Lee Dong Wook is reportedly set to star in another melodrama after the success of The Nice Guy. As reported by IZE on February 3, the 44-year-old K-drama veteran is in talks to star in a new melodrama, Love Affair, directed by Mo Wan Il, the acclaimed director of The World of the Married and The Frog.
The drama is written by Ha Soo Jin, who also wrote The Matchmakers, and is being produced by FNC Story. Discussions are reportedly underway for a global release on Netflix.
Lee Dong Wook has been offered the role of Kim Ji Hoon, a man who appears to have everything in place — a stable job and a happy marriage. His life is suddenly shaken when he meets a woman abroad by chance. The two spend the night together and later reunite under complicated circumstances. Their unexpected encounter forces Kim Ji Hoon to confront the consequences of a love affair that hits him suddenly and violently, “like a car accident.”
Love Affair is planned for an OTT platform rather than terrestrial or cable TV. Therefore, the sexual and romantic content is expected to be more intense than in The World of the Married.
The production team is actively casting the female lead, Gong Hoo Kyung, a fatally charming architect, and is seeking an actress in her early to mid-30s. Other important roles, including Kim Ji Hoon’s wife Lee Sun Hee and Gong Hoo Kyung’s boyfriend Lee Dae Hee, are also being cast.
Lee Dong Wook’s agency, King Kong by Starship, confirmed that the actor has received the offer and is reviewing it carefully. They stated that they will confirm “a final decision after confirming various factors.”
If confirmed, it would be Lee’s first foray into a spicy, adult melodrama that explores taboo themes. He has long been loved for his romantic roles and expressive acting in dramas like Goblin, A Shop For Killers, and My Girl. Fans are curious to see how he will portray Kim Ji Hoon’s intense and tumultuous journey.
For director Mo Wan Il, Love Affair marks a return to the intense, adult-themed storytelling that brought him fame. The World of the Married became the highest-rated Korean cable drama of all time and earned him the Best Director award at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards.
Meanwhile, Lee Dong Wook will appear in the second season of Disney+’s A Shop For Killers, scheduled for this year.
