The drama gods giveth and the drama gods taketh away, so is the revolving door of K-drama casting that even when the role is confirmed it can still change. Last week Jung Yong Hwa confirmed he was in the upcoming Kim Eun Sook-penned high school drama Heirs. This week he officially is back out after turning down the role over purported “differences in opinion.” LOL, I’ve watched On Air (also a Kim Eun Sook drama) and based on that I have a good idea what “differences in opinion” might have gone on behind the scenes. Oh wells, it wasn’t a casting I loved so this is not an un-casting that leaves me perturbed. I’m more worried about either Lee Min Ho or Park Shin Hye bowing out, not that there are any indications they would. But sometimes a drama in pre-production turmoil can cause a successive ripple effect. Now the million dollar question is – who is going to land this coveted role in a high-profile drama with two very high profile young stars already onboard? Will SM try to strong-arm a male idol in, such Min Ho and maybe throw in some female idols as student extras for the heck of it? Will Keyeast reunite the Boys Before Flowers besties and get Kim Hyun Joong cast? Will JYP succeed in ushering one of its idols in, perhaps Taecyeon or Jinwoon? Will my Shin Won Ho make a triumphant return to the small screen? Or will the current crop of young actors win the role and the likely exposure that comes with it? I don’t know but I’m sure this is going to be highly anticipated news whomever the role goes to. I won’t speculate as to why Jung Yong Hwa turned it down, but I doubt its because he doesn’t want to be paired with Park Shin Hye again or it conflicts with his CNBlue world tour since he was aware of both going in. I am really excited for Heirs to be the crazy popular, internet light up, crack K-drama that has been sorely missing in the last few years. Good or bad, at least it’ll be a memorable ride.
Let me go through the possibilities in batches. First are the gorgeous but cannot act their way out of a paper bag brigade. My #1 pick here is also the worst actor of the bunch – Changmin. What? He’s my DBSK bias, I make no bones about it. Yunho who? Yoochun what? Jaejoong huh? Junsu hmmm? Changmin drooooooolz.
I could live with it being Jaejoong.
Min Ho. So good looking. So so stiff.
Kim Hyun Joong. Baby I miss the old you.
Taecyeon. Cutie pie!
Next comes the so-so actors who could rise to the occasion. My pick here would be baby Lee Min Ho. I also would pay double to watch the two Lee Min Ho’s fight for Park Shin Hye.
Yoon Doo Joon. He was really not bad at all in IRIS 2.
My baby boy Shin Won Ho. SHIN!!!!! Do I even need to explain. *___*
Im Si Wan.
Finally are the good actors who probably won’t get tapped. Jung Il Woo is the top pick of mine. He’s best friends with Lee Min Ho in real life so this would be epic if he joined.
Go Kyung Pyo.
Seo In Guk.
Baek Sung Hyun.
Lee Hyun Woo.
There are a bunch of young age actors who I think are not available for heirs – Kim Bum is likely doing Goddess of Fire Jeongi, Lee Jong Seok is off in I Hear Your Voice. Others are too high profile now to take second lead roles – Yoochun, Song Joong Ki, Yoo Ah In, Lee Seung Gi, Jang Geun Seok. So who is your choice (if you had a say) in casting the role just vacated by Jung Yong Hwa? I think the best all-around choice remains Jung Il Woo, if he is available and wants it. And no – this post was not an attempt to corral all the young hotties all together. That was just a side benefit.
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Lee Min Ho /
Jung Il Woo /
Taecyeon
i don't think taecyeon is soemone to be considerated becuase he is going to be shooting a movie, but i wouldn't be against jinwoon.
i pray to god that no sm idol actor will get the spot, i love all the ones you mentioned but they are so incredible stiff and charisma-less when it comes to acting.
my dream cast would be jung il woo or maybe an upcoming actor, like kim woobin! but i wouldn't mind kim hyun joong.
but i do have to admit that i am more curious about the second female casting.
hahaha...I was waiting for your post about this I love the way you move on on choosing who could take JYH place in The Heirs...I Think I too love JLW it would be a sure epic...but any of those guy would be OK too...She sure have done CF and MV with those guys...Can't wait for Oct to come...Thanks Ockoala you made me laugh with glee with this post,it sure made my day happy.
Forgot I think Kim Soo Hyun would be OK too...
no way kim soo hyun would play second lead now.
Haha! Maybe if there's a role reversal. Kim Soo Hyun earns more than Lee Min Ho, isnt it?!!! I'm not from Korean, but saw in his Wiki, he could earn 18x more from his exclusive deals compared to most A-lister Korean celebrities does.
Either K-entertainment world is really small or you and I think alike way too often. Can I call you unnie? But my dream would love Jung Il Woo, Im Si Wan, Minho ( yes he can't act, but goodness is he gorgeous. Watch him smile)
Jang Geun Suk!!!!!!! But of course it's never going to happen.
how about kim woo bin????? or yoon shi yoon? ;D YSY too strong to be second lead but it can be an equal match for the girl to choose ;p
Kim Woo Bin... yes, please! MAKE.IT.HAPPEN. Drama Gods!
I would still say it's an excuse Ms Koala.
You know me too well. :-D
Ha yeah, I never had to scroll through so many actors before. Half of whom I don't usually watch in dramas. Minho is handome though. Chaebol handsome.
:-) I would add one more criteria. Being able to carry a girl.I still wince at LMH confessing that he couldn't lift GHS in BOF. Remember how low he carried her?
So yeah whomever is the 2nd male lead- better have some muscles.
As I scrolled and drooled I was thinking, what a GREAT excuse this is for the pretty!!
just wanted to ask Koala if you intentionally picked the first picture of Yong Hwa, because his horrified/stunned/shocked expression would be an apt response for bowing out of the casting :) nah, just feasting my eyes on the delicious pretty that Koala has kindly spread forth before our famished eyes! Thanks :) I especially like how Baek Sung Hyu's eyes are thrown into stunning contrast, and of course Jaejoong's hottie shot and Changmin's doe-look :)
I would really glad if the drama gods are giving us Jung Il Woo as the 2nd lead! when was his last korean drama? is it 49 days?
No. It was Flower Boy Ramyun Shop. Something of that sort. :)
No, it was TMTETS.
Everyone in your "good actors" category is totally approved in my book. I also like Sung Joon and Jung Ui Chul from Shut Up Flower Boy Band. But I have a feeling they are going for an idol so the drama will have more hallyu success. If so, Lee Gi Kwang from B2ST was pretty funny in High Kick and Me Too Flower and usually takes on second lead characters. Also Lee Dong Hae wasn't too bad in Panda and Hedgehog either.
PSH and LMG has more Hallyu power than many idol actually. They don't need one here I hope we won't have idols in this drama
Like u said, the "good actor" category are most suitable (with the leads, not with the group the drama is trying to portay) The young LMH could suit the age group aimed but he'd be proof that the leads are too old for the roles. Finally I'd add anyone from the Shut up Flower boy band except the drummer (I'm not too convinced of his acting). I'm not too sure about watching this drama though, got turned off every since knowing it'll be a "high school setting" with bratty kids. It could've had SOO MUCH POTENTIAL if it was a university setting!! We don't have enough of those!!