Viacom Strikes Format Deal With Korea’s Something Special

Jamie Lang Having just pitched at the Sanfic-Morbido Lab, Chilean slasher flick project “Matria” will head to South Korea’s Bucheon (Bifan) in June on behalf of Ventana Sur’s Blood Window, where the project pitched to great success in late 2020. In the midst of its pandemic online market run, “Matria” has added two new key castings in award-winning Chilean actor Benjamin Vicuña (“Fuga,” “Locked Up”) and Argentina’s Gabriel Schultz (“Kryptonite,” “La Suerte en Tus Manos”).

Veteran film critic Huh Moon-younghas been appointed director of South Korea'sinfluential Busan International Film Festival. He will replace former festival head Jay Jeon, who stepped down abruptly in January.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefLeading South Korean TV production studio Monster Union has commissioned a local adaptation of British comedy series “Uncle.” The Korean series will be the first localization of the scripted format, which is represented by BBC Studios.The darkly comic series follows the misadventures of a dissolute, out-of-work musician who forges an unlikely alliance with his 12-year-old nephew after being morally blackmailed into looking after him by his chaotic sister, on the

EXCLUSIVE: MGM is in advanced negotiations for a multi-territory pre-buy of writer-director Zach Braff’s feature A Good Person, we can reveal.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefKorean American drama film “Minari” can’t stop winning awards. Similarly, it continues to reign on top of the Korean box office.The Lee Isaac Chung-directed film earned $1.09 million between Friday and Monday to top the box office in South Korea, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service of the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).The figure is little changed from the previous weekend.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefKorean Oscar-winner “Parasite” gleefully poked fun at South Korea’s bourgeoisie. Hur Jin-ho’s “The Dinner” is set to give the middle classes another skewering.The project is an adaptation of Dutch novel ‘Het Diner’ (“The Dinner”) written by Herman Koch.

Gallery: The career of Betty White in pictures (Espresso)Youn shared the historic first with "Minari" co-star Steven Yeun, the first Asian-American to be nominated for a best actor Oscar. Born in Seoul, Yuen and his family moved to Canada and then the United States when he was a child.

BTS is taking over the 2021 Grammys stage – but not from Los Angeles!

BTS kicked off Grammys weekend last night (March 12) with a performance at MusiCares’ ‘Music On A Mission’ virtual benefit concert.Taking to the stage at the Peace Hall at Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea, the K-pop giants performed their Grammy-nominated (Best Pop Duo/Group Performance) song ‘Dynamite’, with band member Jungkook on drums.The ‘Music On A Mission’ benefit was put on to help raise proceeds for members of the music industry severely impacted by the coronavirus

When Youn Yuh-jung was asked how she felt about being called the "Meryl Streep of South Korea" in a recent interview, she said she’s flattered by the comparison. But she had her own introduction.

Red Velvet, is set to make her solo debut soon.News of the singer’s upcoming project was first reported earlier today (March 10) by South Korean entertainment outlet StarNews. The publication claimed that the Korean idol was working on a solo album which is planned for release in April.Shortly after StarNews’ report, Wendy’s agency SM Entertainment confirmed that the singer will release a solo project sometime next month, although a specific date was not announced.

ViacomCBSNetworks International is deepening its ties in Asia through a new deal signed with South Korean company Something Special to co-develop TV formats. Inked by ViacomCBS division VIS, the deal gives the U.S.

Viacom International Studios has inked a first-look deal with South Korean production studio Something Special.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefA notable launch for “Minari” lifted the South Korea box office to its second highest weekend of 2021. The Korean-language American-made drama performed 80% higher than the weekend’s other significant new release Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon.”Opening in first place, “Minari” clocked up $1.68 million over the weekend, according to data from the Korean Film Council’s KOBIS box office tracking service.

After winning a Golden Globe, numerous critics circle accolades as well as SAG Award, Independent Spirit Award and Critics Choice nominations, Minari has taken its success overseas as the A24 American family drama has opened at number one in South Korea.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has ordered a live-action series adaptation of the Korean webtoon “Dr. Brain.” The series will be the first completely Korean-language project at the streamer.Kim Jee-Woon will write and direct, with “Parasite” star Lee Sun-Kyun set to star.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe end came quietly with the humdrum announcement of a deal between two state-owned TV groups, China Central Television (CCTV) and South Korean public broadcaster KBS.

Halsey has defended BTS after a German radio DJ was accused of making racist comments about the K-Pop giants.Matthias Matuschik faced criticism when he discussed the Korean band’s cover of Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’ while on air at Bavarian radio station Bayern3 last week.While talking about the track, he appeared to compare the group to coronavirus, saying he hoped “a vaccine will be available soon” for the band.He continued to insist that he had “nothing against South Korea” and was not xenophobic