Coffee Prince gets a movie version

A producer confirmed that rights have been acquired to adapt the novel into a movie (fyi, the Coffee Prince novel came first, after which the original novelist also wrote the drama). Since this will be the third version of this story to be told, the rep said that “the movie will show a different story from the drama.”

After the script is completed in May, the production will begin casting for its characters of Go Eun-chan, Choi Han-gyul, and the rest. I wouldn’t get my hopes up for Yoon Eun-hye and Gong Yoo to reprise their roles (it would be great, but I wouldn’t want to get too excited), but the producers aren’t ruling out that possibility, either. Both scenarios are possible: either the old cast will be invited to return or, barring that, they’ll cast with new actors.

This is apparently the second instance of a drama being adapted to film format, following the sageuk series Damo which was turned into the film version Duelist. (The opposite scenario is more common, where films are adapted into dramas, such as with Tazza and Gourmet.)

Part of the drama Coffee Prince’s charm was its wonderful directing by Lee Yoon-jung, and with a different PD behind the camera, the end product may end up with a very different feel. Still, I’m excited nonetheless — I loved the drama and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the novel, and I certainly don’t need this movie to be a direct replica of the drama.

The production’s plan is to begin filming in October, and aim for a February 2010 release, with simultaneous premieres in Korea, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia.