I’m not gonna mince words, this is going to be a tough drama to watch with my ambivalence and likely the blowback from the a portion of the audience. Breaking casting news heading into the weekend has top Korean movie star Lee Byung Hun making his first K-drama return 8 years (or 9 when the drama airs next year) as the male lead of the highly anticipated next drama by mega hit screenwriter Kim Eun Sook. He’ll be playing the male lead in her first period drama Mr. Sunshine set in the Joseon era as a man who snuck onto a US ship and grows up in America. He returns to Korea as an American soldier during the late Joseon era transition into the Korean Empire and Japanese colonization period. Once you read the male lead description it makes Lee Byung Hun’s casting completely understandable and a no-brainer – he’s one of Korea’s biggest stars who also speaks the best English with his Hollywood career in the last decade. The drama is slated to film late this year with an air date of Spring 2018.
When I say I’m ambivalent about Lee Byung Hun it means just that – I loved him so much in early classic Hallyu drama Beautiful Days, still my all time favorite of the early K-dramas, but I’m also well aware and digested his recent years scandal for cheating on his pregnant wife Lee Min Jung though the two remain married and now have a little boy. Unlike the sex scandals of some of his other acting colleagues which involve prostitution and allegations of rape, his fooling around with aspiring starlets who foolishly decided to blackmail him almost seams tame by comparison, though with all sex scandals the uniform response from viewers is always “how sleazy”.
With that said, I can’t pass up a Kim Eun Sook drama and I still think Lee Byung Hun is one of the best actors of his generation with A Bittersweet Life and Masquerade being singularly memorable performances. It’s also quite surprising that it’s taken this long for Lee Byung Hun to do a Kim Eun Sook drama considering all his same level famous actor compatriots have signed on for her brand of buzzy fare. Lee Byung Hun has only done three dramas in the last two decades – the aforementioned Beautiful Days, All In, the most recent being IRIS. With his casting for Mr. Sunshine it’s clear Kim Eun Sook continues to know how to generate media and fan attention.
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Wow I've never thought it'd be him tho. This casting news blows my mind for so many reasons. Anyways, I know he's good at his job (acting) so I might checking this up.
Now the next serious question : who's gonna be his leading lady hm.
I agree taking out his personal life dramas out of the equation. LBH has a lot to offer as an actor and going by the characters description this role is tailor made for him.
That been said I'm also wondering what actress is going to take the bullet to work in a Kim Eun Sook drama a the female lead regarless of her male co-star. Knowing his rep is going to have to be a very establish actress with a spotless rep or a married actress because otherwise is asking for all kinds of negative especulation from the media and the view public in general.
Now that you mentioned married actress, the first person that came to mind is LEE YO-WON (Temper Nam Joonki, 49 Days, Queen Seondeok).
She packs a wide emotional range so the acting won't be a problem with her and the age gap isn't icky.
well I though it will be won bin or kang dong won. but lee byung hyun is a much better choice.
First reaction: O. God. I hope he declines. He really doesn't need a KES drama though, at this point in his career. He does major blockbusters in Hollywood, and in the movie industry in Korea, so why return to the stress of dramaland? That being said, he's an undeniable talent. I just don't think I want to watch him romance a leading lady any time soon.
Was thinking the same, why does he need a KES drama? Is he losing his shine in movie world?
Let's see which actress are they going after...
Maybe he wants to recover his image in Korea..I thought he didn't care about things like that and just went about doing anything he likes...otherwise does he really need to do this?
This is where you take the popcorn and watch the drama unfold.They even have a year long now to mediaplay.Fight with the netizens..???? naver is blowing up like crazy...While people were busy suggesting hallyu stars male leads and young ins...writer Kim Eun Sook was in another universe...mindblowing indeed..
I know right? Although KES seems to have always run at the beat of her on drum. LOL...
Base on her track recored I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt that she know what the heck she is doing. I mean it is her story so she most have a pretty good idea/image of what her story and charactets are about. I hope.
This is shocking but i remember KES considering actor in 30s or 40s so here it is. At least he knows english so it won't be cringey (sorry joong ki). Next big mystery is who's gonna be the female lead? HHJ, YEH, Han ga in?
@Tita omg those are the last actresses who should be near LBH.That's career suicide.
1.HHJ is not exactly liked in Korea with her military controversy.She received bad reviews for her acting in W.She has been subject to tons of criticisms for 'allegeldly'receiving awards they think she didn't deserve.
