Song Kang-ho to lead series adaptation of ‘Inside Men’
A new chapter for ‘Inside Men’
Song Kang-ho, the acclaimed actor from the Oscar-winning film Parasite, is set to headline a series adaptation of the hit film Inside Men. This exciting project was announced by Hive Media Corp., which revealed that the show is currently in the early stages of pre-production, with filming expected to commence in 2025. As of now, no broadcaster or streaming platform has been attached to the project.
From webtoon to the big screen and beyond
The original 2015 film Inside Men was a political thriller adapted from an incomplete webtoon titled The Insiders, penned by Yoon Tae-ho. The webtoon, which ran from 2010 to 2012 in the Hankyoreh newspaper, featured a political bruiser seeking revenge after being ruined by politicians and the media. The film adaptation, directed and written by Woo Min-ho, expanded on the webtoon’s narrative by introducing additional characters, including a prosecutor, a presidential candidate, and a newspaper editor.
Expanding the universe
The upcoming series, directed by Mo Wan-il, known for The World of the Married and the recent Netflix film The Frog, aims to delve deeper into the story and explore new elements from the film. Song Kang-ho is expected to portray the newspaper editor, a role that promises to bring his exceptional talent to the small screen. While the rest of the cast remains undisclosed, the anticipation is already building.
Hive Media Corp: A powerhouse in Korean cinema
Hive Media Corp. has been recognized by the Korean Film Council as “Korea’s top production company.” The company has a track record of producing successful films, including 12.12: The Day, a fictionalized depiction of the 1979 military coup, which became the highest-grossing film of the year in Korea. Another notable production is The Man Standing Next, which examined the events leading up to the assassination of President Park Chung-hee in 1979.
Inside Men was produced by Kim Won-kuk, who had previously invested in Woo Min-ho’s film Man of Vendetta. The film’s unexpected success, with 7 million admissions for the original version and an additional 2 million for the director’s cut, allowed Kim and his partners to establish Hive Media Corp. in 2016.
Recent and upcoming projects
This year, Hive Media Corp. released the low-budget hit Handsome Guys and is set to release Hur Jin-ho’s A Normal Family, an acclaimed drama that premiered in Toronto last year. The company also premiered the big-budget action thriller Harbin in Toronto, which is scheduled for a commercial release in Korea shortly before Christmas. Directed by Woo Min-ho, Harbin is expected to be another major success for the production company.
Song Kang-ho: A versatile star
Song Kang-ho has been a major star since his early career roles in Joint Security Area and Memories of Murder. His impressive filmography includes Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, The Host, Snowpiercer, A Taxi Driver, and Broker, for which he won the Best Actor award at Cannes in 2022. Although he has done relatively little television, he recently won the Best Actor award at the Seoul Drama Awards for his role in the Disney+ series Uncle Samsik. In December last year, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences held a retrospective in his honor.
A promising future
The series adaptation of Inside Men promises to be a compelling addition to Song Kang-ho’s illustrious career. With Hive Media Corp. at the helm and Mo Wan-il directing, the project is poised to captivate audiences with its intricate storytelling and powerful performances. As we await further details and casting announcements, the excitement for this series continues to grow.
For those eager to revisit the original film, you can watch the trailer for Inside Men here.
Stay tuned for more updates on this highly anticipated series and other exciting projects from Hive Media Corp.