Hide Your Faves - Kim Eun Sook Writing New Drama

[keytfelt.livejournal.com]

Screenwriter Kim Eun Sook, who has written successful dramas like “Goblin,” “Descendants of the Sun,” “Lovers in Paris,” “Secret Garden,” and “Heirs,” has decided upon her next project. Kim Eun Sook will be teaming up with PD Lee Eung Bok again, which is already heightening anticipation for the drama as the two have previously shown great teamwork together on “Goblin” and “Descendants of the Sun.”

The drama, which is tentatively titled “Mr. Sunshine,” is set in the early 1900s, before the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945). The drama will tell the story of a Korean man who adopts a new identity as a solider in the United States army after embarking on a battleship from Korea during the United States expedition to Korea in 1871. The man returns to Joseon after being stationed there and falls in love with a woman from an aristocratic family.

Recently, Kim Eun Sook stated, “This is a topic I’ve been wanting to [write a drama about] for a while now. I created a project proposal for this drama a while back: a drama about not independence fighters but actual soldiers from that era. Although it’s not recorded anywhere in history, it’s something that we all need to know about.” She talked about the difficulties of the drama and explained, “The drama is set in the era before the Japanese occupation of Korea but there are not many places that are representative of this era. So, a set needs to be built, which means that I need to write the script quickly.”

In terms of casting for the drama, Kim Eun Sook stated, “I do have someone in mind. Since the character’s narrative is strong and has a large breadth of emotions, the role needs to be played by someone who is very good at acting.”

“Mr. Sunshine” is currently slated to air in the first half of 2018.

Sources: Soompi/Naver/Osen

Comments

[nekokonneko.livejournal.com]

So the script isn't even finished and sets will need to be built for filming, but it's supposed to be on the air in less than a year. Isn't that a bit of a rush job?

[goldenrosalie.livejournal.com]

hmmm well plot actually sounds pretty interesting (or maybe i'm curious about period she won't to focus on...) but it's kim eun sook and she can't write to save her life.
she recently proclaimed her love for kang dong won and that she wants him for her next drama so we'll see if that works out lmao

[tempestdance.livejournal.com]

lulz kang dong won would never and kim eun sook did write that it needs to be somone actually good at acting (and while i love tuna oppa for his looks in the acting dept he's uh...)

[miwa201.livejournal.com]

i don't think he's any worse than kes' previous male leads though? but yeah i doubt he'd do it

[ohlookshiny.livejournal.com]

kim eun sook can't do any worse to me (sjk and gong yoo?? ffs), she also nearly ruined lmh for me. it's ok

unless she wants lee jun ki or smth lmao

ppl on db were talking about shin min ah for the female lead. i hope she stays far away

[carra-mia.livejournal.com]

Not widely used time period and woman not being cinderella type are pluses, but no matter the conditions KES dramas are usually one big wank over male lead/leads/their bromance, literally the "oppa" celebration that goes too far in some intense idol fan teritory so I'll probably watch like 3 eps and say goodbye ( I managed to end only one of her works to this day)

[miyozari.livejournal.com]

i'll watch the first 4 episodes and then i'll drop it. her female lead characters are basically copy+paste from one drama to another.

she's probably going to cast an actor who's finished his military service and is in his early/mid 30s. didn't jo in sung say in a interview that he really wants to be in one of her dramas lol

[tsuyoi-hikari.livejournal.com]

She can have Jo Insung lol then I dont have the urge to watch it! :X

[little-giant.livejournal.com]

I know she's not a great writer, but i honestly enjoy watching a lot of her stuff (Heirs was the only recent one i couldn't finish). It's just the kind of silly, escapist fun i crave after a shitty day and she always gets a great cast.

[torontok.livejournal.com]

So in typical Kim Eun Sook fashion, it's going to have a great premise, very strong initial episodes but then the writing will go south, the female character will only cry for 6 episodes and Subway will find a way to do Joseon era product placement, Kay then

[miirae.livejournal.com]

i love how good acting is only mentioned as a requirement because of this particular role, like it doesn't matter normally lol

[yixingsforehead.livejournal.com]

yes, it sounds like a shade like this. :D (idk if it's just the translation, or if it gives off a similar vibe in korean, too.)

[yixingsforehead.livejournal.com]

just don't touch yoo ah in, and i'll be fine. lol

[babyjenkski.livejournal.com]

I think he's safe coz he'll be enlisting soon right?

[yixingsforehead.livejournal.com]

did he pass the latest check? if so, he's indeed safe.

[meyouthisthat.livejournal.com]

Idk maybe it's just me being pessimistic or sth but I can't for the life of me buy into the hype of this woman's writing. Every single one of her dramas - though very popular in Asia - have such bad plots and poorly written female leads, and tend to go south after  4 or so episodes. They are so popular cause of the popularity of the leads themselves. I'm curious as to what sorts of contracts she has with broadcasting cos/pds and some of these acting houses. She manages to get big names on her projects always loll. And is probably the one of the few rare kdrama writers who keeps churning out consistent work thst gets picked up by broadcasting cos. Strange.

[carra-mia.livejournal.com]

She caters to drama version of idol fangirls - hot male leads written into "perfect man" image, a lot of scenes to make them seem "cool" for female viewers, heavy bromancing etc. Woman will watch with dedication and do the ratings, then actually spend on/promo the male lead actor (that's why they flock to work in KES's dramas) - both drama and him will do tons from cfs, also selling broadcast rights to foreign countries etc.
tl;dr what she churns out makes crazy amount money so channels they keep coming back to her

[meyouthisthat.livejournal.com]

I totally agree. She seems to lean into the alpha male/manly (read: douchebag) sort of behaviour for her male leads. I'm not sure about Goblin's male lead, but i thought Gentleman's dignity/heirs had some of the worst male/female leads ever. I understand why actors will flock to her films - she tends to make them really famous and with the broadcasting rights to Asian countries (and beyond now) they tend to enjoy insane success in China and so on...though I think with the political situation, things might be slightly different now idk.

What I'm really curious about is who is backing her projects and why lol - cause it certainly ain't her writing talent that is securing all these big names and overseas broadcasting contracts.

[ebenetwo.livejournal.com]

i hate this woman's writing and i know we're not the only ones sis

yet her filth becomes so popular to my utter disdain

[meyouthisthat.livejournal.com]

precisely! I live in SEA and lots of people here are obsessed with her shows. Especially younger fangirls. People actually watch descendants of the sun and cry their way through it, Good Grief! I wish she'd just go away, writers like her are the reason why kdramas are going down in quality.

[chimpansee.livejournal.com]

The plot sounds really interesting but then kdrama plots often do and then what comes out of it is just a cheesy mess with worthless (female) characters

[ah0000.livejournal.com]

I know that her writing is awful (especially for women) but there is no denying the level of popularity that actors in her dramas get domestically and internationally. So in a sense I think it's great for whoever gets the roles bc they'll get more fame and thus more roles in the future. I would just think of it as a stepping stone in their career lol.

I will say one thing that I like about her recent two dramas is that there is no love triangle. I much prefer a lead couple/secondary couple situation.

I am also hoping that her writing about this time period inspires others to as well

[keytfelt.livejournal.com]

I'm such secondary couple trash so I've appreciated that in her last few dramas. I just wish she wrote lead couples/stories I actually liked.

[ebenetwo.livejournal.com]

don't touch any of my faves bitch

hide Park Bo Young, hide Gong Hyo Jin, don't care abt the male faves cos they're all replaceable to me. I literally got turned off by GY from being in Goblin and i used to love that man a lot. that's how much i hate her.