If you enjoyed Netflix interactive specials such as Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt where viewers can ‘choose their own adventure’ and decide what happens next, then Trivia Quest is an upcoming series that is something to watch out for!
Trivia Quest launches on April 1, 2022, with one new episode available every day for the month of April (that’s 30 episodes in total). Every episode features a set of 24 questions perfect for quiz and trivia geeks, with 12 standard and 12 hard multiple-choice questions across various categories such as history, entertainment, sports, and science. Trivia Quest is based on Trivia Crack, a popular multi-platform trivia franchise by etermax.
Similar to the other Netflix interactive specials, the upcoming quiz series has a narrative twist, with players on a mission to help hero Willy rescue the citizens of Trivia Land by racking up points. Stumped and didn’t get to answer some questions correctly? There will be an option to replay quizzes so you can get the correct answers and keep accumulating points.
You can play Trivia Quest on Netflix starting April 1st on all supported devices, which include smart TVs, streaming media players, game consoles, computer browsers, Android phones and tablets, and iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch). More details on supported devices can be found here.
Are you always on the lookout for new shows and movies to stream? HBO GO has it covered! From award-winning comedy series and fantasy action drama to new seasons of existing series, there are just so many to look forward to this April on the streaming platform.
Voyagers
Premieres April 2
Written, directed, and co-produced by Neil Burger, it follows a group of teenage astronauts sent on a multi-generational mission in the year 2063 to colonize a habitable exoplanet amidst runaway climate change and the declining habitability of Earth. When they uncover disturbing secrets about the mission, they defy their training and begin to explore their most primitive natures. It stars Tye Sheridan, Lily-Rose Depp, Fionn Whitehead, Colin Farrel, and more.
Tokyo Vice
Premieres April 7
Based on the 2009 book of the same name by Jake Adelstein, the film is set in the late 1990s when the author relocates to Tokyo to join the staff of a major Japanese newspaper. He then starts exploring the dark and dangerous world of the Japanese yakuza. It stars Ansel Elgort, Ken Watanabe, Rachel Keller, and more.
Night of the Animated Dead
Premieres April 8
Directed by Jason Axinn, the animated zombie film centers on two siblings who visit their father’s grave at a remote Pennsylvanian cemetery. They then find themselves swarmed by zombies and one flees to a farmhouse and finds herself trapped with a group of strangers as zombies overcome the property. It features the voices of Josh Duhamel, Dulé Hill, Katherine Isabelle, and more.
Georgetown
Premieres April 9
Directed by Christoph Waltz, it is based on The New York Times Magazine article “The Worst Marriage in Georgetown” by Franklin Foer. It is a recount of the murder of Viola Herms Drath. It stars Christoph Waltz, Vanessa Redgrave, Annette Bening, and Corey Hawkins.
Spirit Untamed
Premieres April 16
Directed by Elaine Bogan, it follows a young girl Fortuna “Lucky” Prescott who moves to the small rural community of Miradero where she meets the titular kiger mustang she names “Spirit”. It features the voices of Isabela Merced, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marsai Martin, and Mckenna Grace among others.
The Sparks Brother
Premieres April 21
Directed by Edgar Wright, it is a documentary film about Ron and Russell Mael, members of the pop and rock duo Sparks.
The Baby
Premieres April 25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mzQjrqGsnE
It follows Natasha who is furious that her closest friends are all having babies. When she suddenly gets a baby of her own, her life dramatically implodes and twists life into a surreal horror show. It stars Sinéad Cusack, Isy Suttie, and Shvorne Marks.
We Own This City
Premieres April 26
Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, the 6-episode miniseries is based on the non-fiction book of the same name Baltimore Sun. It shows the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force and the corruption surrounding it.
You can stream ‘Liway’ on YouTube without ads starting today, March 18!
Starring Glaiza de Castro, the film is based on true events and tells the story of a political prisoner under the Martial Law regime. Writer-director Kip Oebanda shows us his childhood where he grew up in a prison camp with his mother, Cecilia Flores-Oebanda known as Commander Liway of the New People’s Army. The film also stars Dominic Roco as Commander Toto, and Kenken Nuyad as Dakip.
