Very cool. I love the stylish teasers that have been coming out of the Hong sisters’ newest fantasy drama Hwayugi, though they don’t really give much away in terms of plot. I’m trying not to let my hopes get too high, but it’s difficult when the main leads are Lee Seung-gi (You’re All Surrounded), Cha Seung-won (Hwajeong), and Oh Yeon-seo (My Sassy Girl), all looking badass and ready to kick some demonic butt.
First, we have Lee Seung-gi’s Sun Wukong, aka the mischievous Monkey God, who introduces himself as “decadent and devilish.” I’m loving the decidedly rascally vibe he’s giving off from this short teaser, and I’m looking forward to the havoc I’m sure he’ll be wreaking in the show. Next, we have another powerful demon in Cha Seung-won’s Bull Demon King, who descends (ascends?) from hell in the teaser, with steaming tar covering his white shoes. He might look genteel and suave on the outside, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s the “king of demons,” as he declares in front of his masked followers.
And last but not least is Oh Yeon-seo, playing the rare human in Hwayugi’s mythical lineup. She wields an umbrella with a talisman attached underneath, which doubles as a weapon against evil spirits. She calls herself a “human with the ability to see demons,” and I can’t wait to see her whacking demons out of the way with her umbrella. I’m curious to see how the allegiances line up, since it looks like Lee Seung-gi and Oh Yeon-seo’s characters are facing off the same horde of demons that stood behind Cha Seung-won, which does suggest there might be some epic fighting among our leads, at least in the beginning.
I’m just excited to see promo material for Hwayugi, since it feels like forever since the project was first announced, and the cast is pretty amazing. In addition to the leads, the supporting cast includes Lee Hong-ki (Modern Farmer), Bora (Doctor Stranger), Lee Se-young (The Best Hit), and Lee El (Black), some of whom are pictured in the script read stills below.
Also, as part of the ongoing partnership between Netflix and tvN, the online streaming service has acquired the international broadcasting rights to Hwayugi, and is planning to make the series available in early 2018. Hopefully, international fans won’t have to wait too long in the new year to watch the show.
Hwayugi will premiere on December 23 to take over tvN’s weekend slot from The Most Beautiful Goodbye in the World, which is set to follow Revolutionary Love.
