Filming is underway for the next MBC mega drama, the Mon-Tues slated 50-episode Monster (Tyrant), which really can do with a better title if you ask me. My gut tells me MBC is trying to harken back to the glory days of dramas like Giant, behemoths that truly lived up to its larger than life narrative scope and garnered equal ratings to gloat about. Those days are over in terms of ratings, but if Monster can capture the same intensity and slow burn of Giant then I’m all for it having a generic drama title.
The sprawling cast sat down for a script reading this month and the production released pictures this week, with too many familiar faces to name but plenty of talent to go around. Kang Ji Hwan headlines as well as reunites on television with Sung Yuri nine years after Hong Gil Dong, not to mention they will be going head-to-head with their HGD costar Jang Geun Seok who is starring in Daebak (Jackpot) over on SBS. The ending of HGD was about as rocks falls down as it gets so hopefully the second go around with Kang Ji Hwan and Sung Yuri scratches the happy ending itch for everyone.
With a 50-episode drama there is bound to be a protracted childhood sequence, and in this case it’s more like a teen/young adult sequence. Lee Ki Kwang and Lee Yeol Eum play the younger counterparts of Kang Ji Hwan and Sung Yuri.
If this show can capture even some of the magic that Giant had, then i will definitely watch it! Giant was an epic of massive proportions and very few dramas have managed to best it imo..I do think that Monster has a better chance than Daebak of having a good storyline but will have to wait and see.
Not a fan of Sung Yuri as an actress, but Hong Gil Dog is one of my favourite Korean dramas ever (despite it’s ridiculously depressing ending). I hope they this show can recreate some of that awesome chemistry between Kang Ji Hwan and Sung Yuri, but I have my doubts.
Never watched HGD but they were in Runway Cop together (2012) and I thought they looked good together 🙂
Park Ki Woong ssi!!!
Did SungYuri not attend the script reading? I don’t see her in these photos.
yuri is at the upper right corner. her looks changes depending on her hairstyle.
Oh, that Ki Kwang is a-dor-able! I wish he were in it the whole time. Maybe lots of flash-ity-backs?
Also a die hard HGD fan who was then, KILLED, CRUSHED because of it. Thanks, writers.
so true. my heart was crushed into pieces. cried buckets of tears. hopefully this time they will have a happy ending.
I love both of them separately (especially Sung Yuri) and they were so so good in HGD!