On the morning of the 11th, an intriguing interview took place with Kim Jin Won, the director of Netflix’s original series A Time Called You.
A Time Called You is a mysterious romance that revolves around Jun Hee, a woman grieving her boyfriend who passed away a year ago. Fate throws her a curveball as she time-slips back to 1998 and encounters Shi Heon, who looks just like her late boyfriend, and his friend In Gyu.
When asked about the casting of Ahn Hyo Seop for the lead role, Kim Jin Won remarked, “The actor has a mix of seriousness and boyish charm. I felt that his sync ratio with our script and within our universe was exceptionally high. I really wanted him for the role, so I went through considerable lengths to persuade him. But it turned out he loved the script from the get-go, so casting him was relatively smooth.” He added, “It would be more accurate to say that Ahn Hyo Seop chose to star in this work.”
A significant buzz has surrounded the “disheveled” styling of the 2023-version of Nam Shi Heon, which Ahn Hyo Seop played, especially among fans who were none too pleased. Addressing the uproar, the director spilled, “I even told Hyo Seop on set that I might face quite the criticism for making him look that way.”
Kim explained, “We had several discussions and styling tests with Hyo Seop. The most crucial aspect was displaying the depth of pain he endured over 20 years. We thought the character should look worn out, and despite testing various looks, he looked too dapper. So we made that particular choice.”
“There was a formal reason as well,” he continued. “Hyo Seop plays four roles in the drama, technically six roles at different times. We needed to visually distinguish the characters. As for the fans who were disheartened by the look of 40-year-old Nam Shi Heon, I was upset, too. But for the sake of the drama’s comprehension and emotional impact, we decided to make the college scenes and the character Gu Yeon Jun (Ahn Hyo Seop) more appealing. If 40-year-old Nam Shi Heon also looked dapper, it would make it difficult for us to convey the emotions we wanted.”
And so, A Time Called You continues to stir conversations on all fronts, be it love transcending time or a shocking visual that transcends public approval.
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So entertaining and the cast were wonderful