Liway premiered in Cinemalaya Festival 2018, where it received a special jury commendation and won the audience choice award for full-length feature films. The film also received three Film Academy of the Philippines awards: best screenplay, best editing, and best actress for Glaiza de Castro.
WATCH LIWAY HERE:
Have you already seen Liway? Leave a review on My ClickTheCity.
From Effie White with her amazing voice and personality that arrested everyone in the room in Dreamgirls (2006) to Imperator Furiosa with her willingness to put her life on the line to free the Five Wives in Mad Max: Fury Road(2015), aren’t we all glad to have strong female role models across pop culture to inspire young ladies growing up?
With more women at the helm of productions in recent years, more of these girl power-focused tropes have come to life — with their stories of individuality, resilience, strength, and womanhood front and center.
HBO GO celebrates Women’s Month by spotlighting some of these heroines and their inspiring journeys. From Gossip Girl’s misunderstood queen bee to Batwoman’s self-effacing medic, meet strong, relatable women and discover their stories only on HBO GO — powered by PLDT Home’s fastest connections. For only P149 a month or P299 for three months, access HBO GO’s library of award-winning series and blockbusters conveniently charged to your monthly bill!
Get to know and maybe learn a few life lessons along the way from these female icons. Warning: Spoilers ahead!
Gossip Girl’s Julien Calloway
She’s as moneyed as an Upper East Sider as she’s influential as an Instagram celeb. With her shaved head and supermodel bod, Julien (Jordan Alexander) rocks as the new Queen Bee of Constance in this Gossip Girl reboot. Make no mistake, though: While usually nice, JC uses her Serena van der Woodsen-esque charm and Blair Waldorf-trademarked sense of authority to her advantage. In the recently concluded first season, she shows off a backbone of steel — defying her father’s wishes to connect with her half-sister Zoya and then confronting him about his sexual abuse allegations. In contrast to the OG GG queensthough, Julien exhibits more accountability. In one episode, right at Zoya’s birthday party, she realizes she has gone too far in bullying her sister that she asks everyone in the crowd to record her unexpected “I’m a bully” admission.
Stream Gossip Girl now on HBO GO.
And Just Like That…’s Seema Patel
As the overdue follow-up series to the iconic Sex and the City, And Just Like That… proves that women can hold their own — no matter the decade or phase in life.
The show may have its original leads in Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte, but no one translates this message more than 50-something realtor Seema (Sarita Choudhury). A new addition to the series, Seema is a breath of fresh air — playing a major role in showing the recently-widowed Carrie that there is still more to life after Mr. Big’s death. She even helps her find a new apartment! Unabashed and opinionated, Seema points out Carrie’s mistakes including this one insensitive — albeit unintentional — remark on her love life and age.
Stream And Just Like That… now on HBO GO
KIMI’s Angela Childs
Trauma affects people in different ways — Angela (Zoë Kravitz), a sexual assault victim too scarred to step out of her Seattle loft, knows.
Angela works from home as a data monitor for Amygdala, a tech firm whose products include a smart speaker that uses human monitoring to improve its search algorithm called Kimi (think Amazon’s Alexa). It’s the perfect job for her until she hears a terrifying voice recording that has her suspect someone is being assaulted.
Angela reports the incident to her superiors, but none believe her — an experience she knows too well after being disbelieved for her own assault. In this new scenario, she finally musters the courage to check out what’s beyond her front door and gather enough evidence to make a case. Even as she discovers that the higher-ups at work are involved, there is no stopping her.
Stream KIMI now on HBO GO.
The Girl Before’s Jane Cavendish
Jane (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), after suffering from a traumatic stillbirth, ran away to escape her pain by renting a gorgeous home in One Folgate Street owned by an eccentric architect, Edward (David Oyelowo).
