Jang Hyuk courted to headline KBS’s Beautiful Mind
by girlfriday
Well this is a whole new direction. New medical mystery drama Beautiful Mind is kind of the Goldilocks of dramaland right now, trying out every leading man under the sun to find just the right one. So far the direction has been quite obvious, based on the actors who have passed on the project: Kim Soo-hyun, Yoo Ah-in, Lee Jong-seok. And last week Choi Jin-hyuk was offered the role only to have the production quickly rescind (who even knows what went on there). Now an offer is out to Jang Hyuk (Master of Trade—Inn 2015) to star, which makes me wonder if they’re changing the lead character entirely.
It might not be a bad thing, since the role requires some heavy lifting from the lead. The drama is about a geeeenius neurosurgeon, who on the surface sounds like any other drama hero — he’s beautiful and cold and unfeeling. Except this one is actually a psychopath who can’t feel basic emotions because of a frontal lobe injury.
The drama will be a mystery that begins when the hero’s patients start dying in a peculiar way one day. I can see how he’d make a good suspect, given that he’s a psychopath and all. It sounds like an intriguing setup, and one that’ll definitely diverge from the procedural framework, as producers have promised.
As he gets entangled in that case, he’ll “open his eyes to love and recover his humanity.” Um… but you said he has a frontal lobe injury and can’t feel feelings! I know love is a cure-all in dramaland, but DOES IT CURE BRAIN DAMAGE? You know what might be entertaining on a meta level? Watching Jang Hyuk not emote. I think I want him to sign on, just to see what that’s like.
Beautiful Mind comes from the writer of Sungkyunkwan Scandal and the PD of Dream High 2. It follows Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho on Mondays and Tuesdays this May.
Via IS Plus
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Tags: Beautiful Mind, Jang Hyuk
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1 lordseungri
April 4, 2016 at 2:17 PM
Well I'd love to see Jang Hyuk do something besides a historical so this sounds nice!
There has to be a reason that all those guys rejected it though....
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madurista
April 4, 2016 at 3:24 PM
Yes, glad he is taking break from historicals. I have not enjoyed most of his recent dramas, even the somewhat successful Fated to Love You remake. I feel he keeps going back to sageuks, because he is trying to reclaim that Chuno era glory, but sadly the dramas have not lived up to expectation. Hopefully, he doesn't over act in this, as he is wont to do at times.
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soapbox
April 4, 2016 at 4:54 PM
To be fair, that's usually how all productions go. You rarely get your first choices, it takes quite a few tries. Beautiful Mind brought this reputation upon themselves for making it so public though, since 95% of casting leaks to the media is from the production's side. They probably wanted to bring buzz and fast-track a drama that didn't have a timeslot yet.
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Alessar
April 5, 2016 at 10:09 AM
Agreed. I first saw him in the remake of Fated to Love You and then he did Shine or Go Crazy ... but I didn't want to watch another sageuk right then. (I can only handle about 1 every three drama cycles.) Happy to see Mr. MWAHAHAHAHAHAhahahaHAHA back in action!
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2 Pearl~ai88
April 4, 2016 at 2:18 PM
Like Dr. Frost, but less procedural? Hmm. Well, I wasn't interested at all before, but if Jang Hyuk signs on I'll at least check it out.
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3 iris
April 4, 2016 at 2:29 PM
So this will be against SBS' Doctors. Both drama about neurosurgeons.
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susan
April 5, 2016 at 2:26 AM
Thanks for mentioning I was confused....so neurosurgeons are in trend nowadays....
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4 news
April 4, 2016 at 2:35 PM
I thought he tried not emoting in Iris 2 and that didn't go so well...
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5 Itenoria
April 4, 2016 at 2:50 PM
But can Jang Hyuk pull off not emoting? I would always be expecting his character to break out in a crazy laugh at the most odd times...which would be perfect! ?I can just imagine him now. Laughing like a loon in the midst of brain surgery. And that's where the story of the beautiful Doctor Hyuk being a total psychopath begins ?Ha!
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Abbie
April 4, 2016 at 2:57 PM
Your comment made me laugh out loud! I would love to see that, Jang Hyuk performing surgery and then suddenly laughing with that crazy laugh of his. Oh man, I want to see that!
