Korean hanadan casting...

[dangermousie]

Apparently this guy:



(Kim Hyun Joong, a singer, 22) is cast as Rui in the kdrama version of Hana Yori Dango.

(No word on the rest of F4 or Makino).

My thoughts? Whatever. One of the things I love so much about kdrama actors is that (a) they are older; (b) often look more like guys than jdrama stars.

Neither of which applies to this one. I suppose they really are into imitating Hanadan.

So, not thrilled, especially since he doesn't have much acting experience. But shall console self with the following:

a. I adore Lee Jun Ki and he looks girly so you never know. Maybe this guy is as charismatic and 'all male' in action, looks or not, just like LJK. Though LJK is a damn good actor and this guy...who knows.
b. Joo Ji Hoon had no acting experience before Goong and look how awesome he turned out to be
c. All the ones I would I would have loved are too old...

*nope not helping*

*still grumpy*

Am not getting the vibe at all. He is at least 5 years younger (and younger looking even more) than any kdrama actor I like.

Comments

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Kim Hyun Joong, a singer, 22) is cast as Rui in the kdrama version of Hana Yori Dango.

He looks strangely like a twin of Oguri Shun. Oh well, he is very pretty.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, basically my thoughts...

[ginzarhapsody.livejournal.com]

Are they still shooting for high school with their version of Hana Yori Dango? Because if they are, then the rest of the cast might be as young, unfortunately for you.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think they might be, no idea. I think ym thing isn't even so much his age but that he looks so young/babyfaced. I find Yamapi plenty cute and he is about the same age...

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

OK let's see who'll trump it. The Japanese, Taiwanese of Korean :) Currently I still prefer the Taiwanese version :D

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yay, I prefer Tw version too. HYD had better budget and was great in general but I still prefer Tw because I find the boys hotter and the story better.

[salimbol.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he is extremely pretty. And a Rui should be extremely pretty. (It's kind of amusing that you're automatically putting him in the 'too young' basket, as at age 22 he is several years older than the actual character - even if they're shooting for end of university a la Meteor Garden he's about the right age :-) But he doesn't grab me as anything other than pretty. I'll reserve judgement till I see him in action. I never really find guys attractive till I see them moving and listen to them speaking anyway. But if they get a girly - or even worse, short! (heaven forfend) guy to play Doumyouji - well, then we shall have words to say to the casting agents, oh yes.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

He is too young for me to find him hot :P not for the story. It's not necessarily the age, but the age plus babyface/girly looks which make him look 17.

I mean, I thought Lee Wan was smokin' in Tree of Heaven and he was 22, exactly the age of this guy. But I saw him and went limp in the knees. But then he looked more guyish/adult. I mean compare the above and this:



(Not to mention I am used to 30somethings playing highschoolers so I really don't mind the age gap :P)

[joonni.livejournal.com]

hmm...interesting. I can almost seem him as rui because he is soft-spoken and calm. But I don't know about the acting. As you wrote, maybe he could be Joo Ji Hoon. And maybe a strong cast will bring out his acting.

Sigh...I don't want to get my hopes up.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'll wait until the rest of the cast is out and we get trailers. For now, I am just hyper about jp-Hanadan movie.

[salimbol.livejournal.com]

Oh, and it occurs to me that Vic Zhou had no acting experience before Meteor Garden either. Though I don't know if I'd call his acting good in MG... It was acceptable, at any rate, and he was so very lovely to look at. And then he went on to become a really good actor. So there is hope!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but I found Vic gorgeous...this guy is a bit too girly for my likes. But we'll see.

[shinystory.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's the styling at this moment? Maybe they'll improve on how he looks?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I hope...

Oh well, as long as they cast a Domyouji and Makino I like, I'll be OK.

[carviangli.livejournal.com]

I think he's cute:) (sorry!!) Although yet to see him act...

and I still love the taiwanese version the best...TBH I think I'm going to HATE the korean version...HYD is just...SO NOT KOREAN!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Tw version is my fave, too.

I don't know, HYD seems like a kdrama, plotwise, but that is why I am uninterested. I can get that stuff from other kdramas already.

[tatterpunk.livejournal.com]

Is it wrong that I completely don't care and am like, whatever, MORE VERSIONS OF HANADAN BRING IN ON!!!!!

Apparently my standards have fallen to "nil."

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOL. I don't know, I am strangely unexcited. To me Hanadan was always like a kdrama already so this seems a bit redundant :)

[partypaprika.livejournal.com]

my first thought when I saw him was how he kind of reminded me of Oguri Shun--which i guess is a good thing? I'm not sure what they're going for in terms of overall production. My feelings on the korean HYD are kind of up in the air so far. I guess I'll wait until they cast for Makino and Domyouji before I start making up my mind.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's true. I will wait to see who they've got for the lead.

