Chapter 159
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: The King and the Usurper
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Director Woo Jeonghan, determined to make *Danjong* perfect, personally assembled a team of directors he had worked well with before.
He smiled at the familiar faces—the assistant director who would be his hands and feet, and the cinematography, lighting, and art directors who would be his eyes.
The directors gathered in the conference room of the film production company, Dahong, also looked pleased, excited to work on a project without worrying about box office success for a change.
Director Woo Jeonghan began to speak.
“The title isn't set yet, but the story is set during King Danjong's reign. So, for now, we're calling it *Danjong* as a working title. The lead, Danjong, will be played by actor Lee Seojun. The other roles haven't been cast yet. The production company is Dahong. They're easy to work with, right?”
Hearing Director Woo Jeonghan's smooth delivery, the cinematography director let out a silent scream. The other directors in the conference room stared blankly at him.
The assistant director, who had been munching on the provided snacks, choked and spat out a piece. *Cough*— What? Who?
“Lee Seojun?”
“Yes.”
“You mean *the* Lee Seojun?”
“Yeah.”
Seeing his perfectly calm face, not a drop of cold sweat or a hint of a flush, they knew it had to be true.
The assistant director and the other directors found themselves applauding. It was as if a halo was shining from behind Director Woo Jeonghan.
“I've already made a list for the main and supporting actors. For the roles not on the list, I'm planning to hold auditions.”
“Auditions?”
The assistant director tilted his head.
“Lee Seojun is starring in it. Do you think this movie will just stay in Korea? Look at *Naeuiwon*—it was a global hit.”
Exclamation points popped up above the directors' heads.
“The actors in *Naeuiwon* gained international fans, and who was it? That idol actor who was in it. His group got a lot of overseas fans too.”
Along with discussions about this or that directing style and this or that meaning, the director, writer, and production crew were also mentioned. Any Korean project Lee Seojun appeared in did not just stay within Korea.
“This is a chance to enter the international market with a relatively small investment. Aspiring actors, idols who act, and their agencies will all be desperate to get a part, and that will obviously be a double-edged sword for us.”
Director Woo Jeonghan sighed.
“If I had my way, I'd cast everyone down to the extras myself, but that's just not possible with the time we have.”
Everyone nodded in agreement with Director Woo Jeonghan. The director of photography spoke up.
“Auditions, huh? It's going to be chaos.”
***
Before opening auditions, Director Woo Jeonghan began casting the main and supporting roles for *Danjong*.
“The role of Danjong is confirmed for actor Lee Seojun.”
“Wow.”
At Director Woo Jeonghan’s words, the head of the planning team exclaimed in admiration and wrote Lee Seojun's name on the whiteboard.
[Danjong - Lee Seojun]
“For the role of Kim Jongseo, actor Park Unyeol is our first choice.”
“Having Mr. Park Unyeol would be very reassuring.”
“The weather’s getting chilly, so we’ll need to check on his health.”
[Kim Jongseo - Park Unyeol]
“Next is Grand Prince Suyang…”
Director Woo Jeonghan’s voice trailed off. The planning team leader tilted his head.
“Do you not have an actor in mind, Director Woo?”
“I do, but…”
“Just say the word. We'll bring him right to you, Director Woo.”
At the planning team leader's confident attitude, the hesitant Director Woo Jeonghan finally spoke.
“Actor Lee Jiseok…”
…Lee Jiseok?
Question marks appeared above the employees’ heads. They all tried to picture a two-shot of Lee Seojun and Lee Jiseok. It wasn’t difficult. That image was already ingrained in their minds.
At the mention of such an unexpected actor, the planning team leader massaged his furrowing brow and spoke cautiously.
“If it were just actor Lee Jiseok on his own, playing Grand Prince Suyang would be fine. Among male actors in their thirties, there are only a handful who can act at his level. He might even create a more memorable Grand Prince Suyang than the one from ten years ago.”
Director Woo Jeonghan nodded repeatedly. The idea for *Danjong*, which he had cherished for a decade, had unconsciously guided his gaze toward actors who could play the part. And that’s when Lee Jiseok caught his eye.
The icy gaze of Royal Physician Heo as he stared at the palace had struck Director Woo Jeonghan's heart like an arrow.
“But his co-star is actor Lee Seojun, Director Woo.”
That was the problem.
