New character promos have been released for tvN’s upcoming Arthdal Chronicles featuring Song Joong-ki (Descended From the Sun), Jang Dong-gun (Suits), Kim Ji-won (Fight My Way), and Kim Ok-bin (Children of a Lesser God).
The drama is a historical fantasy which incorporates elements of Korean mythology. And like most good mythologies, it’s a story about heroes. Set in the legendary city of Arthdal in ancient Korea, the characters fight for survival, power, and love within the turmoil of establishing Korea’s first kingdom of Gojoseon.
The newly released stills are of Kim Ok-bin dressed in various attire. The role she plays is Tae Al-ha, daughter to a sea captain who leads a crew of pirates and brings back bronze technology from his travels to the far West. Having grown up in difficult circumstances, however, Tae Al-ha becomes very ambitious for power and status. Intelligent as well as passionate, she enters into politics determined to rise above her station and escape the struggles of her present life.
The first video teaser focuses on Song Joong-ki’s character, Eun Som. It starts with a series of quick cuts showing Song Joong-ki racing on a horse, fighting someone while both are still on horseback, and then running by himself through a field. In voice-over, we hear Song’s voice saying: “Starting with Arthdal, I’m going to save the Wahan.” Cut to a frustrated Song Joong-ki who asks an unknown person, “Who am I as Eun Som?” The scene quickly transitions to Song jumping off a cliff into a body of water as the conversation continues in voice-over. Song Joong-ki says, “A monster’s child.” And a woman replies, “Perhaps, that is your fate.” In the next sequence of shots, we see: a knife fight, a close-up shot of Song looking resolute, and Kim Ji-won in distress and being dragged away. As Song Joong-ki narrates, “I’m going to save you again, I’m sure of it,” it cuts to Song racing away on horseback. The final shot of the teaser ends with Song Joong-ki declaring to an unseen crowd, “I am Eun Som, Wahan’s warrior.”
The second teaser is Jang Dong-gun’s version, who plays Ta Gon. The video starts with Jang Dong-gun at a celebration with his troops and a close-up on his face as Jang takes a skull off his head. In voice-over, we hear a man’s voice saying, “I’m proud of you, my son” and we see a forest fire and a woman lying on the ground. Jang Dong-gun narrates, “I just wanted to survive.” We get a series of quick cuts: Jang standing with his men as they prepare for battle, arrows being shot at a village, and rampaging. Jang yells, “Let’s go!” as his soldiers stand at attention next to him. The scene cuts to Kim Ok-bin who says, “You’re going to become a god,” before cutting back to the village as Jang Dong-gun marches through a crowd with his soldiers. The teaser ends with a close-up on Jang as we hear him speak in voice-over, “Warriors of Wahan, hear my voice. We have come to meet you.”
Writing for the tvN’s Arthdal Chronicles are Kim Young-hyun and Park Sang-yeon who have a long history of working together – including on Tree With Deep Roots in which Song Joong-ki made an extended appearance. It will be a reunion for the director as well, PD Kim Won-seok (My Ajusshi, Signal), who previously worked with Song Joong-ki on Sungkyungkwan Scandal.
Fantasy drama Arthdal Chronicles is currently set to premiere next month on June 1, and will be airing Saturdays and Sundays on tvN.
