tvN’s upcoming The Man Who Became King has released new teasers featuring its lead actor, Yeo Jin-gu.
The story is a remake of the film, Masquerade (also known as Gwanghae, the Man Who Became King) which broke Korean box office records when it was released back in 2012. The drama will similarly center around two men: King Yi Heon and a clown named Ha-sun who happen to look exactly the same as the king. Ha-sun is initially used as a pawn, secretly disguised as the king to be his decoy, in order for the true king to conceal himself from his enemies. However, tensions arise as the story starts to question who really should be sitting on the throne.
The three teasers use similar shots, but are edited differently to tell the story from slightly different perspectives.
The first teaser is King Yi Heon’s version. In voice-over the king desperately decrees, “Find a way to protect me… before I really become crazy.” With ominous music in the background, we’re shown a fearful King Yi Heon sitting on the throne in a cold blue room. A dancing Ha-sun approaches in red; Yi Heon becomes resolved as he moves towards Ha-sun while drawing his sword, and the scene ends with Yi Heon wielding his sword at Ha-sun face-to-face.
The second teaser is the clown Ha-sun’s version. The music is dramatic and orchestral as the character narrates in voice-over, “I think I need to become the real king.” We see Ha-sun dressed in his red costume and mask, boldly dancing as he approaches, and Yi Heon quickly unsheathes his sword. Ha-sun then theatrically sits on the throne as if falling into it, with his mask still on. The teaser ends as Ha-sun slowly takes off his mask and stays seated at the King’s throne.
The third is a combination of the previous two teasers. It starts with Ha-sun putting on his mask with ominous music, like that of the first teaser, in the background. Ha-sun dances as he approaches the apprehensive Yi Heon. The music then starts to change, mixing in some orchestral notes, as we hear Yi Heon’s same narration: “Find a way to protect me… before I really become crazy.” Yi Heon steely walk towards Ha-sun as he brandishes his sword. The music becomes more dramatic and we hear Ha-sun’s voice-over: “I think I need to become the real king.” A horizontal split screen shows us the two men crossing over to each other’s side, signifying the “switch.” Ha-sun then sits on the throne, takes off the mask, and the teaser ends on Ha-sun’s pleased face.
At the end of all three teasers, Yeo Jin-gu voices, “tvN’s The Man Who Became King premiering January 7.”
I was pleasantly surprised to hear how Yeo Jin-gu voices the two characters differently, even though it’s just two short lines. I don’t know why I didn’t expect it since this is Yeo Jin-gu after all. He’s truly one of those rare gems, naturally gifted, but often wasted in not-so-great shows like many other good actors (*cough* Lee Jun-ki *cough*). I’m really excited about his pairing with Lee Se-young as well. She’s also been in the industry forever, having been a child actor like Yeo Jin-gu, but for some reason was always under the radar a bit. Here’s hoping 2019 will be a good year for lots of good shows!
The Man Who Became King is set to air on tvN at the start of the new year, on January 7, 2019.
