The cast of the upcoming film "With God" lost two contenders for the lead role within one day. On October 20 Won Bin officially dropped out of the film, disappointing fans who waited five years for what promised to be his comeback. The next day Kim Woo Bin announced his decision not to take part in the film. His agency, Sidus HQ, announced the offer in July, so he thought about it for months.
Actor Ha Jung Woo did commit to playing another role and so far is the only actor to have confirmed his participation in the film.
Why is the film having so much trouble landing a cast?
Could it be that it is based on a webtoon? Some actors shy away from films and dramas based on webtoons because the fan base for webtoons is demanding about any adaptations. The $15 million film is based on the Naver webcomic series "Singwa Hamgge" first published in 2010. The premise of the story is that a person has 49 days to defend their life in the afterworld. And they may wind up with a better judgement if they hire a lawyer. In Buddhism it is believed that the soul wanders around for 49 days after death. The soul must undergo trials accompanied by an angel of death but getting the right lawyer may be more important in deciding your afterlife fate.
"With God" will focus on the first of three separate episodes of the web comic. That first episode is titled "Afterlife," while the other two are "Life" and "Myth." The director planned the film as a three-part series.
Both Kim Woo Bin and Won Bin were up for the role of Jin Gi Han, an army deserter and lawyer with a practice in the afterlife. In the film three men stand on trial for the lives they lived.
Kim Woo Bin's next project is the drama "Uncontrollably Fond" with Suzy Bae. Kim has not appeared in a full-length k-drama since the 2013 drama "The Heirs," but he did have roles in two films, "The Con Artists" aka "The Technicians" and "Twenty." He also starred in a web drama titled "Love Cells" with Kim Yoo Jung. The web drama was so popular it is expected to get a sequel.
Kim Jong Hwa, who directed "Take Off" and "Mr. Go," will direct 'With God.' CJ Entertainment is producing the film.
