South Korean actor Lee Joon-Gi plays the lead character of 4th Prince Wang So in SBS's 'Scarlet Heart: Ryeo.' (Photo : YouTube/KAYA Channel)
Many will be pleased to hear that Lee Joon Gi, 34, is not planning to stay out of the spotlight for long. The Hallyu star is said to be mulling over a starring role in a Korean remake of CBS's "Criminal Minds."
On Jan. 11, Wednesday, it was revealed that Lee has been offered the lead male role in the Korean remake of the American police procedural crime drama, according to Korean newsoutlet News Nate, as cited by Soompi. The "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" actor is said to be reviewing the offer positively.
Following the news of Lee's casting, it was reported that Kim Ah Joong received an offer to star in the project as well. Her agency King Entertainment promptly confirmed the news and stressed that the "Wanted" actress is considering the remake as her next project.
"Criminal Minds" follows the individuals from FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) who start catching various criminals through behavioral profiling. The CBS series, which premiered on Sept. 22, 2005, was loved for showing the daily lives of the characters, delineating the solidified life and the pre-requisites of an FBI profiler.
The casting news comes seven months after it was reported that the Korean remake of the American police procedural crime drama has been green lit. It will be co-produced by Taewon Entertainment and New, the creators of the 2016 mega-hit series "Descendants of the Sun," according to Yonhap News Agency.
Though the exact release date has yet to be determined, Disney Media Distribution is reportedly in charge of distributing the remake in mainland China and Japan. It will air in South Korea in Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) network. More details about the project will be revealed soon.
This is not the first time that American series are being remade into a Korean version. First, there was 2016's "The Good Wife," which was then trailed by tvN's remake of HBO's "Entourage" with Lee Kwang Soo, Cho Jin Woong, Park Jung Min, Seo Kang Joon and Lee Dong Hwi as lead stars.
Stay tuned for more updates as they arrive. While waiting, here is the trailer for the CBS's "Criminal Minds":
