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Two Of Korea's Top Storytellers Unite For "Kingdom" - A New Netflix Original Series
Acclaimed director Kim Seong-hun and writer Kim Eun-hee to break new ground in K-drama
SEOUL, South Korea, March 6, 2017 -- Netflix Inc., the world's leading Internet television network, today announced its second Korean original television series - Kingdom. The eight-episode series, produced by a prominent Korean Drama production company, Astory, is set in Korea's medieval Joseon period where a crown prince is sent on a suicide mission to investigate a mysterious outbreak that leads him to a brutal truth that threatens the kingdom.
Kingdom breaks new ground by combining two popular genres in one series: historical period drama and zombie action-thriller. The show is a collaboration between two of Korea's strongest storytellers - director Kim Seong-hun whose latest success Tunnel was a top five movie in the Korean box office last year; and writer Kim Eun-hee whose series Signal was one of the top K-dramas in 2016.
"I am thrilled about partnering with an eminent writer like Kim Eun-hee. Kingdom presents the opportunity to work on long-form television at its most ambitious and on a truly cinematic scale because of the unparalleled creative freedom that Netflix as a global internet television network provides," said director Kim Seong-hun.
"I have been working on Kingdom since 2011. I wanted to write a story that reflects the fears and anxiety of modern times but explored through the lens of a romantic fascination of the historical Joseon period. Working with Netflix helps us to unlock this creative vision for Kingdom and I am excited to further build this unique story with the director for whom I have tremendous respect," said writer Kim Eun-hee.
"Kingdom captured our imaginations from the moment we read the script with its visual feast of historical drama blended with supernatural fantasy," said Erik Barmack, VP of international originals, Netflix. "We are incredibly honored by this rare opportunity of pairing two premier creative minds in Korea - film director Kim Seong-hun and television writer Kim Eun-hee."
All 8 episodes of Kingdom will premiere exclusively on Netflix in 2018 to its members in over 190 countries.
About Netflix
Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) is the world's leading Internet television network with over 93 million members in over 190 countries enjoying more than 125 million hours of TV shows and movies per day, including original series, documentaries and feature films. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
About Astory
Astory was established in 2004, with the aim of creating compelling stories backed by a collaborative working environment. Closely working with creators on a wide range of scenarios, Astory was able to create a large number of quality dramas that drew a fan following, including Signal, Five Children, Cinderella's Stepsister, Scent of a Woman, You are the best, Lee SoonShin and Horse Doctor, in a short span of time.
About Kim Seong-hun (Director)
Kim Seong-hun began his filmmaking career as an assistant director in 2003 and directed his first film in 2006. He directed A Hard Day (in Korean "Take It to the End") which premiered and drew positive reviews at the Directors' Fortnight sidebar of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. The film also received numerous awards and nominations, including Best Director at the 51st Grand Bell Awards. His latest film, which he wrote and directed, is Tunnel - a top five film in Korean box office in 2016.
About Kim Eun-hee (Writer)
Kim Eun-hee is in the top echelon of writers in Korea. Her previous work, Signal, was one of the top shows of 2016 and a game-changer that re-defined standards for Korean TV. Ms. Kim won the 2016 52nd Baeksang Arts Screenwriting Award for Television. She also wrote 3 Days, Ghost and Sign.
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