Anticipation and Concerns Surrounding tvN's 'Ask the Stars' Amid Delayed Release

tvN's highly anticipated drama 'Ask the Stars', which reportedly had a production budget of 50 billion KRW, is finally set to premiere after a two-year delay. The drama, set against a space backdrop, has sparked both excitement and skepticism due to the mixed success of previous space-themed projects.

'Ask the Stars' is the latest work from writer Seo Sook-hyang, known for 'Pasta' and 'Jealousy Incarnate'. The series stars Lee Min-ho as 'Gong Ryong', an obstetrician with a mission who travels to a space station as a space tourist, and Gong Hyo-jin as 'Eve Kim', a Korean-American astronaut. This unique space romantic comedy explores the life of Eve, the boss working in a zero-gravity space station, and the mysterious intruder Gong Ryong. The production reportedly invested heavily in building a space station set, contributing to the 50 billion KRW budget.

The casting for 'Ask the Stars' was officially announced in March 2022, with filming beginning in April and a simultaneous release on domestic channels and global OTT platforms planned for 2023.

However, by April 2023, the production team announced the completion of filming and the commencement of post-production to enhance the drama's quality. The release platform and timing were revised to 'undetermined', with post-production costs, including special visual effects, reportedly exceeding 10 billion KRW.

After more than a year, in August 2024, it was confirmed that 'Ask the Stars' would air as a weekend drama on tvN in the first half of 2025, with its premiere set for January 4th. This marks nearly three years since the casting announcement.

With its star-studded lineup and massive budget, expectations for 'Ask the Stars' are high. However, concerns persist due to the lukewarm reception of previous space-themed dramas in Korea.

Netflix's 2021 series 'The Silent Sea', which also explored space narratives, received criticism for its lack of scientific accuracy and slow pacing, despite being produced by Jung Woo-sung. Similarly, Netflix's 'Space Sweepers', Korea's first space SF film, received mixed reviews and did not meet expectations.

Space-themed dramas naturally face high expectations due to the global success of Hollywood productions. However, 'Ask the Stars' focuses more on romance than genre-specific content, aiming to appeal to a broader audience. It remains to be seen whether 'Ask the Stars' can overcome skepticism and receive positive reviews.

Reported by Tae Yuna, TenAsia youyou@tenasia.co.kr