Despite red flags (strict rules, cameras everywhere, no personal possessions inside), Jane decides this is the perfect place for her to heal. She even develops a romantic relationship with Edward but everything changes upon learning about Emma, the previous tenant who has more than a passing resemblance to her had mysteriously died. Feeling a connection and wanting to find answers, a suspicious, justice-seeking Jane is led down a dangerous rabbit hole.
Stream The Girl Before now on HBO GO.
Land’s Edee Holzer
Robin Wright appears in Land by Robin Wright, an official selection of the Premieres section at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Daniel Power Copyright Focus Features LLC 2020.
Feeling extremely guilty after losing her family in a theater shooting, sole survivor Edee Holzer (Robin Wright) physically isolates herself in the mountains of Alberta, Canada. It’s as if Edee came to the mountains to die, as she leans on her pain and lives off-grid with no survival know-how.
After a bad snowstorm destroys her new home, she meets Miguel (Demián Bichir), a hunter who teaches her how to hunt and rebuild her home. Edee finds solace in her new friend, who also lost his family. Edee finally lets herself grieve for her own loss as she navigates her way back to the life she had left.
Stream Land on HBO GO from March 19.
Batwoman’s Mary Hamilton
In the dark city of Gotham City, the Batwomen— Ryan Wilder and Kate Kane — are fighting with its villains. On the other side of the coin is the cheerful Dr. Hamilton (Nicole Kang), who has hers anchored on nursing. She supports Kate upon learning of the latter’s identity as the female caped crusader.
Despite numerous setbacks, including becoming Poison Ivy and turning on her friends, Mary proves that strong women can do what’s right to help others. In an episode, Mary stops supervillain Alice from blowing up the Gotham Dam and saves thousands in the city.
Stream Batwoman now on HBO GO.
Watch, discover, and be inspired by stories of strong female icons only on HBO GO, powered by PLDT Home’s fastest connections. Enjoy HBO’s collection of award-winning content with the undisputed fastest broadband network in the Philippines, as recognized at the Ookla Speedtest Awards. For more information on how to enjoy HBO GO with your PLDT Home subscription, please visit the official website at pldthome.com/hbogo
Just four months since the release of Red Notice, Ryan Reynolds is back on Netflix. Directed by Stranger Things producer Shawn Levy, Reynolds portrays a time-traveling fighter pilot in The Adam Project. He goes back in time to team up with his younger self and his late father to save the future and come to terms with his past. And if that’s not interesting enough, 13 Going on 30 superstars Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo reunites in the film!
Watch the official trailer of The Adam Project here:
In a roundtable interview, we talked to Ryan Reynolds and Walker Scobell who play Big and Small Adam Reed, and Zoe Saldaña who plays Adam’s wife Laura. Reynolds shares the story of how he and Shawn Levy ended up working again, Scobell’s wrap gift, Saldaña’s advice to her 12-year-old self, and more. Read the interview below:
What made you say yes to ‘The Adam Project’?
Ryan Reynolds: It was very weird. I just finished Free Guy with Shawn [Levy] and I was looking to tell something that was some sort of ‘Field of Dreams’ kind of space. I really wanted to be a part of a story that uses that kind of 80s architecture and film which is a huge spectacle-driven wish-fulfillment type filmmaking that there’s always that really emotionally important at its core.
Shawn and I were actually about to make a whole other movie that dealt with similar themes but wasn’t quite as sharp and as resonant as The Adam Project. And then we left it and found The Adam Project and we were both just in right from the get-go.
The idea was pitched to me by David Ellison who runs Skydance [Media] and I fell in love with the idea. I immediately pitched it to Sean and I threatened his life that he was going to do this movie with me or face dire and fatal consequences. And then off we went! We just went into development, Sean and I did a little rewrite on the script and then we were shooting.
Adam goes back in time to reunite with you in the movie, what would you say is the greatest or craziest thing you’ve done for love?
Zoe Saldaña: Get married! I met a guy, fell in love, and married him. Marriage is such a big step. It’s a commitment, an everyday exercise of love, and that takes discipline, energy, passion, determination, and perseverance — and that’s crazy to me. The fact that we wake up and generate all this energy to put into love because if we get lazy in love, it begins to die. So the craziest thing I’ve ever done for love is to marry and I’m very happy with my decision.
