Hollywood remakes of Korean movies are nothing new by now, and famous films like ‘Old Boy’,
‘Sunny’, and ‘My Sassy Girl’ all have a US version.
But what about the case of famous K-dramas - did they also get the attention of the West?
Well, with the rising popularity of Korean series these recent years, the answer is yes,
and here’s a list of K-dramas so good that Hollywood can’t wait to make its own version.
Hotel del Luna Starting off the list is a series well-known
to us all.
‘Hotel del Luna’ tells the tale of Kang Man Wol, who is forced to stay on earth to
atone for her mistake a thousand years ago.
She became the owner of the guesthouse of the Moon, which serves lingering ghosts before
they move on.
But things started to change when the human Gu Chan Sung arrived to be the hotel’s manager,
and we slowly learned of the past behind each hotel employee, as well as of Man Wol herself.
All in all, Hotel del Luna delivers a neat plot with beautiful visuals and in-depth characters,
and the acting of IU and Yeo Jin Goo were both exceptional.
As a successful work, it was no wonder that Hotel del Luna managed to catch the Western
eye.
In June 2020, Hotel del Luna was announced to be under plans for a US remake.
The project will be a collaboration between the series’s production company and Skydance
Media, which had created Mission Impossible, World War Z, and Baywatch.
While there’s no way to know if the remake will be as good as the original, at least
it is coming to Netflix, so anticipations are high.
Good Doctor While the US is not exactly lacking in medical
series, the K-drama ‘Good Doctor’ is just too much of a good gem to miss.
Taking place in the pediatrics department of a large hospital, the series follows Park
Si On, who has a variation of autism, and had to be sent to specialized care during
his childhood.
However, he is later discovered to have a genius level memory and exceptional surgeon
skills, and was sent to be a resident at his mentor’s hospital.
Here, he has 6 months to prove himself capable, and learns to feel what his patients need
instead of just relying on theories.
‘Good Doctor’ is an emotional battlefield - brought to life by moving stories, life
lessons, and the brilliant acting of Joo Won and Moon Chae Won.
The series’ viewership rating even peaked at 22.6%, making it among the most popular
dramas of the time.
And soon.
Hollywood recognizes the series’ brilliance.
An adaptation called ‘The Good Doctor’, was produced by Sony Pictures and ABC Studios,
and soon grew so popular that it was renewed for five seasons.
‘Good Doctor’ has proven that with a good script, every audience can be wooed, so, if
you have the time and are willing to cry a little, don’t hesitate to check out the
original series.
Crash Landing On You Touching a sensitive political topic like
the division of North and South Korea, and yet still managed to deliver laughs, ‘Crash
Landing On You’ is sure one of the kind.
It gives us Yoon Seri - a billionaire business woman who landed in North Korea after a sky-diving
trip went wrong, and her romance with Ri Jeong Hyeok, a North Korean officer who looks all
tough but is a total softie.
Embracing good humor, brilliant chemistry and heart-warming stories alike, ‘Crash
Landing On You’ was a resounding success, with rating topping 20%, which frankly, is
a miracle for a cable network drama.
And the series’ huge popularity soon expanded outside of Korea - the US included.
‘Crash Landing on You’ was ranked 6th among the most watched series of Netflix US
- an impressive feat for a piece of Asian media.
So really, it came as no surprise when news popped up, claiming that the series had been
purchased for adaptation by a US production house.
This means that we will soon see another version of ‘Crash Landing on You’ on the American
small screen, but whether this will be a good thing or not, is still up for debate.
The next series though, seems to be on the unfortunate side.
God’s Gift: 14 Days This time, we are getting to know a crime
slash fantasy series that is stifling from start to end.
In the series, talented actress Lee Bo Young played the single mother Kim Soo Hyun, whose
daughter was kidnapped and brutally murdered.
However, she won a chance to change fate, and was taken to 14 days prior to the incident.
Helping her is Ki Dong Chan, a former cop turned private investigator, and together,
they unveil secrets much darker than anyone could imagine.
While not necessarily a successful drama domestically, ‘God’s Gift: 14 Days” is still a convincing
script, with just enough twists and suspense to keep the audience hooked.
And an American production company seemed to think the same.
In 2017, ABC Studios aired a remake under the name of ‘Somewhere Between’, which
was shot in Canada, and slated for 10 episodes.
Unfortunately, it seems that ‘God’s Gift: 14 Days’ was destined to not be commercially
successful.
The US remake also received praises, but its viewership was so poor that future seasons
of the series were cancelled altogether.
Still, the original series is still quite watch-worthy, so consider giving it a try
before moving on to our next drama.
Reply 1997 ‘Reply 1997’ is the definition of Korean
youth.
It follows the life of the female lead Sung Shi Won, and her many stages of life from
stanning idols to struggling with school work and growing up.
It’s soft and relatable, it’s mild and nostalgic, and while having a good OST, it’s
not a musical.
And yet, when purchasing rights to this series, production company Fox planned to make it
the next ‘Glee’.
The US adaptation of ‘Reply 1997’ was supposed to be named ‘Answer Me 1999’,
and written by Amy Andelson and Emily Meyer - the screenwriters behind ‘Step Up 3D’.
This means more spice, more drama, and more music - pandering to the taste of the West.
But it seems that plans had fallen through.
‘Reply 1997’ is uniquely Korean - with snippets of Korean cultures and history hidden
inside - making it hard for any remake to carry the true heart of the series.
Still, the fact that the drama was purchased for remake had proven its huge popularity
outside of Korea.
It went from a dark horse with little expectations to spurning a concept of its own - the Reply
series.
Finally, we are closing today’s list with an iconic series that made the name of tvN.
Nine Hailed as the “Best Drama Series of 2013’,
‘Nine’ revolves around a news anchor called Park Sun Woo, whose family ran into a terrible
tragedy.
Thus, when Sun Woo discovered nine magical sticks that allowed him to travel 20 years
into the past, he was determined to keep his family safe and sound.
However, his power did not come without consequences, and every action he does in the past, affects
everyone in the present.
‘Nine’ introduces a plot full of mystery and a unique take to the power of time-travelling.
Its open ending was intentionally well-done, staying in everyone’s minds for years to
come.
And this brilliant script has made the drama attractive to Hollywood filmmakers - who at
the time, was reluctant to approach Asian media.
ABC Studios, in particular, had approached tvN, expressing its wish to make ‘Nine’
a series with multiple seasons.
Unfortunately, the remake project never got to see light, but it was still a landmark
for K-drama as the Korean entertainment industry attempted to extend its international audience.
And that’s our list!
Do you know of any Korean Drama that attracted Hollywood’s filmmakers?
Do you think that remakes are a good idea?
Share your opinion with us in the comment section!
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