2.YEH no no no.for her own good..it's better she stays as far away from this man as possible.They were already not so good rumors concerning him and her.Plus her current image in Korea is to put it mildly not good.For her to make a successful comeback this is not it.
3. Han Ga In is well known for being one of the worst bad actresses.So starring opposite LBH who is very good at acting will only have the netizens and drama fans crucify her endlessly.Plus she has had quite a long hiatus..so it's questionable whether she had the opportunity to improve her acting.
The reason why i mention that actresses are because some of them are in the same agency like LBH (HHJ and han ga in) and some of them (just like you said) not have the best image (HHJ and YEH). Well I'm pretty sure the real reason why LBH accept KES offer is not because he miss to act in a drama but because he wants to clean his image after all his scandal. If that works for him then why not with the ladies.
Also if she really needs guys in their 30s or early 40s there are tons of them who the public likes and will not turn people off..they are also popular in Korea.For example Ji Sung, Nam Goong Min, So Ji Sub etc.I know she said she wants someone who is fluent in English.But this is a Korean Drama, or will the whole script in English?Or is this drama meant for export?or she wants to be recognised by international awarding bodies for best scriptwriter?I mean LBH is great actor but her audience whether she likes it or not is majorly female in late teens, 20s and 30s.Unless she starts writing plots with substance she need to reconsider her decision?.
I have a feeling they'll go for Lee Na Young for this one. LBH is a big name and his movies always do well and LNY is looking for a comeback as well. And it would be foolish to turn down a KES drama if offered. Anyways, this casting is really out of the left field.
My interest in the drama dropped like a ball. I dont think he is gonna have any chemistry with the leading actress. He is gonna look like a father beside them also given his sleazy past and having wife and looks old than his age actors.
Huhahahahaha me too. For so many reasons i scream "noooo, just not him"
Kes is ny fave script writer but he is definitely not my fave no matter how good he is in acting.
I hope YEH can be the lead. Girl has been MIA for too long
No...YEH is only famous with some international fan...She is not well accepted with Korean viewer in particular after the fashion scandal (plagiarism) regardless it is true or not..
If I have to choose that I would prefer MGY, she is so good especially when it comes to sage
Not YEH please, but not for the same reason. This man humiliated his wife . As a woman i find it disgusting ! The YEH scandal is "du pipi de chat à côté"
Please no...
Hahaha, 'if Kim Min Hee is the lead actress it will be the best drama' (Best comment I have seen on Weibo). This guy is above 45, should be grandpa now not ajusshi.
How old are you?
Wrong question to ask. How old is LBH?
Okay.. I really didn’t want to go here but because the maturity level of your comments are bit low, I’m going to get to the point. I see you have commented that PSH is your bias or something? Are you by chance looking her latest co-actor the same way, thinking he is too old or ’’ahjusshi’’, because he is nearing his forties too? Has it ever occurred to you that your bias (?) have acted or might act in future with 40+ years old ''ahjusshis’'? I hope you were just joking with your’’grandpa’’ comment, because that was ageist. That said, I hate it that women that age always get called ’’ahjummas’’ and already act mother roles to 20 yrs old male leads...
after reading this news, my anticipation for this drama suddenly went poof. i understand the casting choice, but still, isn't there anyone else? :(
how about daniel henney, or rain or lee jun ki?
kinda OT, but would have loved to see daniel henney and jung ryeo won in this. those two seriously needs to have a reunion drama.
Well said ,Daniel henny would be a much better choice than LBH and he would be great if he was the the male lead . I just can't imagine LBH will have good chemistry with any of the female actresses.
Yes but Daniel Henney is going to be pretty tide up with season 13 of Criminal Minds US. Lee Jun Ki is also tide up with Criminal Minds Kdrama at the moment.
Rain is probably in hiatus until after his baby comes and with all due respect because he is a great entertainer as far as his music career goes, Rain is not a strong enough actor to pull this one off.
To find the combination of a Korean solid actor with a male lead status and who also is fluent English speaker was a task of tall order because that pool had very slim pickings to begin with, still they could had gone with Eric Moon he is been leading male before and he is a fluent English speaker.
how about lee seo jin?
I just hope that none of my favorite actreeses receive the offer to be his leading lady. I'm sorry not sorry, but yikes!