Namgong Min Considering Lead Role in Early 2017 MBC Drama Traitor Hong Gil Dong

Hitting peak fame has been great for Namgong Min, he doesn’t flame out too early and has time to build an impressive acting resume of memorable supporting roles and even antagonists. That was his last role, the uber soulless villain in Remember: Son’s War, but his next gig may turn him into an anti-hero for the common folks. Namgong Min has been offered the leading role in early 2017 MBC Mon-Tues drama Traitor Hong Gil Dong, which is a sageuk as the titular character was a famous Joseon folk hero. There have been tons of Hong Gil Dong stories transferred to the screen but the most widely remembered K-drama was the Kang Ji Hwan version of Hong Gil Dong which aired on KBS. That one was all silliness and poop jokes until the second half transitioned into piling on intensity and emotional heft to end with the most traumatic ending ever. Here’s hoping this Hong Gil Dong is more even-keeled.

Traitor Hong Gil Dong is slated to follow Illumination (Night Light) with Jin Goo, Lee Yo Won, and UEE, which will premiere in November after currently airing Woman with a Suitcase. Directing Traitor Hong Gil Dong is the PD of Kill Me, Heal Me, Scandal, and East of Eden, while the screenwriter wrote King’s Daughter Soo Baek Hyang.