With Rain's New Role, "The Heirs" And "Nine," This Is The Year Kdrama Officially Crossed Over
It should be recorded that 2013 was the year that kdrama and its actors officially crossed over into America. The number of international kdrama viewers on sites such as DramaFever, hulu.com and viki.com continue to grow dramatically and American entertainment companies are paying attention.
Kdrama stars are being courted by Hollywood, kdramas are being co-produced by U.S.-based companies and American companies are remaking some kdramas.
Let's start out with the migration of kdrama actors, the most famous of which are Lee Byung Hun and singer-actor Rain. Lee Byung Hun, the star of "Iris," appeared in two Hollywood blockbusters this year. He had roles in "Red 2" with such top actors as Bruce Willis and Helen Mirren, and before that he appeared in "G.I. Joe" Retaliation."
After "Red 2" filming ended Willis had nothing but praise for his Korean co-star's dedication and skills.
Rain was also recently cast in a Bruce Willis film, "The Prince." According to his agency, Cube DC, the "Full House" star will join Willis, John Cusak and 50 Cent in the action thriller. He will play Willis's friend Mark.
Actress Ha Ji Won is also signed with Hollywood talent agency UTA and plans a Hollywood project this year after she finishes filming "Empress Ki." And what about Lee Min Ho? Hollywood has expressed interest. After he works on his English a while longer, he may head west too.
But it's not just the stars that are being courted by Hollywood. American producers are increasingly curious about the appeal of kdramas.
This year, American television station ABC announced they would produce an American version of the Korean cable drama "Nine." "Lost" alumni Yunjin Kim, who has appeared in several kdramas, will be the show's producer.
An American company has also cast an American production of "Boys Over Flowers," setting the drama at an American college. While this drama, based on the Japanese manga "Hana Yori Dango," has Japanese and Taiwanese versions, it was the Korean version that first brought it to the attention of American producers.
This year also marked the first production collaboration on a kdrama between an American company and a Korean company. Hwa and Dam Pictures collaborated with the U.S.-based company DramaFever to co-produce "The Heirs," starring Lee Min Ho and Park Shin Hye. That star-studded drama is a ratings success and the ratings make it likely that more such productions will take place in the future.
