Netflix has just dropped the official trailer and character posters for upcoming period action drama Song of the Bandits, and it promises to be — their words — a wild action spectacle.
With Kim Nam-gil (Island), Seohyun (Jinxed at First), Yoo Jae-myung (Juvenile Justice), Lee Hyun-wook (Remarriage & Desires), and Lee Ho-jung (Moving) leading the way, a wild spectacle is exactly what we see in the full-length promo: a high-budget production with non-stop action and intrigue, and pretty impressive art direction.
Set in 1920, we see firsthand the clash between Imperial Japan and Joseon freedom fighters who will do anything to keep their country and countrymen breathing. Fighting spirit is at an all-time high for our Joseon rebels and bandits, and the onscreen text announces that they “live to surive,” and “steal to protect.”
Our hero Lee Yoon (Kim Nam-gil) is a Korean man who served in the Japanese army. When he finds himself in Jiandao, China, he meets the head of the Korean settlement there — Choi Chung-soo (Yoo Jae-myung), former commander of the Korean independence movement.
While our two bandits are openly Team Joseon, our female characters have more complicated stories. Nam Hee-shin (Seohyun) works for the Japanese government but is secretly helping the independence movement — much to her peril (but while wearing fabulous hats). Meanwhile, contract killer Eon-nyeon (Lee Ho-jung) is hunting down Yoon at the command of our baddie Lee Kwang-il (Lee Hyun-wook). In the trailer, Kwang-il declares that Joseon’s fate is over. But methinks our heroes have other plans in mind. After all, our hero Yoon promises no mercy.
Directed by Hwang Joon-hyuk (Black Dog) and Han Jin-seon, with scripts penned by Han Jung-hoon (Bad Guys), Netflix’s Song of the Bandits will drop its nine episodes on September 22.