SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama "The Mantis: Original Sin" (written by Lee Young-jong, directed by Byun Young-joo) premieres September 5. Set two decades after the capture of the infamous serial killer known as "Mantis," a spate of copycat murders erupts. To crack the case, a detective is forced into an unthinkable partnership with the very person he has hated his entire life: his mother, the original "Mantis." The result is a tightly wound crime thriller.
The series is already buzzing thanks to its audacious premise of a serial-killer mom teaming with her detective son, powerhouse leads Ko Hyun-jung (as Jung Yi-shin) and Jang Dong-yoon (as Cha Soo-yeol), and the creative matchup of "Helpless" director Byun Young-joo with "12.12: the Day" writer Lee Young-jong. Jang, long loved for his warm, gentle image and refined looks, is teasing a radical turn as a hard-edged, charismatic detective ― and it's turning heads.
An actor's reinvention is essential but never easy. Jang says the biggest reason he took the plunge with "The Mantis: Original Sin" was his trust in Director Byun. "The deciding factor was that Director Byun Young-joo was directing. It wasn't an easy project, but as a fan of his work, I had absolute faith," he shared.
That trust pushed him to new heights throughout filming. Asked what it was like to work with him, Jang said, "Director Byun is, in a word, an actor-centric director. He gives notes in a way actors can immediately grasp, he’s considerate, and he communicates constantly, so the set had a fantastic vibe. He even spent a lot of time with us off set."
He added, "In scenes that demanded real force, he delivered precise, powerful direction. His eye for mise-en-scene is outstanding, so while his past work speaks for itself, you can expect striking visual composition in 'The Mantis: Original Sin' as well." Jang continued, "'The Mantis: Original Sin' is a well-made crime thriller where the director's touch, the writer's tightly woven script, and the cast's performances all click. It's intense and gripping, with plenty to savor."
With its solid story, committed performances, and stylish direction, "The Mantis: Original Sin" is shaping up to be a pitch-perfect package. Even in a physically and mentally demanding genre, the cast has said they were happy and satisfied throughout the shoot ― a sign of just how well this one came together. Anticipation is understandably sky-high.
"The Mantis: Original Sin" will premiere Friday, Sept. 5 at 9:50 p.m., following the conclusion of "The Winning Try."
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)