in a story of a woman’s “despair, sorrow, and pity.” It’ll be a Joseon-set piece, which means Yoo Yeon-seok gets to stay in the same era after having completed period movie Tailor, in which he played a king dressed in finery made by the nation’s most gifted designers. Haeohwa refers to a flower that speaks (I’m taking that to be a metaphor) and will showcase traditional dance, song, cuisine, and the arts — so expect a feast for the eyes, and probably ears, with the project going for a refined, sentimental approach.

New star Chun Woo-hee, who made a splash on the scene with last year’s lauded indie film Han Gong-ju, is also positively considering the movie. Her role would be as Han Hyo-joo’s fellow gisaeng and friend, though I expect that friendship to be tested by their relationship(s) to Yoo Yeon-seok’s character, a talented songwriter who loves them both. So we know where the melo line comes from.

If Yoo Yeon-seok ends up confirming, he’ll be reuniting with Han Hyo-joo pretty soon after their last project together, the body-swapping movie Beauty Inside, where he plays one of the bodies hosting the hero as he hops involuntarily from host to host. Haeohwa is currently wrapping up its casting stage and plans to begin filming in April.

Via Star News

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Tags: Han Hyo-joo, Yoo Yeon-seok

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1 leejunki

January 23, 2015 at 2:45 PM

The plot seems meh, but the cast, I love. Hope it turns out well. And that it fares better than The Tailors. So sad for that one.

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2 liz

January 23, 2015 at 2:49 PM

why they are all going into movies? Jung woo too, had his spotlight and instead of staying doing dramas he went to make movies. :(

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alua

January 23, 2015 at 3:52 PM

Significantly better working conditions.

Not usually a commitment of several months.

Lots of things possible in movies that you cannot do in TV dramas so if you want to work on stuff that pushes boundaries and covers new ground, you are more likely to find that in film, particularly in certain kinds of films or with certain directors. There are many topics and/or characters you'll never find in dramas, but that stand a chance in the film industry. If I were an actor, I'd relish that kind of challenge.

Higher prestige (seems to be).

If they make it big, probably more money and a chance for a more international career (very few truly global* Korean actors though, but at least several that travel the international being cast in foreign (esp. non-Asian) productions.

Honestly, I think better working conditions are enough reason to want to do film rather than dramas.

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alua

January 23, 2015 at 4:37 PM

<but at least several that travel the international being cast in foreign (esp. non-Asian) productions

"at least several that travel the international film circuit and are being cast in foreign (esp. non-Asian) productions..."

(something got gobbled up here!!!)

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bd5

January 27, 2015 at 10:52 AM

Working conditions is the big thing; that's why it took so long for Jeon Ji-hyun to do a drama again.

Much easier to shoot a film and 5-6 CFs in a year than do a drama (tho there have been film stars willing to do 40+ ep sageuks).

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3 Mandy

January 23, 2015 at 3:10 PM

Kinda surprised Tailors didn't do well because the cast and promos looked amazing. But because this has Han Hyo-joo it will probable fare better. She tends to have a knack of picking successful projects ala Kim Soo-hyun.

I'm exited for Yoo Yeon-sook even if I'm also in the boat that he needs to do dramas. Luckily, he doesn't have to enlist, so there's plenty of time this year or next.

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Sour Grapes

January 23, 2015 at 3:51 PM

Isn't Han Hyo Joo practically a persona non grata for Korean after burying her brother's crime?

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Mandy

January 23, 2015 at 4:27 PM

Possibly. Expect people like Lee Byung-heon after his numerous scandals over the past decade still kills and smashes in the box office. Movies aren't dependent on pristine image. They're dependent on quality.

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Hope Airen

January 24, 2015 at 8:41 AM

Rumors said she buried it, but how can she while other stronger companies couldn't bury their scandals (SM => Lee Soo Man tax scandal)

I think she's the sheep the army decided to sacrifice for the public.

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HuGe

January 24, 2015 at 7:07 PM

I don't think the army decided to sacrifice her. It was from the soldier's family and friends where people got the info about her brother and since then, they always took down any article related her with her brother. So, how can we say that the army sacrifice her as a sheep?

There are some management companies who took down articles. It's nothing new. But they have to pay. And that must not be cheap to constantly pay to remove those articles out. And don't forget that other MC don't have military background as hers.

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bd5

January 27, 2015 at 10:53 AM

Don't think she personally could have done much, but to many, she is tainted by what her brother did.

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4 Ella

January 23, 2015 at 3:27 PM

Sighs. Why is it a movie and not a drama? Sadface.

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Sour Grapes

January 23, 2015 at 3:48 PM

Somewhat selfish, but I agree. He is clearly choosing cinema over television and from a career point of view this is totally understandable. Film industry is much more stimulating for an actor, as well as much better for his general wellbeing (no insane live-shooting shedules). Despite that I would still love to see him take a lead role in a well-written drama.

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Azale

January 23, 2015 at 3:57 PM

He's not the only one, seems like Han Hyo Joo is doing so too. She hasn't filmed a Drama since Dong Yi in 2010 If I recall correctly.

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Sour Grapes

January 23, 2015 at 4:10 PM

In all honesty, if I were an actress I would do exactly the same and stick to movies only. The only advantage of filming dramas is to gain popularity (and crazy delusional fans along with it).

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pigsnout

January 23, 2015 at 8:43 PM

I agree with @Sour Grapes. It took 14 years for Jun Ji Hyun to do a tv drama again, there is a reason for that.

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bd5

January 27, 2015 at 10:56 AM

HHJ really got her career going in films (as did Jeon Ji-hyun who only had a supporting part in one drama before she started doing films); gotta give HHJ credit for doing a longer episodic sageuk.

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5 Xxvxx

January 23, 2015 at 3:53 PM

Meh I'm not too fond of Han Hyo Joo as an actress and as a person (her brother's schedule?) so this is all bummer to me. Then again it's a movie and we probably won't be able to watch it if we want (maybe next year or something)

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6 Dreamer

January 23, 2015 at 6:30 PM

Anything with Yoo Yeon Seok, I'm in! But I really hope Yoo Yeon Seok does a drama this year...

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7 daydreamer11

January 23, 2015 at 10:21 PM

I've been a sad panda over this news for a day yesterday and today a news confirming it is out? ;__________; there goes my delulu hopes of seeing him coming back with a (preferably rom-com) drama soon.