During the production presentation of SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Our Movie' (written by Han Ga-eun and Kang Kyung-min, directed by Lee Jung-hum) held at CGV in Yongsan I'Park Mall, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 10th, Namkoong Min shared an episode where he initially declined the offer to participate in the project.
Director Lee Jung-hum, who took on the directing role, said, "Initially, when the production company sent the script to Mr. Namkoong Min, he declined. So, I personally called him and said, 'Have you seen the revised script? Take a look at the revision, and feel free to decline.' After seeing the revised script, he contacted us within two days, agreeing to take on the role," explaining the casting process for Namkoong Min.
Namkoong Min expressed his amazement, saying, "It was surprising. I wondered how the changes made it more interesting. Indeed, with Director Lee Jung-hum steering the ship, the script improved," showing his strong trust in the director.
He continued, "The final script turned out not to be your typical melodrama. It was filled with sophistication and a modern vibe. That drew me in, and I find it important to follow my instincts when choosing projects. It was just too compelling and fun," explaining his quick decision to join the project.
'Our Movie' tells the urgent love story between a director, Lee Je-ha (played by Namkoong Min), who hasn't released a film in five years, and an actress, Lee Da-eum (played by Jeon Yeo-been), who believes today could be her last. Lee Je-ha, a character played by Namkoong Min, is a director who received significant attention for his genius from his debut film as the son of a master filmmaker but decides to remake his father's film for his next project, casting the terminally ill actress Lee Da-eum, with their relationship evolving from professional to deeply romantic.
Namkoong Min said, "I'm not sure if the drama will appeal to all ages, but I believe it's a drama that won't embarrass us and will make us proud. I have this confidence in our drama. I've seen up to episode 11, and honestly, I don't know if the ratings will be good, but the drama turned out as well as I hoped. It's a work we're proud of, so I hope you'll give it a chance."
Especially wary of the melodramatic story with the terminally ill female lead being seen as a cliched tearjerker, Namkoong Min emphasized, "It's definitely not a traditional melodrama that tries to force tears by saying, 'Isn't it sad? Aren't you going to cry?' The first and second episodes are interesting, but it gets even better by the third and fourth, reaching its peak by the fifth. I highly recommend watching it."
'Our Movie' will follow 'The Haunted Palace' and premiere on the 13th at 9:50 PM.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)