Cinderella and the Four Knights still without a broadcaster
by girlfriday
It’s too bad, but it looks like we might not be seeing youth romance drama Cinderella and the Four Knights this year. The window is slowly closing on remaining timeslots in 2016 for the Big 3 and tvN (or should we just call them the Big 4 now), and the series isn’t any closer to getting picked up by a broadcaster. The other problem is that the shooting schedule is falling behind, and with lead actress Park So-dam (Because It’s the First Time, The Priests) due on the set of Beautiful Mind by early June, it’s unclear what Cinderella’s fate will be.
The series is based on a novella of the same name about a young woman who’s an outsider in her own family, and gets the chance to move into a huge mansion when she helps out a grandpa, not knowing that he’s a chaebol. She’ll move in with his three beautiful grandsons, who are all cousins: rebellious boy Jung Il-woo (Records of a Night Watchman), cold bad boy Ahn Jae-hyun (Blood), and nice church-oppa type Lee Jung-shin (Temptation), and find love and friendship among them. Unlike the original, which is set in high school, they’ll be in their twenties.
The 16-episode rom-com is being produced by HB Entertainment, and set out with a plan to finish shooting the entire drama by late May. But according to a source within the production, the scripts haven’t been completed for the series, and they’ve only shot 10 out of 16 episodes. On the one hand, it seems crazy that the scripts aren’t done when the drama has been in development for so long, but on the other hand, shooting 6 episodes in 3 weeks is normal live-shoot crazy, by dramaland standards.
It might be a case where aiming to be 100% pre-produced actually backfired on the show, because now it’s floating around with no broadcaster, and the lead actress won’t be available after May, so they have to finish shooting now. Part of the reason she couldn’t officially join Beautiful Mind was because Cinderella hadn’t settled on a broadcast date, and she couldn’t commit to a show that might air at the same time on a competing network.
On the upside(?), the window has closed on Cinderella getting a summer timeslot; on the downside, it’s rarely a good thing when a show has footage in the can but no broadcaster attached. Is it just bad timing? Is it an indication of the show’s quality? Or is this just going to become part of the process as more and more shows move away from the live-shoot and become pre-produced?
RELATED POSTS
- Park So-dam confirms taking the lead in Beautiful Mind
- Beautiful Mind holds test shoots without lead actress
- Script read for youth drama Cinderella and the Four Knights
- Cast lineup confirmed for youth romance Cinderella and the Four Knights
- Park So-dam courted for You’re the First opposite Jung Il-woo
- Jung Il-woo, Ahn Jae-hyun courted for teen drama
Tags: Ahn Jae-hyun, Cinderella and the Four Knights, drama production, Jung Il-woo, Park So-dam
![[K-drama Treasure Hunt] Heart-fluttery bottle opening](https://d263ao8qih4miy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Kdrama-treasure-hunt.png)
Required fields are marked *
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
1 Leena Dramasaranger
May 10, 2016 at 7:17 AM
On the other hand channels do not have shows to air in timeslots ?http://www.dramabeans.com/2016/05/jin-gu-and-kim-hyun-joo-dont-want-to-be-wanted/
Required fields are marked *
stringofpurls
May 10, 2016 at 12:58 PM
But I think that would cause the issue of conflicting air times against Beautiful Mind.
Required fields are marked *
su*****
May 10, 2016 at 1:04 PM
but beautiful mind is a monday-tuesday drama while wanted was set for wed-thurs
Required fields are marked *
prettysup
May 10, 2016 at 5:39 PM
KBS also has a slot after Uncontrollably Fond ends in Sep (Wed/Thur), the one originally reserved for Jealousy incarnate. But it doesn't seem to be interested in this.
Required fields are marked *
2 Alessar
May 10, 2016 at 7:24 AM
I can't wait for the day that Netflix just picks up a show like this out of the blue.
Required fields are marked *
Trinity 🍆
May 10, 2016 at 8:31 AM
That would be awesome. They already do that with Anime so why not a kdrama?
Required fields are marked *
Deb
May 10, 2016 at 8:49 AM
They have distributed a jdrama also. I forgot the name but it did have a Netflix logo on it and it had quite good reviews from Netflix viewers.
Required fields are marked *
whimsyful
May 10, 2016 at 9:11 AM
oh yeah! I think that was Atelier?
Required fields are marked *
Alessar
May 10, 2016 at 11:02 AM
Yes! Atelier. I keep meaning to watch it. I just think it's inevitable as they go more and more global that they'll have to crack the K-drama market at some point. As it is, they do license quite a few K-dramas that have already been on DramaFever and Viki. The downside is of course that just as with anime (a lot of shows hit Crunchyroll or Funimation first), many of the hard core fans already viewed the shows on the dedicated sites so they're looking at metrics from the general viewership. But that's ok; as long as they keep licensing stuff it shows there's interest.
