The popular Korean drama 'Thirty-Nine', produced by SLL, is set to be adapted into a stage play titled '39세' in Japan.
Originally released in 2022, 'Thirty-Nine' is a heartfelt human romance drama that explores the deep stories of friendship, love, and life among three friends on the brink of turning forty. The series finale achieved its highest viewership rating of 8.1%.
The stage adaptation, '39세', transforms the original drama into a theatrical performance, capturing the intricate relationships and emotional dynamics of the characters through music and acting.
The production brings together veteran creators from both Korea and Japan, raising expectations. The script is penned by Sakaguchi Riko, known for works like the film 'Beyond the Normal', the drama 'Woman's Life', and the musical 'Your Lie in April'. The music is composed by Kim Hyo-eun, recognized for Korean original musicals like 'HOPE' and 'Navillera'. Lyrics are by Nagata Ikue, known for 'Robot in the Garden', and direction is by Koyama Yuna, who has worked on plays like 'The Rose Dilemma' and musicals such as 'Finding Neverland'.
The casting is equally impressive, featuring former members of the renowned Takarazuka Revue, a 100-year-old Japanese theater troupe, as the three main female characters. Asaka Manato takes on the role of Cha Mi-jo, originally played by Son Ye-jin. Nanami Hiroki plays Jung Chan-young, a role previously portrayed by Jeon Mi-do. Yumeki Nene is cast as Jang Joo-hee, originally played by Kim Ji-hyun. Additional cast includes Aiba Yuki as dermatologist Kim Sun-woo, Maeda Ise as entertainment agency CEO Kim Jin-seok, and Takahashi Kensuke as Chinese restaurant owner-chef Park Hyun-joon.
An SLL representative stated, "'Thirty-Nine' is a work that showcases the power of storytelling centered on character relationships and emotions. The play '39세' will demonstrate how this IP can be expanded through remakes in different cultural contexts and formats."
However, 'Thirty-Nine' faced controversy during its broadcast for allegedly glamorizing infidelity. The storyline involves Kim Jin-seok, a married man, continuing a relationship with his former lover Jung Chan-young, which drew criticism for portraying the affair sympathetically. It remains to be seen how the stage adaptation will address these issues.
The play '39세' will premiere in September at the Tokyo IMM Theater and Osaka Umeda Arts Theater Drama City.
By Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr