If initial reports are confirmed, Jang Geun-seok — a hot commodity these days — may soon be back on television in his next project. It’s an adaptation of Mary Stayed Out All Night [매리는 외박중], a manhwa that comes from the creator of Full House‘s original manhwa (it’s a working title for the drama, which will air on KBS).
Jang had planned for his next role to be the movie adaptation of You’re My Pet, but due to production delays on that project, he may well be back in a drama first. Note: This article talks about the casting as a done deal, but others are saying Jang is “a strong possibility.” I’d say take it all with a grain of salt.
Jang’s management was initially reported to say, “He is planning to return with the drama Mary Stayed Out All Night in November. The character and script haven’t been decided in concrete detail yet, so he is preparing slowly, and will try hard to show a different appeal in this role.” A subsequent article backtracked and said, “He is looking favorably at the role.”
Mary Stayed Out All Night deals with a woman (the titular Mary) who decides she is through with dating, but then strikes up a romance with a “dangerous-looking but charming” death-metal band vocalist. A “lively, upbeat” love triangle develops with a third character, a “perfect type” of man who’s got it all goin’ on in terms of looks, skills, personality, and family background.
Jang Geun-seok just played a pop group vocalist in last year’s hit drama You’re Beautiful. He’ll again play a musician here, albeit a harder-edged rocker than the idol star of the previous series.
This project will be a co-production between Korea’s KBS Media and Japan’s ACC Korea and will be written by In Eun-ah, who wrote the drama phenom Goong and the cotton-candy-sweet Love & Marriage. A director has yet to be confirmed. There are a few stars in contention for the Mary role, though we haven’t been given any hints thus far.
