Prime Video has recently begun dipping its toe into the world of K-dramas as it climbs towards the crowning achievement of being the biggest streaming platform in the US, but Island is about to be its flashiest Korean release yet thanks to its stacked cast and high budget. Premiering its first 2 episodes on December 30, Island has been a long-awaited project for fans of the fantasy thriller genre. The series is based on an infamous manhwa and its webtoon sequel, which follow three powerful individuals who come together to protect Jeju (and the world) from evil forces threatening to break through.
Island was first announced in late 2020 before firming up its cast, and it finally began filming in the autumn of last year with acclaimed actor Kim Nam-gil starring as Pan—sometimes romanized as Van—an immortal and amoral monster hunter who is not quite human himself. Whether by accident or fate, he is ed in his quest by wayward heiress Won Mi-ho (played by Lee Da-hee, best known to Western audiences as one of the hosts of Single's Inferno on Netflix). Completing the unlikely trio is young exorcist priest John Skelp (played by Hallyu wave megastar Cha Eun-woo), an expatriate who arrives from the United States to answer a higher power.
Island Is An Entirely New Genre For Cha Eunwoo
The Island trailer promises thrills and chills aplenty, with painstaking effort going into the CG for a series of terrifying monsters and demons. Warning of evil that is leeching off the land of Jeju, Pan gathers his associates for the fight of their lives. While John is shown throwing himself into exorcism and battle alike, Miho is more reluctant and can't seem to understand why she has become the target of the so-called "Demons of Flame." Given that the art (illustrated by Yang Kyung-il) was one of the biggest selling points of Youn In-wan's story, it's only natural that the creative team put effort into the creepy aesthetic of the drama.
But the biggest surprise for fans of Korean entertainment must be seeing a bloodied Eun-woo battling monsters, as he is best known for winning hearts in romantic comedies like True Beauty—when he's not singing "Candy Sugar Pop" with his fellow Astro , that is. Though he's already proven his dramatic chops in Decibel, Island will have more eyes on him thanks to a global release from Prime Video. According to the production team, "Cha Eun-woo surprised the staff on site by portraying John more freely as filming went on. The drama will be filled with Cha Eun Woo’s new charms that have not been seen anywhere else, so please show lots of interest.”
Island also boasts Sung Joon, known for mid-2010s hits such as Hyde, Jekyll, Me and High Society, in one of his first roles since his discharge from the military. He plays Goong Tan, the most mysterious of the main characters thus far. Thanks to the source material, audiences can expect that he is a former partner of Pan's, and his character poster reveals that he has since learned to distrust all humans. How he comes back into the story, and whether Pan will be able to work alongside Miho and John when his nature is so wild, will be key points to watch out for when the series premieres. Island is produced by CJ ENM, the multimedia mogul behind Parasite and this year's Decision To Leave, and it will stream on their platform TVING in Korea simultaneously with its global Prime Video release.
Island's first two episodes will air on December 30 on Prime Video, followed by weekly Friday releases timed to its airdates in Korea.