Cover Here are all the details about the Korean remake of Netflix's "Money Heist" (Photo: Courtesy of Netflix)

Excited about the Korean adaptation of the hit Netflix Spanish show, "Money Heist"? We break down all the things we know so far

Netflix's Spanish-crime series, Money Heist or as it's locally known, La Casa de Papel was a massive hit on the streaming platform. It became Netflix's most-watched non-English series that spun four seasons with the fifth and final season well underway. A total of 65 million households watched the series and subsequently garnered a cult-following as seen in the Netflix special, Money Heist: The Phenomenon.

It doesn't come as a surprise that the global hit show will be getting a Korean remake, given the popularity of Korean dramas as well as its brilliant portfolio of other well-made remakes such as Cold Eyes and Heart Blackened.

While a release date has yet to be announced, Netflix has just revealed the faces leading the Korean adaptation of the beloved Spanish series. Here, we break down all the details that we know so far.

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1. The cast

The stellar cast of the original Money Heist, named after different capital cities, has been one of the show's strongest points. It shouldn't come as a surprise that the Korean adaptation is also putting together a cast of remarkable actors. For the role of The Professor, renowned actor, director and screenwriter Yoo J-i-tae will take it on. He is known for Oldboy (2003), Secret Love (2010) and One Fine Spring Day (2001).

Meanwhile, Jeon Jong-seo will be making her first drama appearance and lead role as the titular Tokyo, the narrator of the show. Jeon is most known for her breakout role in Burning (2018) and the recent Netflix horror film, The Call (2020).

The rest of the gang members will be played by Prison Playbook's (2017) Park Hae-soo as Berlin, veteran actor Lee Won-jong as Moscow, Flower of Evil's (2020) Kim Ji-hun as Denver, Veteran's (2015) Jang Yoon-ju as Nairobi, Team Bulldog's (2020) Park Jung-woo as Rio, Kim ji-hun as Helsinki and Champion's (2018) Lee Kyu-ho as Oslo.

For the task force team, Korean-American actress Kim Yun-jin, known for her role as Sun in the TV show, Lost (2004) will be playing Seon Woo-jin, which may be the inspector's counterpart in the original series. Kim Sung-o, well-known for his supporting roles in various Korean dramas such as Secret Garden (2010) will be playing Cha Moo-hyuk.

While there are many hostages in the series, two main cast members have been announced so far. Parasite's (2020) Park Myung-hoon will play Cho Young-min while She Would Never Know's (2021) Lee Joobeen will play Youn Misun.

2. The crew

Director Kim Hong-sun will be helming the Korean remake. Kim previously worked on other crime-action Korean dramas such as Voice (2017) and The Guest (2018). Meanwhile, Ryu Yong-jae, the screenwriter for the other Netflix original series My Holo Love (2020) will act as the screenwriter for this adaptation.

3. The production companies

Entertainment and production companies, BH Entertainment and Zium Content will be the minds behind the production of the series. BH Entertainment made the movie, A Single Rider (2017) and manages artists like Kim Go-eun of Goblin (2016) and The King: Eternal Monarch (2020), Yoo Ji-tae (playing The Professor in the remake) and Park Hae-soo (playing Berlin in the remake) while Zium Content previously worked on Itaewon Class (2020).

4. The plot

While not many details have been revealed about the plot, we can expect the remake to follow the Spanish original closely given the announcement of all the major casting roles. It will be set on the Korean Peninsula and will follow a genius mastermind, The Professor, who forms a team of thieves and petty criminals that boast diverse abilities and personalities to pull off a heist.

In the original, the heist takes place on the Royal Mint of Spain and the Bank of Spain. We can look forward to where it will take place in the 12-episode remake.

5. What the original creator has to say

Alex Pina, creator and the head director of the original series has said nothing but praises and hope for the adaptation. "Korean creators have been developing their own language and audiovisual culture for years. They have managed, like our series, to go beyond cultural borders and become a point of reference for thousands of viewers around the world, especially among young people."

"That is why I find it fascinating that the world of La Casa de Papel is so attractive to Korean creators as to do an adaptation. The fact that the action is set on the Korean Peninsula also seems to me to be a milestone which I am really delighted about," he adds.

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