After actor Yoo Yeon-seok shocked viewers with a bold comedic turn, buzz is building over whether he will team up with 'sageuk queen' Lee Se-young in a classic, straight-up romance period drama.
According to OSEN on the 18th, Yoo Yeon-seok and Lee Se-young have been offered the lead roles in the new drama The Princess Covets the Scholar and are currently reviewing the offers positively.
Based on the hit webtoon of the same name, The Princess Covets the Scholar is a heartrending, traditional romance sageuk. It follows Princess Eun-myeong, who lost her mother (the queen consort) at a young age and grew up lonely, bound by the palace’s strict rules and rigid class system. After falling in love at first sight with the scholar Kim Seo-yul, she resolves to marry him, setting off a whirlwind of events. However, a long-rooted feud between their families turns their romance into an entangled and unexpected power struggle. Their love story under an unpredictable, tragic fate evokes a 'Joseon version of Romeo and Juliet' and has drawn major attention.
Lee Se-young has reportedly been offered the role of Princess Eun-myeong, who remains bold and endlessly curious despite her solitary upbringing. Yoo Yeon-seok would play Seo-yul, the second son of the Left State Councillor, a man who feels compelled to push Eun-myeong away the closer she gets. Beyond his handsome looks, he boasts a brilliant mind — the ultimate 'golden boy' of his era.
As news of the two in-demand stars potentially joining forces spread, online communities and social media reacted with sharply divided takes, including comments like "Is there a shortage of male actors in their 20s?", "Their visuals don’t really match," and "A different male lead might suit Eun-myeong better."
Meanwhile, on the April 18 broadcast of SBS’s Friday–Saturday drama Phantom Lawyer, Yoo Yeon-seok showed off an unexpected side by dancing and singing the theme of the popular animated character 'Hachuping.' Lee Se-young is also gearing up for the release of the Disney+ original series 'The Remarried Empress' later this year. All eyes are on whether the two, both riding high with nonstop activities, will finalize casting and spark a fresh on-screen synergy.