What were the lessons of time traveling have you learned from The Adam Project?
Zoe Saldaña: Sometimes things are better left untouched. Yes, they’re worth reliving because if they are wonderful moments in your life, the possibility of getting to relive a special moment again is just a wonderful gift.
Did you get to keep memorabilia when you wrapped up shooting?
Walker Scobell: Um, I did. Well, that was a wrap gift. I’m wearing it now actually!
Ryan Reynolds: There it is. That was his wrap gift on the movie — the actual watch!
Walker Scobell: But I took my whole costume, a couple of pairs of shoes but I grew out of them in like two days. I also took this hard drive thing that’s pretty cool.
What advice would you give your 12-year-old self?
Zoe Saldaña: Push yourself and stay curious. Try to find comfort in uncomfortable places because it only means that you’re challenging yourself, and you’re learning and growing. And I think I would have let my 12-year-old self know that “You’re on the right track. Everything that you’re doing for yourself, it’s going to help you find who you truly want to be.” And I feel like that would have saved me a lot of moments of tears, anxiety, and paranoia.
The Adam Project premieres today, March 11, on Netflix. Stream here.
About ‘The Adam Project’ Director: Shawn Levy Writers: Jonathan Tropper, T.S. Nowlin, Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin Producers: David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Shawn Levy, p.g.a., Ryan Reynolds, p.g.a. Executive Producers: Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Dan Levine, Dan Cohen, George Dewey, Patrick Gooing, Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Walker Scobell, with Catherine Keener and Zoe Saldaña Logline: A time-traveling pilot teams up with his younger self and his late father to come to terms with his past while saving the future.
Ryan Reynolds has a type. He really shines as a wise-cracking tough guy that’s hiding a fragile, sensitive heart. He’s got a lot of charisma and great comedic timing. I first caught wind of this in 2004’s ‘Blade: Trinity’ where he was the most enjoyable character in the film (along with Parker Posey, another fantastic actor with great charisma and comedic timing). And while it took a long while for him to be fully appreciated for his talents – it wasn’t until 2016’s ‘Deadpool’ where he finally hit it big – he has had a stable career building this character and turning it into his own.
I mention this because a lot of Netflix’s new Shawn Levy-directed sci-fi adventure ‘The Adam Project‘ is centered on Ryan Reynolds and his particular style of performance. The film’s script, written by Jonathan Tropper, T.S. Nowlin, Jennifer Flackett, and Mark Levin has turned this time-traveling family adventure into a vehicle to showcase more of Reynolds’ trademark cinematic allure.
Reynolds’ Adam is a sarcastic, quick to the hip wise-cracking time traveler on a “classified” mission that leads him to meet up with his 12-year-old self, played by Walker Scobell. The 12-year old Adam is just as sarcastic and biting, throwing quips and verbal jabs at every turn.
I suppose the appeal here is that you get two Ryan Reynolds for the price of one. What’s even better? You put a Ryan Reynolds character against his younger self who is written just as funny and just as acerbic.
If this is your jam, then you’re going to have a fun time. Except, for me, it’s gotten old already. I think it would be great for Ryan Reynolds to do more, spread himself, and explore the range of his charisma and comedic timing. I’ve seen all of this in ‘Deadpool’ and this film is really milking this schtick so much. Every time ‘The Adam Project’ gets really thrilling or properly emotional, it is immediately undercut by a one-liner.
And it’s a shame because, with all the enjoyable fight sequences and the novelty of being able to imagine what it would be like to meet your younger self, there’s a rather lovely story here about coming to terms with your past and unresolved feelings.
Personally, I’m tired of Reynolds’ brand of comedy and it doesn’t help that Walker Scobell has Reynold’s timing but none of his charm. Granted he’s a kid but he doesn’t have the same power that Tom Holland (as a kid in ‘The Impossible’) or Haley Joel Osment (from ‘The Sixth Sense’) had as a young actor.
