Any consistent follower of K-drama filming and casting shouldn’t be surprised with today’s news that SBS is in talks with Lee Jong Seok and Park Shin Hye for its upcoming drama Pinocchio. This is the third drama in recent weeks to borrow either the title or the title/concept from Western works – there’s Three Musketeers over on tvN that is basically the novel story transplanted to Joseon Korea, and KBS is fast-tracking Ironman about a man with so much emotional pain he sprouts knives from his body. I wished someone on the IM team would have chosen the more apropos Wolverine for the drama title. Back to Pinocchio, the K-drama version will not be about a puppet boy who tells lies and seeks adventure and then learns the value of telling the truth and the importance of family before being turned into a real boy. K-version Pinocchio is a modern drama set in the world of journalism, a setting that I most remember with Lee Jun Ki‘s Hero but there are more than a few dramas about news reporting.
This drama was openly courting talented Kim Woo Bin, who worked with SBS on Heirs and clearly the network knows a good thing and wants to elevate him to leading man status next. But Kim Woo Bin has been making movies this year since Heirs and ended up passing on Pinocchio for whatever reason. Pinocchio is from the writing-directing team behind the SBS hit I Hear Your Voice so when I heard Woo Bin passed I knew the next logical leading man choice would be Lee Jong Seok. He is also a SBS regular and this year gave it his best shot in Dr. Stranger of making sense out of nonsense. Park Shin Hye was of course the leading lady of the SBS cash cow Heirs so her name being courted for the lead is also not surprising. Lee Jong Seok and Park Shin Hye has worked together before on the advertising campaign for Korean casual clothing brand Jambangee and while the ads didn’t strike my fancy much last year now it’s cute eye candy after I’ve grown fond of Lee Jong Seok since DS.
There is still time left to cast Pinocchio if either or both Lee Jong Seok and Park Shin Hye pass on the drama. It doesn’t air until late November after My Lovely Girl (My Lovable Girl) with Rain and Krystal. My feeling on this casting call is positive but not overwhelmingly excited. I really like both Lee Jong Seok and Park Shin Hye but her side comes with so much feedback baggage these days that any drama she’s in will bound to have excessive commentary either about how she’s the best or how she’s totally overrated and lackluster. I miss the days when viewers could watch Park Shin Hye in character and just discuss the character and story. I think she’ll have good chemistry with Lee Jong Seok but I’m more interested in what kind of story the IHYV team wants to tell.
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Lee Jong Seok x IHYV (and Dream High) writer? I'm MORE then ready.
I really hope the plot is strong and reasonable.. they're both young and watchable.. praying for a good drama.
I totally agree with you about the excessive commentary on Park Shin Hye these days. It seemed that her role in Heirs came with a boatload of new fans and anti-fans (for the lack of a better term). It gets really tiring, to be honest, especially all the negativity. That role in Heirs wasn't her best. Get over it already. The girl works hard. There's time and space to improve.
I agree. She had decent performance in YAB and FBND. but in heirs she couldn't do anything about the weak written character, crying and being miserable was all she had...
the hate she is getting isn't just abt her role but I also see some personal insulting which is truly nasty.
agree, it is disgusting the way to express some, and all for a wrong choice of drama
I agree with you I think they bash her success nothing more that , it turns to be personal hatred & fan girling rather than a discussion about drama .
I really don't understand their grudge :/
I am sure I will be accused of being a PSH hater - but really, I just find her very frustrating. She has all of this hotness in her modeling sessions - fine example above - but it never carries over into her acting, where she tends to be charmingly forthright and endearingly sturdy but impossibly stiff in the clinches. It's sortof the way I feel about Jonghwa - I hear he is fantastic on stage, but that energy and charisma and, if the fangirls are to be believed, hotness - just doesn't translate to film. So my conclusion is, PSH is good at some things but not well-rounded enough to satisfy me. I think part of the reason for her popularity is that she is so "safe" - she never brings anything dark to the table. It was big news when she actually got angry in FBND. I keep hoping she is going to stab somebody, and I am not usually a violent person! ;-)
This sounds like it could perhaps be a cute and sweet drama, with a whiff of angst perhaps, and well within her wheelhouse. I am just glad that Kim Woo Bin turned it down, because a KWB/PSH pairing would just be all that hotness, gone to waste.
I give this long explanation not to "hate" on PSH, but to try and illustrate that not all criticism is "hate."
I was sure the writer would want to reteam with LJS. Now as for PSH, I can't say I'm surprised. Let's just hope she will bring something new to the table (if PHR writes her as a 2014 empowered woman, that would help). I'm def onboard for the writer & ready for some crunchy social commentary.
@Skelly : I wish to see Allkpop comments I don't mean you or real recappers who I read your points of view , I want shin hye to change like everyone I accept the criticism who build not destroy .
I criticise shin hye & I agree with what you say but insulting her is really I don't understand .
Heirs not the best & not the worst but the people put the blame in badly written character not the writer for me I wish she take her time before choosing anything .
For me I wish her to do movies & gain good scripts .
I agree with you on the movies comment. I think PSH needs something to really stretch her abilities and help her grow as an actress, and I don't think she is going to get that in dramas. I think dramas will continue to pigeon-hole her in these very safe but of course wildly popular roles, which means she is sortof treading water in terms of development of her craft.
I liked Shin Hye in Heartstrings and You're Beautiful. Her role in Heirs was a let down. I didn't really like Lee Min Ho's role in Heirs too. At this point I don't know how I should feel a out Shin Hye paired up with Jong Suk. I'm afraid Jong Suk might have to carry the drama himself considering we don't know the secondary leads, and the supporting casts yet. Evem so, Jong Suk might have to carry the drama himself. But, this is written by the IHYV team, so there should be a good chance that the story could help look past the low points.
They are each coming from dramas that were a hot mess (yes, I know they got high ratings... but they were awful dramas).
I'd hope they each choose something next that's actually good, with solid, challenging, showcasing-their-talent roles. I do have to question why Woobie walked away... if it's for anything other than serious scheduling conflict, I would say... run. Yeah, the team behind IHYV sounds promising but we also all remember that the legal parts of that drama were utter nonsense.
I've liked some of LJS's dramas (School 2013, IHYV), but PSH's choices haven't worked for me (and, yes, sorry, I have yet to find her acting anything more than average). YAB was alright (in my early drama watching days at least!), but Heartstrings, FBND and Heirs were middling to atrocious (FBND was the best of that bunch).
Really sad how much – unneeded – photoshopping is going on in those pics.
You should try Cyrano Agency (it's a movie and she is the second lead, an ice princess but in a cool way) or Heaven Tree (my fav PSH drama so far!). :)
Though I don't like her in real life but I absolutely love her in modeling and movie role ; the miracle in cell no 7, cyrano agency, but her dramas are problem here. I loved her in the FBND but all her other work is a meh to me. I really hope that if she picked this drama she can show her potential and Can make people like me lo like her. PSH hwaiting !
why don't you like her in real life though?
Meaning in "real life"? I got confused now.Do you know her in her everyday life and you decided that you do not agree her personality ?
I'm sorry for my lack of English here I'm trying to say her personality in the variaty shows. She's good but maybe no to my likings. Hopes that she can pick a drama that shows her skill.And I've almost forgot. I love her too in trees of heaven. ^^ one of my fave drama.
Park Shin-hye, YES!!! Lee Jong-seok? aww hell NO! Pass. Next time okay Shin-hye.
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