Cha Eun Woo Veers Away From the Typical Baby Boy Role in Upcoming Dark Drama Island

(SPOT.ph) When it comes to thrilling sequences, compelling storylines, and of course, a boatload of good- looking talent, South Korea is at the top of the pyramid. Thanks to streaming platforms, more and more people globally are tuning in to different Korean dramas—from webtoon adaptations to original new content—and are often found wishing to visit the Land of the Morning Calm. While most look toward Seoul, its capital city, folks all over are now putting their attention on Jeju Island, albeit a version of it by Director Bae Jong with lustful demons and an exorcist played by none other than our baby-faced fave Cha Eun Woo Yup, a new title lands on Prime Video on December 30 and we’ve got the deets on why you should add this to your ever-growing list.

We recently sat down with the cast of Island—Kim Nam Gil, who plays Van, a half-human, half-demon; Lee Da Hee, who plays Miho, a third generation chaebol exiled to the island; Sung Jung, the villainous half-human, half-demon Gungtan; and Cha Eun Woo as Yohan, Vatican City’s youngest priest—to talk about what new things this title brings.

Island is based on an original manhwa written by Youn In-wan and illustrated by Yang Kyung-il which began in 1997. It tells the story of Van, a half-human, half-demon as he tries to accept his true nature and how it can be the determining cause against the battle for good and evil.

Also read: 10 Most Googled South Korean Series of 2022

Here’s what the cast of Island had to say about the upcoming series:

Casting was a “relatively easy” process. Everyone quickly signed on to the project, with the exception of the lead, Kim Nam Gil, who rejected the project twice before finally accepting the role, says director Bae Jong during a press conference in South Korea on December 22.

Cha Eun Woo, who regularly acts in webtoon adaptations, slips into the role of a young priest way too easily with how fluent-sounding his Italian and Latin are. The role required stunts—something the actor wasn’t used to considering the rom-com tropes he mostly known for—yet nevertheless was an exciting experience for him, “I think rather than it being too much of a challenge, I enjoyed it a lot (more) because of that fact.” Given that he is more inclined to pay webtoon-based roles, having a published title as a reference makes it easier for Cha to focus on what’s good about the story while at the same time being mindful that he wouldn’t be trapped inside the character’s two-dimension personality.

Despite it being the actor’s first time to portray a character with a supernatural power, it feels organic to his personality,as if he was born to play Van, the half-human, half-demon—a decision that fans are sure to be appreciative for as his initial reaction was to say no due to his fear of disappointing the fans of the manhwa. “Van still wishes to be human,” Kim shares during an exchange with SPOT.ph where he tells us the intricacies of playing such a character. “Since he hopes (for humans), it drains him a lot but when he leans into his demon side, he loses that hope and that makes him more primal and instinctive.” Similar and yet so different, Sung Jung’s Gungtan leans toward the darker side of things—even going as far as bleaching his hair seven to eight times during production—as he explores a role that’s completely opposite from what he has played in previous dramas.

Meanwhile, one, if not the most eager to come on board the show, Lee Da Hee’s ready to take on a more serious job, veering away from previous projects that typically show her hosting skills rather than her acting prowess. Being a show that relies heavily on graphics and visual effects, Lee’s take on the role is focus-driven, “There are some times when I feel very awkward because there are times when you have to act or perform facing an empty space, but I try to remind myself that if I seem awkward, it’s going to come off as awkward. At times I just let myself go and be insane.”

Director Bae Jong may have already said it but it is evident, the cast of Island is a perfect mix—from established actors, to webtoon royalty—of individuals that slot together to tell the story of a fantasy-esque Jeju Island. One that’s full of action, thrilling moments, and a ton of breathtaking visuals not just of the scenery but of the cast as well.

Island premieres December 30 on Prime Video.