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news
April 4, 2016 at 3:12 PM
His acting was pitch perfect in Thank You and The Flu. No crazy laugh there.
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Browncoat_78
April 4, 2016 at 4:35 PM
Me too!!!
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seoqueen
April 4, 2016 at 6:02 PM
If you want good Jang Hyuk acting, check out the movie "Windstruck" with Jun Ji Hyun. I fell in love in Jang Hyuk in this role :)
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yoeda
April 4, 2016 at 11:18 PM
Jang Hyuk not emoting? Lol. try Midas and The Client. you'll be chilled especially The Client.
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fay17
April 5, 2016 at 1:04 AM
@news,Oh yes,thank you was amazing!
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6 Abbie
April 4, 2016 at 2:55 PM
For some reason I totally want to see this now. I was initially going to pass on it, but now I really want to see it.
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7 henri
April 4, 2016 at 3:02 PM
please just call it off. this drama sounds terribly from the start.
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Petra
April 4, 2016 at 3:11 PM
Agreed. Idk how they will pull this off.
Maybe if they had just made the lead schizophrenic as in the Beautiful Mind American film.
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8 obsessedfan
April 4, 2016 at 3:24 PM
It's premiering this may and has still not got it's cast finalized..? errr....
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9 Prettysup
April 4, 2016 at 4:14 PM
I would see anything with Jang Hyuk in it! Problem is, he is currently filming a drama in China. Would he be able to make his schedule for this?
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10 Browncoat_78
April 4, 2016 at 4:34 PM
Girlfriday totally beat me to it because the first thing I thought too was how weird it would be to see an unemotional Jang Hyuk. Talk about casting against type. I wonder if he could even do that?
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11 museofmanymasks
April 4, 2016 at 4:40 PM
If it was just the first half of that I'd be down for this. A procedural where his demeanor starts raising the suspicions of a detective character and the drama plays out like a cat and mouse thriller/mystery pendulum of did he or didn't he would be awesome. It could have thoughtful themes like addressing social stigmas against mental illness, but still be trendy with tastefully graphic autopsies and...But that's not where this is going is it?
It's not that the premise is unredeemable, it's just a balancing act to do a "LOVE CURES ALL!!!1!1" plot of this nature smartly. You either need a healthy dose of levity and cheek (ala KMHM) and/or nuanced characterization (i.e. drop the "Oppar is perfect, even when he's batshit"). It'd be fine if dramas put more narrative effort into it instead of using love as a magic wand/mystical equalizer.
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dongsaeng killer
April 4, 2016 at 4:57 PM
This!!!! So very much!
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mindy
April 4, 2016 at 5:05 PM
My thoughts exactly!!!! I was so on board until the whole "love cures all" thing. Because LOVE DOES NOT CURE ALL!!!! His issue isn't just one of personality but an actual medical issue!! That can't be reversed!
Unless a huge medical breakthrough was just discovered where being in love can completely rewire parts of the brain...
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12 galaxy
April 4, 2016 at 4:57 PM
tall beautiful neurosurgeon who looks like model and does not emote....sounds like a good plot for LMH... but not much for Jang Hyuk as he is plain looking no offence.The brain damage, was it acquired or congenital? any backstory about that?
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mindy
April 4, 2016 at 5:07 PM
Haha, I was actually just thinking after reading all the actors offered the role "Who is next? Lee Min-ho?"
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michykdrama
April 4, 2016 at 11:15 PM
Different strokes for different folks indeed. LMH does nothing for me and I find it hard to believe Jang Hyuk can be described as "plain". I happen to think that Jang Hyuk is extremely good looking. But then again he is totally my type- Clean cut and boyish looking, but mature and worldly! ? Haha.
Maybe I need to watch something with LMH to understand his appeal.
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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
April 4, 2016 at 11:18 PM
I will be happily to choose Jang Hyuk over Lee Min Ho.
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yoeda
April 4, 2016 at 11:19 PM
+1
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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
April 5, 2016 at 12:27 AM
But I do love Lee Min Hoo, simply because he is handsome.
But Jang Hyuk is totally my type of namja. kkk.
prettysup
April 5, 2016 at 3:28 AM
+2
Nermin Badwi
April 5, 2016 at 1:58 AM
Not a LMH fan but you should watch "city hunter". It is healer like and perfect.