Director Woo Jeonghan forced himself to swallow the deep sigh rising from within.
The pairing of Lee Jiseok and Lee Seojun was already etched into people's minds from *Naeuiwon*. And a very fluffy, warm, and affectionate image at that. If the two met in a modern drama, people would just watch with a pleased look, thinking, ‘They met in the next life.’ It was that deeply ingrained.
The planning team leader continued.
“This is Grand Prince Suyang, who kills Danjong. Grand Prince Seongnyeong and Royal Physician Heo cannot do that.”
“Hmm…”
He couldn't discard the Lee Seojun card, so he had to fold the Lee Jiseok card. But Director Woo Jeonghan couldn't give up so easily. If that cold gaze were directed not at the palace, but at Grand Prince Seongnyeong, there would be no actor more suitable.
Unable to be stubborn, Director Woo Jeonghan made a proposal.
“Can't we at least hold an audition?”
“An audition?”
“Let's bring in actor Lee Seojun and actor Lee Jiseok for an audition. We'll have them perform the scene from the practical skills video, in full costume and makeup. If the image of Grand Prince Seongnyeong and Royal Physician Heo still lingers after seeing that, I'll give up.”
The members of the planning team looked skeptical. Still, they nodded, because in this situation, Director Woo Jeonghan was the one in charge.
The planning team leader said.
“Understood. Then, we'll contact actor Lee Jiseok.”
“I'll contact actor Lee Seojun.”
“Just in case actor Lee Jiseok doesn't work out, you should decide on a second choice, Director Woo.”
Director Woo Jeonghan gave a heavy nod.
That same afternoon.
Lee Jiseok received a call from the film production company, Dahong.
After hanging up, Lee Jiseok, who had been drumming his fingers on the table, shot up and began pacing the living room. Biting his lip, rubbing his forehead, and sweeping his hair back, Lee Jiseok mulled it over until his eyes suddenly lit up.
Lee Jiseok picked up his phone and called someone. The ringing stopped, and a voice answered. Lee Jiseok smiled brightly and said.
“Hey, Seojun. I need your help with something.”
***
The newly constructed 'Actor Lee Seojun Practice Room' within Cocoa Entertainment.
Seojun and Lee Jiseok were adjusting the ceiling-mounted cameras and chatting.
“This practice room is amazing.”
“Isn't it? I have a similar one at home, though it's a bit smaller than this.”
“Really? I should get one made too.”
“Should I ask my dad about the company that built it?”
“That would be great!”
the acting fanatics chatted, their eyes gleaming. Watching Seojun and Lee Jiseok, Lee Jiseok's manager, Yoon Sungoh, shook his head.
“It would be interesting if you played Grand Prince Suyang, Hyung.”
“I think so too. It'd be a good change of image. I feel like I've been playing too many protagonists lately, so I wanted to try a villainous character like Suyang.”
After receiving the call from Dahong, Lee Jiseok had been conflicted. He knew it wouldn't be easy to change the public's perception of him and Seojun. But he wanted to try. He thought an intense acting dynamic with Seojun would be fun.
“I see. Then let's practice hard!”
“Thanks for helping me.”
“Don't mention it.”
Seojun and Lee Jiseok laughed together.
Meanwhile, in the break area on one side of the practice room, Yoon Sungoh let out a quiet sigh. An Daho looked up.
“Are you worried?”
“Yes. The two-shot of Seojun and Jiseok-hyung is already perfect in its own way. It'll be hard for the public to forget that. If he takes this role, it might just feel out of place.”
An Daho nodded. It was a reasonable concern for any ordinary actor. If actors became too strongly associated with certain roles in one film, they sometimes had to avoid each other in subsequent projects.
When actors who played lovers in a previous work then appeared as a criminal and a victim in their next, it was bound to create a strange feeling for the audience.
‘In that respect, Seojun changes completely.’
Seongnyeong was Seongnyeong, Gray was Gray, and Jin was Jin.
No matter how successful a project was or how many times people rewatched it, deeply ingraining an image in their minds, audiences welcomed Seojun's new characters without any issue. There was no other actor who could transform so completely with each role.
A thousand faces.
Actor Lee Seojun truly seemed to possess a thousand faces and auras.
“I wonder how it'll be this time.”
Seojun would perfectly become Danjong. But would Lee Jiseok, acting alongside him, be seen as Royal Physician Heo or as Grand Prince Suyang?
