A 2023 K-drama TV show is getting a US remake after the original series landed on Netflix’s global charts for 11 weeks, underscoring its popularity. Netflix original K-dramas have been popular in recent years, some of which have managed to become staples of the platform. This includes the smash hit survival thriller Squid Game, which will end with the upcoming season 3, and shows that have already concluded like the revenge drama The Glory. It is a multifaceted genre featuring many different types of shows, such as the horror series Sweet Home or the mystery show The Trunk.

However, there are plenty of lighter TV shows as well, including the action series Descendants of the Sun and the sports drama Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo. There are also quite a few K-drama romances that showcase plenty of interesting relationship dynamics across many unique stories. Some well-received series include 2018’s Something in the Rain, 2019’s Crash Landing on You, and 2022’s Business Proposal, highlighting the different tones various K-drama series can embody. One of these shows has proven promising enough in popularity for a remake by a US production company.

King The Land Is Getting A US Remake

A Producer On Crazy Rich Asians Is Attached

It has been officially announced that King the Land is getting a US remake, thanks to its popularity on Netflix. The romantic comedy follows luxury hotel heir Gu Won (Lee Jun-ho) as he becomes part of an inheritance dispute, alongside a hotel manager, Cheon Sa-rang (Im Yoon-ah), who forms a connection with him. The show has received polarizing reviews, earning a 71% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but only a 23% score from audiences. However, the show spent 11 total weeks on Netflix’s Global Top 10 chart for Non-English TV series, proving its international popularity.

Now, Variety has confirmed that Netflix’s popular Korean drama King the Land will be getting a US remake, with Crazy Rich Asians producer Janice Chua attached. This comes as Chua joins Third Culture Content as the production company’s co-founder and a producer. While it is unclear how much from the original show the American adaptation will pull from, the series’ announcement indicates that its success on streaming was a primary factor in it getting a remake overseas.

What King The Land’s US Remake Announcement Says About The Show

Its Popularity Has Already Proven It A Success

While non-romantic K-dramas tend to get the most traction on Netflix globally, King the Land has more than proven itself in terms of viewership. In addition to being a hit in its home territory of South Korea, over the course of its run, it hit No. 1 in more than a dozen different countries, including Nigeria, Brazil, Chile, Vietnam, Singapore, Qatar, and Indonesia. Its international appeal was proven by the fact that it topped the chart in many other countries before it did so in South Korea itself, where it only hit No. 1 during its sixth week.

In addition to appealing to those millions of viewers who made the original show a hit during its Netflix debut, the remake could address the K-drama’s divisive nature in terms of the split between its critical and audience scores. It is possible that the new show could correct the issues that led to many complaints, such as a predictable script, lackluster humor, and a perfunctory ending. If those issues are addressed, it could capture a brand-new audience on top of the pre-existing one, making the new series an even bigger hit.

Our Take On The King The Land Remake

In Some Ways, A US Version Doesn’t Make Sense

The fact that King the Land is getting a remake makes sense, as this is not the first time that Netflix has taken one of their hit series and retooled it for an audience from a different territory. In fact, this happened in reverse recently, as the hit Spanish crime drama Money Heist was remade for a South Korean audience as Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area. However, one unusual aspect of the success of the K-drama is the fact that it was never actually a hit in the United States.

Not only did King the Land never hit No. 1 in the United States, it never even made it into the Top 10 at any point during its showstopping run in other countries, so the fact that it is being remade in this particular territory seems like an unusual choice.

However, a U.S. remake of King the Land could make sense in spite of the fact that Americans seem to have largely ignored the series the first time around. Many of Netflix’s biggest hits, including Wednesday, Stranger Things, You, and The Night Agent, are English-language productions. An English version of the K-drama could follow in their footsteps on that strength alone, even if many American audiences do not realize that it is a remake. Thus, the show could finally find its footing in the U.S. in addition to continuing to appeal to the countries where it already has strong viewership.

Source: Variety