Boo, it looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer for Park Bo-gum (Moonlight Drawn By Clouds) to return to our screens. He has officially turned down an offer to star as Sun Wukong the Monkey King in the new Hong sisters drama Hwayugi, which is a modern retelling of the Chinese classic Journey to the West.
On the one hand, a small part of me is relieved that he didn’t take the role, mostly because the Hong sisters have burned me badly before when they did the impossible and made me (briefly) hate Yoo Yeon-seok, and I would’ve been very upset if they had made me dislike Park Bo-gum as well. But on the other, I think he would’ve made a great Monkey King, who is described as a mischievous troublemaker. The minor god also has a bit of a temper, which coupled with his pride gets him sent to the human realm with his deity powers sealed. The character sounds like a potentially great and hilarious mix of Park Bo-gum’s Yeong from Moonlight, and water god Ha-baek when he had lost his powers, so it’s a bit of a shame that we won’t get to see him as Sun Wukong.
Hopefully, we’ll get to hear some more news about Park Bo-gum’s next project soon, as he’s been understandably inundated with casting offers. He’s also been quite busy with his role in the musical Hairspray, which is related to his graduation project. I just hope his next project will be in dramaland, since I’ve only heard of his film projects lately, and two hours is just never enough! I’m greedy that way, don’t judge me.
Cha Seung-won (Hwajeong) is still considering his offer to star in Hwayugi, which will be directed by PD Park Hong-kyun of Best Love and Queen Seon-deok. If Chajumma does confirm, it’ll be one big Best Love reunion-fest. Fantasy, horror rom-com Hwayugi is expected to air this December in tvN’s Saturday-Sunday slot.