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fab
April 5, 2016 at 2:59 AM
RIGHT. Jang Hyuk plain?? Muahaha- not on this planet!
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13 HANI
April 4, 2016 at 5:38 PM
love cures all huh?
Then, I guess Lee Jung Moon havent found his One True Love yet cause as far as I remember, he still a psychopath~
I dont think kdrama able to pull that storyline off, especially when it is not cable and heck, they even throw love conquer all cliche to tell us lower the expectation & standard. lol
but good to see JH in modern garbs~
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14 doctordrama
April 4, 2016 at 6:15 PM
Have you guys seen Jang Hyuk's movie The Client with Ha Jung Woo and Park Hee Soon? He played a stoic psychopath murderer and he did that character well, it was quite scary and twisted. But this plot line sounds bad right now.
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Cocoboo
April 5, 2016 at 11:23 AM
I watched that movie too. He did a good job at being creepy.
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15 NiaIpeh
April 4, 2016 at 7:17 PM
People complaint when other actors/actresses take one drama after another one. But when it's him, no one complaint. I wonder why
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bibip
April 4, 2016 at 7:36 PM
Agree...
Drama after drama...
But no one complaint...
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nomad
April 4, 2016 at 9:33 PM
I've never complained just yet about actors/eses taking one role after another, cause they need to work to earn money, yes? And Jang Hyuk...I luff him! So I'm super happy if he takes on another drama (I have yet managed to finish any of his drama this year, though. Yes, I love him. But I love my story line better).
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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
April 4, 2016 at 11:16 PM
Maybe many ppl loves him? Or not even care about him?
I don't know, if it is Jang hyuk i will try to watch, even I left his last drama. he is not the only, Jang Nara and few others are like that too. After all, they need to earn money.
I feel bad for Hwang Jung Eum who always been bashed because she takes one drama after another one. My only complaint about her is I want to see her in a melo again, instead of doing rom com again.
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prettysup
April 5, 2016 at 3:33 AM
The reason why no one complains is very simple, coz we love him and don't mind seeing more of him on screen! That aside, you must remember that his previous 2 kdramas were sagueks, with entirely different looks and backgrounds. It will be refreshing to see him in this modern drama, so why would anyone complain? Unlike other actors/actresses who keep on taking dramas in the same genre.
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16 senyumselalu?
April 4, 2016 at 7:45 PM
I don't complaint cuz I never watched him in a drama. its like he never exist....lalalala
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17 Valerie Gudorf
April 4, 2016 at 7:51 PM
I'm sorry, but this whole thing sounds like a hot mess. I personally have no interest in a storyline whose main character is a scalpel wielding psychopath, because psycho-social defects this grave (much less those which stem from serious brain damage) can not be "cured" by love. Seriously? A "medical" drama that, from the get-go, so ridiculously disregards basic medicine, would be almost laughable if it didn't already insult the viewer's intelligence. And how is such a nightmare-inducing character supposed to engender the (in my view, pre-requisite) emotional investment from viewers? On those points alone, I completely understand why so many top actors would pass on such a role.
Don't do it, Jang Hyuk!
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18 spazzy06
April 4, 2016 at 8:24 PM
I hope he turns it down and the writer/producer lets this drama die. Nobody wants to do it for a reason. Just let it go.
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19 comvalena
April 4, 2016 at 8:31 PM
maybe a korean hannibal lecter? but dr. lecter was a psychiarist...hmm...
Can Jang Hyuk top the creepiness of Anthony Hopkin's HAnnibal?
Let us wait and see....
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20 Beng
April 4, 2016 at 9:35 PM
"You know what might be entertaining on a meta level? Watching Jang Hyuk not emote. I think I want him to sign on, just to see what that’s like."
Totally, agree on this! I wonder how he will pull it off. Definitely a challenge to him and he should accept the offer =). Can he do a T-1000 acting, (the android villain in Terminator Judgment Day)? Whatever happened, his face never changes. I think the director is quite good in controlling it. Hope they get a good director
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21 Arhazivory
April 4, 2016 at 10:16 PM
The plot sounded good up until the 'love cures all' bit. If this was a jdrama, we'd only have a psychopath for the full run but......gotta get that romance in. -_-"
I love Jang Hyuk. Before I knew him as a man with a crazy laugh, I knew him as being deadly serious so I have no doubt in his ability to pull off playing a psychopath.
