NCT's Cha Hakyeon, formerly of boy band VIXX, has been confirmed to headline a new boys' love (BL) drama, Killer Next Door (working title), in his first-ever BL project.

The series would be released only on OTT platforms.

According to Xports News, Cha, also known as N, will be playing Yoon Je, a pro baseball player who finds himself caught up in a relationship with one of his fans.

Cha has an established career acting, but because this is his first time in the BL genre.

Netizens have mixed reactions

Cha taking part in what is seen as a rookie series to blaze a trail, fans excitement for some and anger from others as to why he has joined a BL series at all.

Fan reactions range from being excited over his performance to questions about role choice — Comments on the online platform theqoo, reflect a mixed bag of opinions.

One thought: "It's not only rookies who need to be the one shooting BLs.'" — But it's still interesting to see him in the lead role in this kind of genre, having been a supporting player in public broadcast dramas.

The stigma that prevents actors from taking on a diverse range of roles was echoed by others, with concerns that portrayals—like Talia's—would come back to haunt them.

Another said it was "disgusting the way people make impressions. Because people are terrified of the impressions they are going to make, actors cannot lay out all the different angles."

Killer Next Door is under discussion to air on TVING and will mark a new chapter for Cha Hakyeon as he continues his blossoming career.