After production was fully halted amid uproar over the original work’s alleged pro–Xi Jinping stance and historical distortion, actor Han Suk-kyu’s project is back on track — finally seeing the light of day five years later.
On the 7th, the team behind the drama Speaking Dead starring Han Suk-kyu dropped tense still cuts of a breathless standoff as characters confront truths from more than a decade ago that were buried and covered up.
The newly released stills spotlight the key players at the heart of the case: Jang Jae-wook (played by Han Suk-kyu), who has taken hostages and is surrounded by police; profiler Yeo Su-jeong (Jung Yu-mi), who faces off against him; and investigations chief Go Kyung-hee (Yum Hye-ran), who commands the scene — all heightening the suspense.
Another set of stills features pivotal figures from the past who are tied to the present-day incident. Prosecutor Kang Young-il (Lee Hee-joon) and legal officer Heo Kyung-pil (Kim Joon-han) further fuel curiosity about how the truth from over ten years ago connects to what’s happening now.
The project has been officially invited to the Fantascope section of the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) and sold out in just five minutes after tickets opened. Following its July 11 screening at BIFAN, a post-screening Q&A (GV) will be held with the production team, joined by veteran actors Lee Hee-joon, Yum Hye-ran, and Kim Joon-han to discuss the work.
Meanwhile, the mystery thriller Speaking Dead — which kicks off with the confession of forensic scientist Jang Jae-wook, who becomes the nation’s most-watched urban terror suspect — is slated for release in the second half of this year.