Upcoming mega-budget and scope MBC joint Korea-Chinese production K-drama Kill Me Heal Me continues to trickle down news for a better understanding of what to expect. I wish the network would just go full Heirs and release a comprehensive synopsis and let the speculation have more teeth to it. This weekend starts off with a two pronged update from the production that gives a much clearer picture of the leading man. With the clock nearly four years since Hyun Bin was last on television with Secret Garden, his name has been floated as one of the top possibilities for this drama since the project was announced. Today his agency revealed that Hyun Bin was approached but nothing concrete was discussed beyond the production asking about his availability later this year into early next year as the drama films and airs.
MBC followed up by admitting it contacted Hyun Bin but added that a handful of top actors have been discussed for this project during the planning phase but now the production knows exactly what the leading man age requirement will be. Kill Me Heal Me is the story of a chaebol heir with multiple personality disorder with 7 different personalities battling for supremacy. He ends up falling in love with the first year psychology resident (a doctor but a newbie one) secretly treating him. It will make a huge difference whether the leading man character is in his 30’s vs 20’s and the drama has decided to go for a twenty-something actor to play the younger man role. That immediately nixes Binne along with with a host of older A-list actors from the role such as Jang Dong Gun or Song Seung Heon. That also leaves only a few viable candidates of K-actors in their twenties with enough star power in Korea and China that can land this role so let’s discuss the possibilities below.
Lee Min Ho and Kim Soo Hyun. I refer to them together because the casting conversation might actually start and end with them. They are far and away the most popular Korean actors in China right now. By a significant margin.
Yoo Seung Ho. He’s the youngest and also just coming back from military service. The timing might end up not working but he’s definitely always in contention for the top twenty-something roles.
Kim Woo Bin. His charisma is so undeniable that he is now one of the biggest K-actors in the Chinese market, all on the back of playing a bullying second male lead in Heirs. Impressive.
Yoochun. His name keeps getting mentioned and timing-wise would be great for him to do a final big drama before enlisting in the military.
Lee Seung Gi. My boy! Even his lackluster dramas like You’re All Surrounded gets attention because he’s in it.
Jang Geun Seok. He’s still really really popular overseas including in China, and when and if he feels like it then he still has the acting chops.
We can reasonably cross these young men off the short list. Highly unlikely twenty-something K-actors (1) who aren’t nearly A-list enough to have a shot at this, (2) is in the army, or (3) doing a drama now or then: Kim Bum, Jung Il Woo, Sung Joon, Yoon Si Yoon, Joo Won, Yoo Ah In, Lee Je Hoon, Lee Jong Seok, Ji Chang Wook, and Seo In Guk. It’s also not going to be an idol-actor, not for such a big budget drama and requiring the leading man to play 7 different characters. Very few K-actors have the breadth to do that much less an idol trying to give acting a shot. Who do you think will end up leading Kill Me Heal Me?
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Kim soo Hyun is already out of the running. His reps have said he won't be picking (or announcing) a project until at least next year. He's taking cautious steps in choosing his next project after stars.
my top choice for a role like this is yoo seung ho, hands down he's the most capable on this list of candidates. Everyone else may struggle with the whole 7 personalities quirk. Plus its about time yoo seung ho added a lead role big name project to his resume.
I'd like YSH too but it may be an ambitious project to tackle and I'm not sure of his star power yet. I'd take KWB too. Just no to LMH & KSH: I don't care about their fanbase, they are not good actors enough for this character. Off topic: Binnie for Descendants of the Sun? Hehe. ;)
NGL, my interest in this has gone several notches down because of the new age range...
Er even I can't speculate who I want. With such role I would prefer someone with great acting skills otherwise it would bomb. Surely Chinese fans are not going to expect crap acting?
I would go for YSH out of the whole lot. Just because he's the only one that might carry it off.
it s weird that they need to cast 20s something actor to act 20s something character. or if the character is older, 30s something, they will cast 30s something actor.
when did this rule start? many older actors/actresses play younger characters all the time like PSH, LMH,JJH,... or younger actors/actresses play older characters like YSH,Yoona, SooYoung,...
Actors/actresses do not need to be at certain age to act certain characters, if their skills are good
KSHyun is a smart cookie, probably him...and LMHo's acting became so lifeless...
I want KWB because he would be perfect for the slightly off kilter role but if I think of a more mainstream choice, it could be KSH too.
I agree, Woobie would be perfect for this role.
I loved KSH in Dream High, but I haven't been impressed with his acting since then.
Lulz.
Methinks all the top stars of note probably turned them down already and so they're pretending that they wanted someone in his 20s all along.
Are they expecting us to think that if Hyun Bin said yes to this role, they would mind ageing the character a few years?
What's most important is that the female lead actually look like a first year resident - in the US, that means someone around 26 years old. No going too young or too old please!
Lol, ikr. I'm not a fan of HB, but I wouldn't mind him picking up this project, alongside with an actress in her early thirties (JNR perhaps?).
My bet's on KWB, since he turned down Pinocchio and this seems like something an up and coming actor will take the risk of waiting for.
I think it doesn't matter even if the character is in his 20s, HB can definitely act like a man in his late 20s so... And I'm a huge fan of JNR, but the female lead is supposed to be a newbie doctor. Despite her everlasting youthfulness I still doubt that she'll be considered for the role since. Crossing my fingers though. However, I'm not too impressed with the premise at the moment. The only reason why the drama seems to be getting hype is because of the investment it's getting.
It matters actually, if they do skew older, say mature male in his mid-thirties compared to fresh-faced KWB or anyone else on that list. At least I hope it does matter... You know how kdramas are D:
I'm hoping she gets it too since she's big in China! Wasn't GHJ a first year resident too in IOIL? Doubt she was 20ish in there, at the very least almost 30. Or they could go the EC route and make the female lead older in that sense as well.
I would say that she's not as big in China as she was 6 or 7 years ago - during the Bratty Princess period. She's still very famous, but perhaps not as popular. I'm not too keen on the drama itself but I think it may be a hit still and that's why I'm hoping that she gets it. Haha...
My bet is on Lee Min-ho and Yoon Eun-hye though. It's the ultimate combination if you want to go for star power, no? That's based on the assumption that they'll want both leads to be top stars. I think a fresh-faced actor like Kim Woo-bin and Yoo Seung-ho may not work. KWB is popular in China but I don't think a top actress would want to play second fiddle to him. And YSH, he's just not that well-known in China even though South Korea loves him to bits.
Well my choice if they want a power lead cast which is famous in China
as well Korea & other Asian countries. So my first choice is HYUN BIN
he can be looks tO med 20's or 30's and he is a versatile actor, his
acting is really simple but powerful and MY second choice is LEE MIN HOO
HE is one of the best top and a very good actor, and he is very popular
actor around the world.
Then the lead actress will be YOON EUN HYE because it will be first time to
be pair to Hyun Bin Or Lee Min Hoo. So its new to the viewers. It will be
AWESOME!!... Cheers!.
I think it`s gonna be KSH or Yoochun. I was wondering if leading actress is gonna be in her 20s too. If she is first year resident doctor, she needs to be around 25-26 years old.
Not me!
Doesn't necessarily have to be that age. I could believe a 1st year resident being older but to match the male lead, then they should go 25-26. But Many first yrs aren't that age as well.
I am rooting for Park Yoochun!
Based on all the different roles he has play, i could see him pulling this off. I don't really care for this drama through. It's not interesting.