[calixa.livejournal.com]

I had a feeling they were going to cast very young, trendy people in this version of HYD. I mean, the story wouldn't really work outside of a high school or college setting, and Kdrama audiences have always struck me as not particularly interested in that sort of thing (versus Japan, or Taiwan). They're probably planning to target a younger audience market with this version, so the cast will likely be one of the new crop of pop singers/boyband members.

This is not very appealing to me, either...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that is not why I like kdramas...

I might check it out anyway but hmmm...unexcited. The only kdrama I ever loved where both protagonists were in highschool was Goong and it wasn't really a high school drama.

[prismatic-star.livejournal.com]

Aww, I know him from watching MC variety show's We Got Married! (Do check it out sometime, it's very cute). Frankly from what I know watching, he does strikingly act like Hanazawa Rui. Go check for yourself! :D

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, good! *feels better*

[xiaobellsa.livejournal.com]

I can kinda see it, he's endearing to watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sqexT6hTcI

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Cute :)

[boycottbananas.livejournal.com]

Part of me thinks that it's because he's popular and in a kinda famous band? :shrugs:

I don't think I'll watch it, just because I'm fine with the Japanese version. XD

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I will watch and hope it's good.

[bae-mac.livejournal.com]

I want Jamg Geum to play the role of Domyouji and Sung Yu Ri as Makino! Yipee!!!!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

SYR is way too old though. Even in HGD, with period hair to help JGS, she came across as way older than him.

I also can't see JGS as goofy but I don't know...he just didn't appeal to me so I am probably biased.

[moth5dream.livejournal.com]

I just heard of this series recently. I'll have to check out the Japanese and Taiwenese versions at mysoju.com

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

You should :)

[village.livejournal.com]

Really? I don't think he's pretty at all. But then again I had to grow to love Oguri Shun's looks too, so there may be hope for him yet. So far though? Not feeling him. I would like more of the Vic Zhou school of pretty, if you don't mind. He is Rui for me so, I guess, he'll continue to be hard to top.

I am unexcited as well for this version. Maybe three is too much, too soon or something. I just keep getting the terrible feeling that this is going to be awful.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

He is Rui fir me too (Vic). He is the only one who was pretty enough :)

I just keep getting the terrible feeling that this is going to be awful.

It is the company which thought it would be a good idea to do Goong S, so very possibly.

[darkeyedwolf.livejournal.com]

Wait, since when is HYD getting a kdrama??

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

They announced it a while back.

I made a wish-cast list which alas is unlikely to happen, clearly.

http://dangermousie.livejournal.com/1127139.html

[zsuness.livejournal.com]

I've just got into the SS501 fandom so I'm actually quite excited about this. :D imo, he's manly enough, especially for a role like Rui's.. I dunno about his acting ability, we'll see.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Hope he is good.

[lenabean.livejournal.com]

I thought "Rui" immediately after I saw his picture. Maybe it's the hair color or whatever, but as I was scrolling down your entry, I was really hoping that he wasn't Doumyouji since he doesn't look like one.

And so *I* was gleeful to find he would be Rui. I don't know, he just looked like a Rui to me. Handsome and cute and serene. Korea is definitely doing the best job casting so far.

Because for j-version of HYD I didn't think the men were tall or hot enough to be F4. And with MG, Vic Zhou was the only goodlooking one.

Hee, can't wait to see what the other F4 members will look like in this drama!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I thought all of MG guys were perfect but obviously MMV.

I dunno, this guy doesn't strike me as gorgeous at all. He's got nice features but very forgettable. He makes me think of Yul which leads me to...nothing :)

I mean, when I think of Rui in a context of a kdrama, I think of someone with Joo Ji Hoon's level of perfect, remote good looks. (There is a thought. JJH would have been PERFECT. Not they they could ever talk him into it. And they are going for a somewhat younger cast). JJH as Rui, Jo In Sung as Domyouji and Gong Hyo Jin as Makino, and we are set :P

[lenabean.livejournal.com]

PS: Baron Chen (http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Baron_Chen) from "Fated to Love You" looks remarkably like Vic Zhou (http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Vic_Zhou).

Perhaps they are long lost brothers...:P

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOL. I see the resemblance. Not as cute though.

[bodea.livejournal.com]

I felt the exact same way until I watched him on we got married. I think he's quite manly even with the girlish looks, he grows on you. So if he winds up being in it, I hope he can act.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yay! Hope he works out as Rui

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

I read about this a while back. I even did a post on my journal - surprised you missed it. I've been waiting for the casting news for ages and I have to say. . . the actor does look like he'd be an F4 or rather a Rui. But - I'm rather surprised they are going this young. Could this be another Goong?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Must have been in one of my 'away from lj' periods, not that they happen often.

Could be Goong. Or Goong S. I guess we'll know soon enough.