US TV shows “The Good Wife” and “Entourage” were just adapted into Korean dramas recently, but they are not going to be the only ones.
The latest show revealed to have a Korean remake is popular TV series “Criminal Minds”. As the remake is still in its planning stages, solid details are scarce, but word on the street is that Lee Joon Gi and Kim Ah Joong will be starring in it.
The agencies for both actors confirmed that they have received offers for the remake, but maintained that they are still “examining the project”. If Lee, well known for his work in hit dramas such as “Iljimae” and “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo“, and Kim, who propelled to fame in her breakout role in movie “200 Pounds Beauty”, agrees to star in the show, it will be their first time working together.
The “Criminal Minds” remake is slated to run for multiple seasons, instead of the traditional 1-season K-drama format. It will be led by production company Next World Entertainment (NEW), who produced “Descendants Of The Sun”, and Taewoon Entertainment, producers of “Iris”. Both companies have agreed on introducing the American-style format to TV viewers in Korea, and have revealed that the adaptation will be a long-term project for both sides.
Disney Media Distribution, who will be working together with NEW, will be in charge of distributing the series to other countries outside of South Korea, China, and Japan.
“Criminal Minds” is an American police procedural crime drama created by Jeff Davis which focuses on the life of several FBI profilers. The profilers are part of a special team called the Behavioral Analysis Unit, and they solve murder cases by observing the behavioral patterns in the evidence. Starring Matthew Gray Gubler, A. J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, and Paget Brewster, the series made its debut in 2005, and is currently in its 12th season.
Although “Criminal Minds” will be adapted for audiences outside of the US for the first time ever, it is far from the first US drama to be remade into a Korean version.
“The Good Wife” helped paved the way, and garnered mostly positive reviews for its acting and plot. On the other hand, as “Entourage” was a commercial failure and scored extremely low ratings in South Korea, which went as low as 0.6% at its worst, it remains to be seen if another US TV show remake will appeal to the Korean public.
Set to be broadcasted on KBS, the remake will begin production sometime during March to May this year. So far, there is no set premiere date yet.
Are you looking forward to the remake? Do you think Lee Joon Gi and Kim Ah Joong will do a good job as the leads? Tell us what you think!
Sources: soompi, Yonhap News, Drama Fever.
