This drama is turning into a Hong sisters reunion tour. We’ve already got two potential reunions in line for their new fantasy romance Hwayugi, with offers out to My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho’s Lee Seung-gi and Best Love’s Cha Seung-won, and now an offer is out to You’re Beautiful’s Lee Hong-ki to join the cast as a womanizing top star.
The fantasy-horror-romance is a fanciful reworking of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, in which the monk and the Monkey King will team up to fight the evil spirits that have invaded present-day Seoul. Lee Seung-gi has been offered the starring role as Sun Wukong the Monkey King, a powerful minor god who’s been exiled to the human realm. Oh Yeon-seo (My Sassy Girl) is up to play the heroine, a descendant of monks who’s been given the calling to rid the world of demons. And Cha Seung-won has been offered the part of Lee Seung-gi’s rival, the Bull Demon King.
If he signs on to join them, FT Island’s Lee Hong-ki will play the pig monster Zhu Bajie. In this adaptation, the pig monster has the power to seduce women and lives a cushy life as a top star. He even used his powers to get there, since all it takes is ten minutes of unleashing his magic to get all of the women on the planet to fall for him. LOL. This power does have a dark side though, because he uses it to suck the life force out of the women who worship him.
But since Journey to the West is all about mischievous characters going on a journey of enlightenment, it’s safe to expect some changes in store for the top star. We’re told that he’ll survive thanks to the mercy of the heroine, and learn to use his fame and sociability to help her on her quest. He’ll also have a hyung-dongsaeng relationship with the hero, which is going to be freaking adorable. I hope they sing duets together.
Hwayugi is being prepped for tvN’s weekend slot this December.