PD Jung Dae-yoon of W—Two Worlds and She Was Pretty will be returning with a new sci-fi rom-com called I’m Not a Robot. This project tells a story about a man who falls in love with a robot, and is written by Kim Seon-mi who was a co-writer on the sageuk drama Shine or Go Crazy. And despite its similar premise, this is not Seo Kang-joon’s robot swindler drama (that one is called Are You Human Too?).
Waah, I’m so conflicted! On one hand, I really liked the beginning of W—Two Worlds, with its slick directing and cool transitions between the mangaverse and the real world. I also thought some moments in She Was Pretty were beautifully shot. On the other hand, I absolutely could not stand watching Shine or Go Crazy because of the cringe-worthy dialogue and characters that were unlikable despite being played by a stellar cast. However, writer Kim Seon-mi has previously worked on film projects I’ve enjoyed like Seducing Mr. Perfect, so perhaps Shine or Go Crazy was an abberation.
Just from the one-line synopsis, I’m Not a Robot seems like a gender-reverse of the Japanese drama Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend), in which a woman gets a mail-order android boyfriend whom she falls in love with. I enjoyed it because it explored themes of what it means to be human and how emotional displacement can happen. But details on I’m a Robot are so vague right now, so I’m not sure how it will shape up. Currently, this project is in the casting phase, and no actor confirmations have yet been announced.
I’m Not a Robot is tentatively scheduled for broadcast on MBC following the end of Ha Ji-won’s upcoming Wednesday-Thursday drama Hospital Ship, which sets the premiere date squarely in November.
PD Jung Dae-yoon