KBS Plans 30-Billion Won Spy Drama 'Prometheus' with International Cast

by John Rosca / Oct 14, 2017 07:05 AM EDT

KBS수목드라마 아이리스2 (Iris2) 1회 예고 (preview ep- 1)

KBS has announced that it is making a big-budget spy action thriller that has been estimated to cost 30 billion won. The series whose title is "Prometheus: War of Fire" is a high-concept drama that will shoot on international locations with a multinational cast.

"Prometheus: War of Fire" will be a show about intelligence agents who are tasked with a high-stakes international mission. The plot involves a hunt for missing North Korean scientists carrying top-secret information about their regime's nuclear and ballistic missile systems.

The scientist disappeared suddenly in some unnamed foreign country, and now several of the world's spy agencies are trying to track them down to gain a strategic advantage. South Korea sends its best National Intelligence Service agent and a North Korean defector on the mission. The duo will run across a mystery woman with genius-level intellect, whose role on the series has not been specified.

KBS has stated that "Prometheus: War of Fire" is going to film in five foreign countries. Production company JL Media Group intends to cast popular Korean actors in the leading roles. The international roles call for foreign talent, and the producers are said to be interested in tapping Hollywood for the non-Korean actors they will need.

Kdramapal notes that the drama's estimated budget of 30 billion won is roughly equivalent to U.S. $26.5 million. That is 131% higher than the total production cost of KBS's "Descendants of the Sun," whose 13-billion won budget was described as "staggering" last year.

Drama Beans reports that the "Prometheus: War of Fire" executive producer is Choi Ji Young, whose credits include IRIS, The Slave Hunters (Chuno) and The Princess's Man. His participation suggests that a blockbuster action drama is in the works.

"Prometheus: War of Fire" is set for a 2018 release in Korea and possibly around the globe. JL Media Group is reportedly trying to pre-sell the show to a global media partner with an online distribution network.