'Mr. Sunshine' News & Updates: Everything You Need To Know Before The K-Drama's Much-Awaited Premiere
The upcoming drama Mr. Sunshine is the most awaited Korean show this summer. The anticipation is real in both local and international viewers as evident in the teaser trailer the series has released so far. The clip has been viewed over half a million times on YouTube alone. Here's everything to know about Mr. Sunshine before its air date next month.
The Plot
Mr. Sunshine is set in 1871 Shinmiyangyo or the U.S. expedition to Korea. The series will revolve around the story of a Korean boy who was born into a family of a house servant who ran away to board an American warship.
He will later return to his homeland as an American soldier. He will fall in love with an aristocrat's daughter and will also eventually discover the dark scheme to colonize the country.
Cast & Crew
The series will be led by G.I. Joe actor Lee Byung-hun. The Korean actor plays the role of U.S. Marine officer Eugene Choi. Film actress Kim Tae-Ri portrays the aristocrat's daughter Ko Ae-shin. Mr. Sunshine marks Kim's debut on television. Other cast members include Yoo Yeon-seok, Kim Min-jung, and Byun Yo-han.
Mr. Sunshine is expected to be a hit as it is penned by Kim Eun-sook and helmed by Lee Eung-bok. The two are the very same tandem that created both 2016 smash hit dramas Descendants of the Sun and Goblin.
Production
Critics were impressed of the Mr. Sunshine's production value. The series trailer features the lavish landscape of South Korea, some epic battles, and elaborate costumes which shows a huge budget that was spent.
Mr. Sunshine will bring viewers to actual locations where the historical events happened. The production filmed in locations such as Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Incheon, as well as areas in the countryside such as the North and South Gyeongsang, Chungcheong, and in Jeolla provinces.
Since it is a time period drama, costumes are vital. Mr. Sunshine is set in Joseon era wherein the people were introduced to Western influences. To accurately showcase the setting, the production staff hired over 10,000 extras to recreate the life in the era as well as to act on war scenes. All of them were dressed according to the period.
Mr. Sunshine also built a huge outdoor set in Chungcheong province that showcases the Korean Empire and Japanese colonialism in the early 1900s. Reports indicate that the set measures about 285,000 square feet or 6.5 acres. The set at Daejeon, on the other hand, is reportedly about 70,000 square feet which house the American embassy and Hotel Glory.
The extravagant production is credited to Hwa&Dam Pictures and Studio Dragon. The two companies also teamed up in creating Goblin.
Premiere Date
Mr. Sunshine is scheduled to start streaming on Netflix on July 7. The streaming giant has already gained the rights to air the period drama series exclusively.
The series will have 24 episodes, all of which will stream on the same day in South Korea, the U.S, and in other countries in Asia. Japanese fans will have to wait for just one day as the K-drama will premiere in Japan on July 8. Elsewhere in the world, it will be available starting on July 19.
The 24-episode series thrilled many fans as most K-dramas have around 16-20 episodes only. Both DOTS and Goblin have 16 episodes.