Now you look at the global phenomena Descendants of the Sun is and realize that's EXACTLY the kind of pre-produced show Netflix is good at. Look at Signal and it's almost unheard of for cable ratings AND unlike Miseang the story would work in other countries pretty easily.
The only real question is will they go for a romantic comedy, action/spy/thriller, or some kind of makjang revenge drama first. A fantasy sageuk is probably not as likely; then again they did make Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 2.
Iris
May 10, 2016 at 8:58 AM
OMG... I wish.....
Required fields are marked *
Nani Pilikia
May 14, 2016 at 11:32 AM
Actually Netflix introduced my family to k-dramas. I blame their system that makes recommendations based on other shows you rated highly in the past. Our love of things both strange and foreign caused "My Girlfriend is a Gumiho" to be recommended to us and we thought, hey why not? We fell in love and have been watching k-dramas ever since. Thanks to Netflix!
Required fields are marked *
3 PeepsLeAwesomePotato
May 10, 2016 at 7:29 AM
Oh why don't KBS just pick them up and stick it where Wanted was supposed to be.
When we have dramas that are waaaaaay too close to airing date not even having shot a single scene, the above problem shouldn't even be a problem.
Required fields are marked *
Bùi Quốc Khánh
May 10, 2016 at 7:31 AM
'Wanted' belongs to SBS...
Required fields are marked *
PeepsLeAwesomePotato
May 10, 2016 at 8:03 AM
Oh, okay. Then SBS should pick it up. Wanted will just wait for another day.
Required fields are marked *
paroles
May 10, 2016 at 7:50 AM
The problem is that Wanted sounds like it could be awesome (even though they probably need to live shoot all the way) whereas Cinderella already sounds boring.
Required fields are marked *
PeepsLeAwesomePotato
May 10, 2016 at 8:04 AM
B-b-bu-but, Cinderella has Park SoDam!
Required fields are marked *
faith
May 10, 2016 at 8:36 AM
That there is the problem. It has Park So-dam, but it still sounds sooo boring. I mean, should I watch it just for Park So-dam, or should I just watch other dramas? Dilemma, dilemma.
Required fields are marked *
Mia
May 12, 2016 at 2:24 PM
My favs are in this cast but I have to say this looks like a poor retread of tvN's Flower Boy series. Jung Il Woo is already a case of been there done that with his role in 'Flower Boy Ramyun Shop'. Networks probably saw 'chaebol' and didn't take a second look.
Grapes
May 10, 2016 at 9:55 AM
+1
I thought the same thing
Required fields are marked *
4 Bùi Quốc Khánh
May 10, 2016 at 7:31 AM
Look at pilot and cast, i can see this drama will be flopped, who want buy kind of drama like that, don't have any popular idol or strong pilot.
Maybe SBS will buy this drama to replace 'Wanted' and 'Deal', but I don't think so. SBS may close timeslot or broadcast rerun of hit dramas but they won't buy any other dramas like that because they can't control pilot and cast.
It's not pre-produced drama in the first. If don't have any broadcaster in Korean so producition team thought after they finish fliming, they will be catched by SBS, KBS, MBC or even tvN.
Required fields are marked *
Trinity 🍆
May 10, 2016 at 8:34 AM
You don't need an idol to be a success. Both Jung Il-Woo and Park So-dam are well known actors. I personally love Jung Il-Woo and will watch anything with him in it.
Required fields are marked *
pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
May 10, 2016 at 9:27 AM
yeah, if anything idol dramas are a massive ratings liability, it isn't 2009 anymore.
Required fields are marked *
gerry13
May 10, 2016 at 5:35 PM
Agree, a lot of idols can't act- spoils the drama - I don't watch for pretty faces
Required fields are marked *
boxofsoaps
May 10, 2016 at 8:39 AM
At the same time China decided to buy it for 300k$ per episode, higher than some dramas like DOTS and Hwarang. Talk about priorities. Maybe they think it will be like second BOF? (just imagine if it's actually become true lol).
Required fields are marked *
Kaylie
May 10, 2016 at 9:27 AM
Why though? I don't have the impression that the leads are that popular in China.
Required fields are marked *
damianna
May 10, 2016 at 6:29 PM
Read somewhere that anybody who's in You From Another Star is famous in China. Maybe it's because of Ahn Jae hyun?