Instead, the ones who really bring this movie to its full potential are Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Garner. Garner, as Adam’s mother, can really imbue a scene with so much heart and emotion that I really wanted more of her in this film. Mark Ruffalo can juggle both humor, big-budget setups (and not get swallowed), and empathy in one go. In fact, he turns a crucial scene in the film from the beginning as a comic thing and then turning it into something very emotional and touching. It’s a genius move.
Zoe Saldana and Catherine Keener, on the flipside, shine as they synch into the adventure part of the film. Keener is enjoyable as a straight-up villain while Saldana handles the action woman role expertly, bringing humanity in an otherwise extraordinary role.
The film has great action choreography where you can really see the movements and enjoy them. The film doesn’t do quick cuts or tight close-ups so you can fully appreciate the movements of the action. As a sci-fi film, it doesn’t delve too much into the science but it doesn’t disregard it either, giving important explanations to the physics and the “rules” behind time travel. It isn’t bogged down by the science so that it can focus on Adam, the younger and the older, and how they can reconcile their own brokenness.
It has beautiful moments that are unfortunately undercut by the Ryan Reynolds-ness of the script, favoring the witty comebacks over emotional depth. Everything else feels by the book that doesn’t do anything much to really reinvent the genre. If it focused on the family bond, it might have been more impactful.
Is it great? Probably not. Is it enjoyable? Definitely. Especially if you love Ryan Reynolds and his cinematic persona.
Streaming services have really redefined entertainment for everyone, and with more viewers exploring more shows across different platforms, the demand and competition between these streaming sites have resulted in a vast pool of content one can watch from their own TVs and gadgets.
If you’re always on the lookout for the latest releases on Netflix, HBO GO, and other streaming services here in the Philippines, we’ve got you covered! On this list, we round up new movies and series that are heading to your favorite streamers from February 28 to March 6, 2022!
This film stars Belle Mariano as the free-spirited Cara who is trying to heal the heart of her best friend Ino, played by Donny Pangilinan, who lost the colors of his vision after a tragic accident.
A nine-tailed fox living for 999 years under the guise of a young professor is set to become a complete human soon, but an accident puts the bead necessary for his transformation inside a university student. He then proposes that they live together while figuring out how to retrieve the bead.
A woman who uses a special electrode device to zap herself whenever she has the urge to kill, embarks on a quest for revenge when the man that she loves is murdered.
An aspiring fashion designer gets to travel back to the 60s through her dreams where she sees the life of a young woman singing in a club. Soon, her visions turn into something more sinister.
Dom must come out of the peaceful life with his family to reunite with the crew and stop a dangerous assassin, who turns out to be Dom’s forsaken brother.
Guns. Murders. Power. When the stakes are high, the dangers rise, and for us watching these things unfold from the screen, we can’t help but somehow enjoy the thrilling ride. If you’re a fan of TV shows that mainly focus on the rise and fall of criminals, mobsters, and other wrongdoers, then this list is for you! We’ve rounded up some thrilling crime dramas that are worth checking out the next time you’re picking a title to binge-watch!
On The Job
Erik Matti’s On The Job film and its sequel, On The Job: The Missing Eight, has been turned into a series on HBO GO. The first part of the series tells the story of prisoners Mario and Daniel, who are secretly being freed by corrupt authorities to serve as untraceable guns-for-hire. The second part follows the corrupt reporter Sisoy as he searches for the truth behind the disappearance of his best friend and colleagues in the newspaper business.
Here’s a period crime drama starring Cillian Murphy, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Tom Hardy. Set in Birmingham, England just several months after the first World War, Peaky Blinders is about the Peaky Blinders gang and their cunning boss Tommy Shelby. The story begins when the gang gets in conflict with Major Chester Campbell, a detective chief inspector sent by Winston Churchill to eradicate the likes of them.
Narcos gives viewers a closer look at the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar, who gained billions through the production and distribution of cocaine in Colombia. The story is told from the point of view of American DEA agent Steve Murphy, and depicts how Escobar started by moving illegal goods into Colombia, got involved in the cocaine trade, and became a drug kingpin that would be etched in history.
Dexter Morgan is a blood pattern analyst from the Miami Metro Police Department who lives a double life as a serial killer. While being a murderer, Dexter follows a certain “code” in picking his victims. Being a part of the investigations at the homicide division, Dexter tracks down the murderers who have escaped the justice system and kills them to satisfy his own thirst for blood.
Hannibal
Here’s another serial killer on TV that’s worth checking out. Hannibal is based on the titular cannibal from Thomas Harris’ novels made even more popular by their film adaptations, particularly The Silence of the Lambs. The story begins with the FBI profiler Will Graham who is put under the supervision of the forensic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Unbeknownst to the people around him, Lecter is really a cannibalistic murderer who uses his influence on the FBI to cover his tracks.
Mindhunter
Set in the 70s, this crime thriller focuses on two FBI agents’ quest to discover more about the minds of serial killers. Agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench team up with psychologist Wendy Carr to launch a research project where they interview the most notorious killers in prison in the hopes of solving ongoing cases. Some of the killers portrayed in the series are Edmund Kemper, Montie Rissell, and Jerry Brudos.
This Korean drama tells the story of Oh Ji-soo who is a model high school student. To financially support his studies, Ji-soo makes a mistake and finds himself strewn in the criminal underworld. Soon, things become more complicated when he is forced to let a classmate from a wealthy family join him, while another classmate in the same business gets caught by the authorities.
Created by former police officer David Simon, The Wire centers on the narcotics scene in Baltimore, as seen through the eyes of the law enforcers, the drug dealers, as well as the users. The series begins with the introduction of two major forces in the city, the Baltimore Police Department and a drug dealing organization run by the Barksdale family. Caught between them is Detective Jimmy McNulty, who investigates the puzzling acquittal of D’Angelo Barksdale who was charged with murder.
The Sopranos ran from 1999 to 2007, and up to this day, it is regarded as one of the best TV shows of all time. It tells the story of Tony Soprano who runs a mob in New Jersey. After collapsing due to a panic attack, he attends therapy sessions with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi. The series then details the mobster’s struggles from handling his criminal organization, his family at home, and the enemies surrounding him and his mob.
Breaking Bad tells the story of Walter White, a chemistry teacher whose life is turned upside down when he discovers that he has lung cancer. Desperate to provide for his family even when he’s gone, Walter enters the methamphetamine drug trade with his former student Jesse. As they descend deeper into the criminal underworld, the dangers demand more and more ruthlessness from Walter.
Are you always on the lookout for new shows and movies to stream? HBO GO has it covered! From award-winning comedy series and fantasy action drama to new seasons of existing series, there are just so many to look forward to this March on the streaming platform.
Jolt
Premieres March 5 on HBO Go
Directed by Tanya Wexler, Jolt follows a bouncer with a slightly murderous anger-management problem with the help of an electrode-lined vest she uses to shock herself back to normalcy whenever she gets homicidal. It stars Kate Beckinsale, Jai Courtney, and Stanley Tucci.
In The Earth
Premieres March 12 on HBO Go
Written and directed Ben Wheatly, In The Earth centers on a scientist and park scout who venture deep in the forest for a routine equipment run as the world searches for a cure to a disastrous virus.
F9: The Fast Saga
Premieres on March 18 on HBO Go
Directed by Justin Lin, it is the sequel to 2017 The Fate of the Furious. Dom Torreto is living a quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son, but they know that danger is lurking over their peaceful horizon. This time, the threat forces Dom to confront the sins of his past to save those he loves most. It stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, and more.
Did you ever find yourself moving forward after your dreams are taken away from you? That’s what happens in this new Netflix K-Drama, Twenty Five Twenty One, a show to watch out for on the streaming platform that’s premiering on February 12, 2022. The coming of age drama is directed by Jung Jeehyun and stars Kim Tae-ri, Nam Joo-hyuk, and more.