Yoon Sungoh watched the two actors begin their practice with a worried expression, while An Daho watched with eyes full of curiosity.
***
The main and supporting actors were cast one by one. The number of companies investing in the movie *Danjong* also grew. As more people in the film industry became involved, more mouths began to talk.
Finally, the news broke. It was a few days before December.
[Actor Lee Seojun Confirmed to Star in Movie Danjong (Working Title)!]
[Actor Lee Seojun's Next Project, Danjong (Working Title)!]
[The Tragic Young King, Danjong!]
[Grand Prince Seongnyeong Becomes King, But with a Lonely End!]
[Actor Lee Seojun's Next Project with Historical Film Specialist, Director Woo Jeonghan!]
[Set during Danjong's Reign. Looking Forward to Lee Seojun's Portrayal of Danjong!]
-Seojun is a king? Danjong?
-It's really happening?? All that talk paid off!
-The director is Woo Jeonghan. It'll be decent at least.
-I heard a ton of synopses for a Danjong story were created after his practical skills video came out, right?
=Yeah, my friend is an aspiring film director and submitted a synopsis to Lee Seojun's agency. I watched him do it, he wrote it in just 3 days.
=A writer I know wrote one in 5 days. I read it, it sucked lol
=It's better not to make one at all if you're just going to half-ass it.
-But with Director Woo Jeonghan, it's fine. He's reliable.
=Yeah, Woo Jeonghan's historical dramas are good.
-If Lee Seojun is Danjong, who's Kim Jongseo? And Grand Prince Suyang?
=Grand Prince Suyang lol Kim Jongho would be perfect for it hahaha
=He would've been perfect 10 years ago haha
=Then Kim Jongseo?
=Kim Jongseo was seventy. Kim Jongho is younger.
=Then a eunuch... his face is too rugged for that lol
-But all of Lee Seojun's historical roles end... ㅠ
=+1 It's going to be a sea of tearsㅠㅠ
***
-So Seojun's filming *Danjong*.
Kim Jongho's laughter came through the phone. Seojun laughed along.
“Yes. I'm working with Director Woo Jeonghan.”
-Director Woo is a good choice. Filming *Jangyongyeong* with him was comfortable.
Kim Jongho told Seojun a story from back then.
-Usually, directors will make changes if they think of a cooler shot, but Director Woo is the type to shoot exactly what's in the script. So he was easy to work with.
“I see.”
-By the way, what's Jiseok up to these days? That punk hasn't been in touch at all.
Seojun smiled at Kim Jongho's words. Jiseok-hyung was right next to him, intensely monitoring their practice.
‘Hmm. Jiseok-hyung asked me to keep it a secret…’
He'd said it would be embarrassing if he failed the audition, so he asked Seojun to keep it from everyone if possible, especially from Samchon Jongho. Not wanting to lie, Seojun simply remained quiet. Kim Jongho, not minding Seojun’s silence, grumbled on.
-What's that punk plotting now?
A few days later, thanks to an exclusive article that generated countless comments and reports, Kim Jongho found out what Lee Jiseok was up to.
[(Exclusive) Actor Lee Jiseok, Cast in Danjong (Working Title)!]
<Actor Lee Jiseok has been cast in Danjong (Working Title), starring actor Lee Seojun. According to reports, Lee Jiseok's role is Grand Prince Suyang. The two actors, who met three years ago as a grand prince and a royal physician, will now reunite as Danjong and King Sejo... For anyone who knows the story of Sejo and Danjong, it's hard to imagine a more shocking casting, past or future...>
-What?? Suyang in this?
-Lee Jiseok as Grand Prince Suyang???
-No... no... what???
-Speechless...
-But what Grand Prince Suyang does to Danjong... Royal Physician Heo to Grand Prince Seongnyeong?
-Royal Physician Heo is Suyang... Royal Physician Heo is Suyang!
The comments from shocked netizens flooded in endlessly. Even after reading the article, they couldn't believe it.
Disbelieving netizens scoured the internet, but the articles remained unchanged. Lee Jiseok's agency didn't issue any statement claiming it was a false report. And that influenced the real-time search rankings.
1. Lee Jiseok Grand Prince Suyang
2. Lee Seojun Danjong
3. Grand Prince Suyang Danjong
…….
NEW! Danjong Audition
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