Required fields are marked *
Zeezee
May 10, 2016 at 8:50 AM
Although live shooting of dramas is not the way to go, at least this way, a time slot is ensured before filming begins. I know this may not be a popular opinion, but I understand some dramas never get picked up.
Required fields are marked *
Fitri Iphiet
May 10, 2016 at 8:04 PM
lols... many dramas with idol as the leads are flopped. look at Eunji's dramas except R97 and Winds that blows, i forgot the title, but she wasnt the lead, sooo...
Rain with Krystal Jung's dram, uhg... flopped!
SUlli and Minho of SHinee's drama too.
Who else???
is IU considering as an idol too? then her drama with Jang Geun Suk was a flop.
and Hyeri's current drama with Jisung... uhm.. not as expected, right? not a hit. single rating.
oh, forgot to add, Vixx member.. i forgot his name. it was also a flop.
Siwan is one lucky guy. Misaeng was a good choice for his career.
can you name any other idols who have a good history in dramas? i mean, as the lead... not only the supporters in a drama :D
but seriously, this kind of storyline is sooo yearsterday... and the actors... uhm... Park Sodam had a drama with Minho of Shinee and it was a flop too. Jung IlWoo hasn't made any HIT as a lead. or did he? The moon that embracing the sun he was 2nd actor.
not to mention ah jae hyun. but at least, he's successful in love.
If i were a producer, i won't spend my money on this. bring me, Song Joong Ki or Kim Soo Hyun. Joowon, alright. they have good history in rating. :D
no offense, my thought only :D
Required fields are marked *
shirayukihime
May 11, 2016 at 6:10 PM
thousand times agree..I haven't watch dramas a long time because of these directors always casting idols as leads that can't act.. that's because of these stupid people who are saying that dramas needs to have a popular idols in order to be successful.. damn it.. what you need are real actors or idols that can act..how stupid...!!!
Required fields are marked *
soso
May 13, 2016 at 4:32 AM
maybe y crazy for SM idols LMAO
Required fields are marked *
5 leesoomi
May 10, 2016 at 7:33 AM
too bad
it sounds fun! or childish?
Required fields are marked *
6 shinmudejuve
May 10, 2016 at 7:33 AM
It's a bad news for someone who likes Jung Ilwoo a lot, like me.
His recent dramas were not impressed me in term of quality. And now this.
I don't expect anything for this drama tbh, because the plot sounds like just-another-typical-romcom and I don't find any unique element from it. Just curious to see Jung Ilwoo with Park Sodam together on screen.
Required fields are marked *
PeepsLeAwesomePotato
May 10, 2016 at 8:06 AM
Since when has just-another-typical-romcom not work in kdramaland?
Required fields are marked *
enkeys
May 10, 2016 at 8:50 AM
Hear hear!
Required fields are marked *
growingbeautifully
May 10, 2016 at 4:45 PM
LOL! Precisely. I kind of think that if I wanted to find just another romance, I'd be safe in kdramaland. If something like Dream Knights got aired, why not Cinderella? So strange.
Required fields are marked *
shinmudejuve
May 10, 2016 at 8:16 PM
Haha. Exactly!
To me, just-another-typical-romcom is actually for fun.
It's enjoyable when I need something light for LOL-ing.
I personally prefer more heavy themed series like Signal, Six Flying Dragons, Liar Game and so on.
Required fields are marked *
7 Prettysup
May 10, 2016 at 7:36 AM
I guess the lead actress can come back to this after finishing BM. Three months should be enough for them to finish up the scripts and find a broadcaster.
Required fields are marked *
8 wapz
May 10, 2016 at 7:38 AM
What is wrong in Dramaland these days. Some shows don't have actors, others broadcasters. Somethings definitely fishy.
Required fields are marked *
shirayukihime
May 11, 2016 at 6:17 PM
what do you mean?? i only notice that dramas in 2016 are been fighting for the timeslots, broadcasters for the dramas, and competition for 2016 awards...but still 2016is the best year for good dramas...and only few idols for leads..
Required fields are marked *
9 paroles
May 10, 2016 at 7:47 AM
So this isn't a web drama???
Anyway, isn't PSD taking up Beautiful Mind even worse for the production then? I doubt any of the channels will pick it up if the female lead appeared in a recently aired show. Not to mention that the plot sounds so... lame.
Required fields are marked *
10 Sancheezy
May 10, 2016 at 8:00 AM
pre-produced drama can also not be aired. I still waiting for The Princess of Lan Ling to be aired for 2 years I think, aaah...
but I think the coordinator of drama should just contact each other,
all this empty slot, looking for lead, looking for a time slot, fight to know who is the female lead and the new piano appearance (just like Rio in Cdrama) could be a new drama scenario called -behind the scene- are the pd is not in good term these day or someone is sick?
it feels like the secretary of dramaland finally take a time off just to realize no one is capable of doing her job,
I hope everything work for everyone.