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22 Prettysup
April 4, 2016 at 10:58 PM
KMHM was also rejected by many actors before JS got it. So i think we shouldn't write this off just becoz it was rejected by many.
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soapbox
April 4, 2016 at 11:21 PM
Yeah, I don't get why people base it off that. I think this drama is going to be a mess since the plot sounds dumb, not because so many people turned it down since that's common. Misaeng had at least 3 other actors turn it down and it's very acclaimed. DotS had at least 4 top stars turn it down and it's getting (undeserved lol) high ratings along with an international craze. The casting process has nothing to do with the outcome since all dramas go through the same thing behind the scenes, the only difference is that Beautiful Mind made it too public from the start.
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23 yoeda
April 4, 2016 at 11:29 PM
As much as I want JH in another drama I just want him to pick a good one that can show his versatility in acting. just want him in another critically and commercially success drama like Thank You, Chuno and TWDR. last year I watch his drama for the love of him only. this drama seem very complex and he have an acting range to pull it off but what I'm worried is the writing. hope it's good and can pulled the audience to watch and be a success if he got cast.
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24 godieagelimit
April 4, 2016 at 11:54 PM
Sounds like a character perfect for Yoo Ah In. Too bad he rejected (hmm probably not so bad lol) Or the likes who had experience with playing villains well.
I just recalled that I Remember You was full of psychopaths, but somehow I couldn't see how they'd fit as this character despite how good they were.
Probably because the character I imagined is the less-creepy version of Nam Kyu Man meets cold mysterious poker-faced Yoo Jung sunbae.
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25 maria
April 5, 2016 at 5:08 AM
I think Park Hejin would be a great choice since the doctor is a handsome psycho
But I don't think the producer offered to him or he'll accept the offer to play another psycho (he did it once in bad guys)
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26 Edward
April 5, 2016 at 7:16 AM
Is it time for his tri-annual match up with Lee Da Hae?
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27 Trinity 🍆
April 5, 2016 at 8:58 AM
This just doesn't sound good. I'm personally not into medical dramas but adding in a psychopath with brain damage miraculously being healed by love is just silly and very unrealistic.
I love shows with psychopaths because they fascinate me, especially since this one is showing that not all psychopaths are murderers, but it still doesn't sound interesting at all.
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28 Becky..
April 5, 2016 at 12:19 PM
Why do i have a feeling that yoo seung ho would fit perfectly for the role? He's good at playing villain characters..
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ninno95
April 5, 2016 at 11:11 PM
+1
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29 Jay
April 5, 2016 at 12:20 PM
This plot errr. I don't trust KBS for these kind of stories, maybe if this was an OCN drama I would give this a go and all my trust. If the male lead is a psychopath in the beginning because of brain damage then let him be a psycho, I wouldn't want to see him change because of the power of love, if he's a dark character from the beginning let him be! Dark characters are sometimes more interesting that the good typical kdrama hero.
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30 Matt
April 6, 2016 at 3:41 PM
I know it's kind of an extreme wish, but can I dream that maybe Jang Nara will sign on this one?
I'd really like to see them do another drama together, since they share a very special kind of onscreen chemistry...
Well, man can dream, right?
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Matt
April 6, 2016 at 3:42 PM
And I forgot to write, but if this drama turns out to be a hot mess, then I could brace myself to watch it till the end if it was for Jang-Jang couple...
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31 prettysup
April 6, 2016 at 10:56 PM
KBS has clarified that Choi Jin Hyuk and Lee Je Hoon were never courted for this drama.
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32 Gwinna
April 7, 2016 at 4:40 PM
This plot sounds unsalvageable. Love doesn't actually cure any kind of medical problem, but if the guy literally can't feel emotion due to a brain injury, then he's not going to fall in love, period. The only way to do it is to say that his doctors thought he couldn't feel emotion, but they were wrong and it was actually just psychological trauma, not the brain injury. Which then totally undercuts the whole psychopath thing.
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33 tsevca
April 21, 2016 at 1:39 PM
No feelings? It might be fun to see him play without that weird laugh.
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