Netflix has unveiled its latest, highly anticipated Korean drama series guaranteed to spark fervent emotions and captivate audiences. Tentatively titled "Scandals," this adaptation of the acclaimed 2003 Korean film "Untold Scandal" artfully transposes the salacious milieu of the classic French novel "Dangerous Liaisons" to the opulent backdrop of Korea's Joseon era. Boasting a stellar ensemble cast, the series features Son Ye-jin (renowned for her role in "Crash Landing on You"), Ji Chang-wook (celebrated in "Welcome to Samdal-ri"), and Nana, alias Im Jina (from "Mask Girl"), and has commenced filming in the enchanting city of Seoul.
Helmed by K-drama veteran Jung Ji-woo (renowned for "Somebody" and "Tune in for Love"), "Scandals" delves into a daring and perilous game of love between the formidable, aristocratic Lady Cho (played by Son) and Cho Won (portrayed by Ji), the era's most notorious playboy, with the innocent yet conflicted young widow Hui-yeon (Nana) unwittingly caught in their tumultuous web.
This lavish recreation of Korea's Joseon era, according to Netflix, "breathes life into a realm where love and temptation were considered taboo." The official synopsis further elaborates, "The series showcases characters who defy the rigid social hierarchy and indulge in a risqué game of love and seduction during a time when desires were forbidden."
In the 1980s, Stephen Frears famously adapted Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' 18th-century novel "Dangerous Liaisons" for both the stage and screen, with the latter starring Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Uma Thurman, and garnering an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
Netflix eloquently describes Son's character, Lady Cho, as a "master strategist" and "a woman of unparalleled talent and charm who dares to transcend the confines imposed on women of her era by initiating a clandestine wager of love" with her admirer, Cho Won. Cho Won (played by Ji), the enigmatic playboy, is painted as a "mesmerizing" hedonist who "shuns love and revels solely in dating," employing "every resource at his disposal to win Lady Cho's heart and their stake." Meanwhile, Nana morphs into the widow Hui-yeon, who vows eternal chastity following her husband's demise but finds herself "torn between complex emotions and an unforeseen attraction to Cho Won."
While Netflix has yet to disclose a release date for "Scandals," it is reasonable to anticipate that this scorching series will premiere sometime later this year.
