This is a massively star-studded cast for a K-drama, which is a bit surprising since the Hong Sister‘s ratings hit streak was four years ago with The Master’s Sun and the subsequent drama Warm and Cozy was a big dud. I’m hoping this cast won’t be wasted for their ambitious Hwayugi, a K-drama inspired and based on the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West but transported across ethnic lines and to modern times. The drama has started filming now that male lead Lee Seung Gi is out of the army, and the first stills are one of Cha Seung Won filming in his role of the modern agency president who is really the Bull Demon King, and a picture of Lee Hong Ki reading the script for his character as a pop star but really the Pig. Female lead Oh Yeon Seo is the modern version of the Monk and veteran Jang Gwang is the Sand Demon, and the rest of the cast consists of Song Jong Ho, Lee El, Lee Se Young, Kim Sung Oh, Sung Hyuk, and Bora. Hwayugi premieres in late December in the Sat-Sun slot after The Most Beautiful Goodbye in the World.