Required fields are marked *
11 Trinity 🍆
May 10, 2016 at 8:36 AM
I personally was looking forward to this because I love Jung Il-Woo. I also loved the plot behind it because it reminded me so much of a manga I loved when I was younger.
I do hope this show gets picked up, just because the cast and crew has no doubt put a lot of effort into this and then it wont even see the light of day.
Required fields are marked *
12 Annie
May 10, 2016 at 8:43 AM
I wonder if they can just have it air in China?
Required fields are marked *
13 Abbie
May 10, 2016 at 8:58 AM
This is disappointing. This is the first Jung Il-woo drama I've looked forward to in a long time. Maybe SBS will pick it up?
Required fields are marked *
14 Iris
May 10, 2016 at 9:02 AM
And at the same time, the show has already been sold to China for mega bucks.
And if the intent was to air it simultaneously in China and Korea, I wonder what they would do now?
Required fields are marked *
15 NiaIpeh
May 10, 2016 at 9:14 AM
Sound boring boring boring plot
Required fields are marked *
16 Jig
May 10, 2016 at 9:20 AM
Cinderella and the Four Knights Without a King
Required fields are marked *
17 Oppyjcw
May 10, 2016 at 9:33 AM
lol@ your comment that's funny @ crysta
Required fields are marked *
18 jadea
May 10, 2016 at 9:47 AM
Everyone's saying this sounds so lame and boring, but I was looking forward to this one. It doesn't sound like it'll be anything spectacular, but it sounds like it would be light and fun, which is exactly what I need in a time where pretty much all the current dramas are doing everything, but entertaining me. I could definitely use some thing light and airy.
I hope they get a broadcaster at some point though. They already filmed 10 episodes of the show it'd be a shame for all that time, money, and hard work to go to waste. It's interesting that this show which is mostly filmed, can't get a broadcaster when Wanted doesn't even have leads and they're trying to shove it in after Entertainer when it sounds like a show that would fare better being pre-produced.
With dramas not getting broadcasters, dramas not having casts weeks before they air, and some dramas casting teenage girls with grown men... seems like dramaland is pretty hectic these days.
Required fields are marked *
ladytron333
May 10, 2016 at 10:24 AM
+1 to everything you said! I've been in a drama slump for months and was looking forward to something light and fun with a good cast.
I'm also pretty concerned with the whole young girl/adult man trend that's been going on recently. Nothing wrong with an age gap, but at least have all parties involved be legal...
Required fields are marked *
Wag-a-muffin
May 16, 2016 at 7:56 PM
+2
Required fields are marked *
19 سریال کره ای کره کده
May 10, 2016 at 9:54 AM
it's unbelievable
the story line of drama is greate and i think it would be one of the most watched drama's of south korean.
Required fields are marked *
20 owl 🦉 🫰
May 10, 2016 at 11:43 AM
How can this be??
Required fields are marked *
21 Ronnie
May 10, 2016 at 11:54 AM
Ahn Jae Hyun worst korean actor ever, he's always with the same face in every situation.
An actor need to be expressive. I wonder if he is gratuated from an acting school.
Required fields are marked *
22 kanz
May 10, 2016 at 3:20 PM
How about this, Cinderella goes to KBS to air before Beautiful Mind? Since Beautiful Mind still haven't filming at all despite premiering in June.
Then we get Park So Dam overload in KBS. Haha
Required fields are marked *
23 Prettysup
May 10, 2016 at 4:04 PM
Doesn't KBS have an available slot after Uncontrollably Fond?
Required fields are marked *
24 Dessert
May 11, 2016 at 3:18 AM
Are they inspired by CN blue song-Cinderella the mv is soooo awesome!!!! Poor Jungshin next time i hope you get better drama like your previous one, My daughter seoyoung, and temptation, pssttt The 3 lead cast, isn't that great and isn't popular too in international viewers or even korean viewers.
Required fields are marked *
25 T.K.
May 11, 2016 at 6:42 AM
Not the best option, but they can try other cables, like JTBC or TV Chosun.
Or, if there's really no Tv wants to broadcast this drama, just make it as web drama.
This project has been very warry from the get go anyway
Required fields are marked *
26 Gamisha Nalo
February 6, 2019 at 5:57 AM
Wow this drama is great.....Han won is extremely cool
Required fields are marked *