Korean pop idol, Kim Kibum (金基范) will star in the mainland Chinese drama, Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils <天龙八部>! A member of Super Junior, Kim Kibum will play “Duan Yu,” the young and naïve prince of Dali. Wallace Chung （钟汉良） will portray ”Qiao Feng,” the chief of the Beggars’ Sect. Other key characters like the monk, “Xuzhu,” and “Wang Yuyan” will be selected through auditions in which netizens can nominate their ideal actors for the roles. Casting of Kim Kibum Sparks Controversy Written by Jin Yong (金庸), Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils have spawned many television dramas versions in Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China. As the novel is close to the hearts of many audiences, the choice of casting the Korean star, Kim Kibum has sparked a heated debate online. Netizens protested and expressed that the role of Duan Yu should be awarded to a local Chinese actor; the drama can groom new local artists. Some netizens commented, “Why do they insist a Korean artist to play Duan Yu? I really can’t accept it!” However, there are some netizens who felt that Kim Kibum is perfect for the role. Possessing a boyish and handsome appearance, Kim Kibum fits the bill of the young, charming Duan Yu. Some supported the selection of Kim Kibum and felt that the nationality of the actor did not matter. Regarding the cast controversy, producer Chen Pinxiang (陈品祥) said, “Kim Kibum’s image, disposition and age fit the role of Duan Yu better. He is famous and popular in China and Korea. Using a Korean actor will internationalize Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils. The Chinese culture and martial arts spirit will be spread in a wider region.” Producer Chen also added, “Using a Korean actor may also have a higher marketing value in Korea and other regions.” Creds: QQ
Oh, god... WTF are they thinking, how many remakes are they going to do... There must be like a a remake very few years... Getting sick of it. One of the things that I hate the most in Chinese/Taiwan drama is, they rarely use the original voices of the actors, it's usually dub and it sucks. I just don't get why they do it.
