Itaewon Class Getting a Remake with This Famous Singer Starring as Lead

Summary

• Itaewon Class is one of the top South Korean hits on Netflix
• The series follows an ex-convict who opens his own restaurant
• The Taiwanese remake is set to go into production soon, with the Mandopop star set to star

If Squid Game turned out to be South Korea's biggest global hit in 2021, a year and a half earlier, Netflix wowed audiences with another fascinating K-drama, no less a high-profile staple about the exploitation of the poor by the rich and the stigmatization of marginalized groups. We're talking about Itaewon Class, an adaptation of Kwang Jin's webtoon of the same name.

The series became an instant hit, with the media hailing it as one of the best Korean dramas, followed by many prestigious awards. In addition, a Japanese remake, Roppongi Class, was released just two years later, proving the incredible popularity of the original. But now it's the turn of the Taiwanese production, which this time is not working with Netflix, but with Warner Bros. Discovery. And the lead in the new remake will be a famous Taiwanese pop star.

South Korean Smash Hit

On databases and aggregators like IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes, you'll see either rave reviews or cries of disappointment about the overrated nature of the show. This alone is enough to give you an idea of the hype surrounding the series, as was the case with Squid Game, where not a single review proclaimed the show to be downright bad. But while reviews vary, the consensus on Itaewon Class is that it is an example of great acting, character development, and representation of the experiences of ex-convicts, foreigners, and LGBTQ+ people.

The series has also been critically acclaimed, receiving numerous nominations and awards at the most prestigious South Korean and Asian ceremonies, such as the Baeksang Arts Awards, Seoul International Drama Awards, APAN Star Awards, and Asian Television Awards.

What is the Drama About?

Itaewon Class follows Park Sae-ro-yi (Park Seo-joon), who is released from prison after seven years for brutally beating the school bully, the son of a large and powerful food company CEO who was responsible for the protagonist's expulsion from school and the firing of his father (which led to his death).

Sae-ro-yi opens his own bar-restaurant, where he hires people who face the many injustices of modern South Korean society: The illegitimate son of the CEO, an ex-convict, a Guinean-Korean man facing prejudice, and a transgender woman as the chief cook. Jo Yi-seo (Kim Da-mi), a talented and eccentric Internet celebrity who has a crush on Sae-ro-yi, becomes the restaurant's manager.

The All-Star Cast of the Taiwanese Remake

On November 2, DaMou Entertainment and KOKO Entertainment, under the auspices of HBO Asia, announced not only the upcoming series, but also its cast at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest. The new series is titled Fired Up.

The protagonist will be played by 28-year-old Mandarin-speaking pop star Eric Chou, one of the biggest names in Taiwanese music. Chou has already appeared as an actor on television and in movies. Fired Up, however, will be the biggest role of his career so far.

'It is a big breakthrough for me. I am also looking forward to this kind of change in my style, as it feels more like "the Eric Chou you have never seen before,"' he said at the press conference (per The Straits Times), referring to his new buzz cut and a street style look.

The role of Yi-seo will be played by Angela Yuen, Hong Kong actress and Golden Horse Award nominee for The Narrow Road. This will be her first time in a Taiwanese production.

Source: The Straits Times.