Watch the official trailer of Twenty Five Twenty One:
Just before its premiere, we attended a virtual press conference where the director and the lead cast talked about the newest coming of age K-Drama on Netflix, how they brought the 90s back to life, and the lead characters’ chemistry.
Here are things you need to know about Twenty Five Twenty One:
The Story
It is set in 1998 when South Korea was hit by the financial crisis. The story follows five young people whose dreams are taken away and they get together to find ways forward during the most difficult time for many.
A couple who first met when they were 22 and 18 are now 25 and 21 and begins to love and grow on each other. It shows not only a fresh sensibility of young people but also describes how they overcome hardships and frustrations together.
The Creators
Writer Kwon Doe-un collaborates with Director Jung Jeehyun for this coming-of-age story. Director Jung Jeehyun helped produce Search: WWW, The King: Eternal Monarch, and You Are My Spring.
The Cast and Characters
Twenty Five Twenty One is led by Kim Tae-ri who starred in The Handmaiden (2016), Mr. Sunshine (2018), and Nam Joo-hyuk who became popular starring in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016) and Start Up (2020).
Coming back from a three-year hiatus, Kim Tae-ri plays Na Hee-do who is a high school fencing player with a passion and a dream but her team was disbanded due to the financial crisis. “The reason I chose this show is that it is so much fun. My character is full of energy and a kind of character that I haven’t met before and I was attracted to that aspect of hers,” she shares. This is also Kim Tae-ri’s second time working with Director Jung Jeehyun after Mr. Sunshine.
Nam Joo-hyuk plays Back Yi-jin whose family was broken up due to the financial crisis. However, as the oldest son, he takes all the responsibilities for his family and becomes a reporter. When asked how he showed a different side of himself, he says “I didn’t focus on showing anything new when it comes to myself, I focused on how my character could be diverse.”
Other cast members are Kim Ji-yeon who plays Ko Yu-rim, a member of the national fencing team; Choi Hyun-wook who plays Moon Ji-woong, an influencer and wants to be a member at Cyworld; and Lee Joo-myoung who plays Ji Seong-wan, a top student who is a member of the high school radio team, sharing the student’s daily lives in school.
Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk’s Characters’ Chemistry
Did you know it’s not their first time working together? Nam Joo-hyuk shares that he hasn’t seen this kind of chemistry before. He recalls that he and Kim Tae-ri actually worked in two commercials before and that experience made their bond a lot stronger. “We both thought we were meeting each other for the first time but we were wrong,” Nam Joo-hyuk admits to the press.
When asked what word to describe their characters’ chemistry, Kim Tae-ri answers with “immature” and “naive.” She adds, “Hee-do and Yi-jin are starting together and they’re inexperienced, so I think those are the attractive points of the two characters.” Meanwhile, Joo-hyuk answers “youth” to describe their characters’ chemistry — “the youthfulness and purity of the two,” he adds.
The Difference Between Other Coming of Age Dramas
Writer Kwon Doe-un shares that this show is depicting a time period that is set in the clearest way possible. The story is about the individuals but at the same time, it also deals with the particularly hard time in Korean history from the individual’s life.
Director Jung Jeehyun also shares they had to focus on styling, hairstyle, and make-up — elements that played into creating this unique story. In terms of setting up props right and other elements, that required a lot of effort but they were able to pull it off.
Twenty Five Twenty One premieres on Netflix on February 12. Stream here.
About ‘Twenty Five Twenty One’ Director: Jung Jeehyun Writer: Kwon Doe-un Cast: Kim Tae-ri, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Ji Yeon, Choi Hyun Wook, Lee Ju Myoung Produced by: tvN Distributed by: Netflix Logline: Amidst the turbulence of the East Asian Financial Crisis in 1998, the 22-year-old meets the 18-year-old. At the time, friendship was passionate; love was overwhelming; and despair, heart-wrenching. At 25 and 21, they fall in love. The story of five young people from 1998 to 2001, who thought they would be together forever. Release date: February 12, 2022
