The drama flopped, but the actors reminisced that it was a meaningful project. The tvN weekend drama "Ask the Stars," which concluded on the 23rd, boasted of being the first space office drama in Korea but failed miserably. Nevertheless, the passion of the actors who gave their best left a deep impression on viewers.
The drama "Ask the Stars," which premiered on Jan. 4, depicts the life of boss Eve (played by Gong Hyo-jin) who works on a zero-gravity space station and an unexpected visitor, Dinosaur (played by Lee Min-ho), with a secret mission. This project, filmed over approximately a year from 2022 to last year, is known to have a production preparation period of five years and a production cost of over 50 billion won.
Above all, the cast and crew are impressive. The reunion of the writer Seo Suk-hyang, known for "Pasta" and "Hwashin," and the trusted Gong Hyo-jin, along with the participation of Hallyu star Lee Min-ho and director Park Shin-woo of "Hwashin," "Boyfriend," and "It's Okay to Not Be Okay," as well as the inclusion of Han Ji-eun, Oh Jung-se, Kim Joo-heon, Lee Cho-hee, Lee El, and Heo Nam-jun, generated great interest in "Ask the Stars" even before it started.
Because recreating space required considerable effort and time, the actors also gave their all. At the production conference, Gong Hyo-jin noted, "I often felt like I was heading into the unknown, asking, 'Is this really working?'" Lee Min-ho added, "There were many first experiences for everyone on set, including the director and staff. In such situations, having a partner to lean on mentally and emotionally is incredibly significant."
However, the outcome of "Ask the Stars" was quite different. From the very first episode, repeated mentions of sex, sperm, and pregnancy raised questions about the story the drama aimed to tell, particularly as unexpected bed scenes between Gong Hyo-jin and Kim Joo-heon and Lee Min-ho and Han Ji-eun followed. As the episodes progressed, viewer ratings dropped to between 1% and 2%.
Nevertheless, it was an unforgettable project for the actors.
Gong Hyo-jin expressed, "This was the most challenging project I've ever done, and it felt long. It was my first time doing a pre-produced drama, so the emotions I felt during this shooting were new and unfamiliar, but it will remain an unforgettable experience in many ways. Just the fact that it made it into the world after a long filming period and post-production felt like I had achieved everything I hoped for."
Lee Min-ho, who portrayed the humanely charming character Dinosaur, completed a space romance with Gong Hyo-jin. Although it was shocking for viewers to see Eve Kim die after giving birth to his child, for Lee Min-ho, portraying Dinosaur conveyed the preciousness and meaning of life through a significant relationship.
Kim Joo-heon, who played veteran astronaut Park Dong-ah and shared sizzling romance scenes with Gong Hyo-jin in the early broadcasts, remarked, "Like all the projects I've participated in, 'Ask the Stars' also left me with new experiences and lessons. I hope it was also an enjoyable project for everyone. Thank you for watching until now."
Han Ji-eun, who played the fiancée Cha Go-eun, stated, "I feel sad to let go of the character Go-eun, who has been with me for a long time. I hope our drama has been a place of rest and a driving force in the viewers' daily lives. I thank everyone who waited from the preparation phase through filming to broadcasting and cheered for and cherished Go-eun."
Oh Jung-se, who confronted Lee Min-ho as the space scientist Kang Kang-soo, expressed gratitude once again to the staff and fellow actors who shared the long and arduous journey. He commented, "It was a work that allowed me to take on various challenges as an actor and learn a lot. I appreciate your support for Kang-soo's cold love, who had everything but was unable to have the person he loved. All living things are miracles."
Jung Young-joo, who played the character Jung Na-mi, the mother who gave birth to Eve Kim and raised Dinosaur, also shared on social media, "I am being punished for letting my child go before me. I will take care of our star along with Dinosaur. Thank you so much for cherishing, loving, and supporting us during this time! Our three sisters will always be living hard somewhere close to you! I am grateful for being alive and for living!"
Meanwhile, starting March 1, the follow-up to "Ask the Stars" will be "Potato Research Institute."
한편 '별들에게 물어봐' 후속으로는 오는 3월 1일부터 '감자연구소'가 저파를 탄다.
[Photo] Provided
[OSEN = Reporter Park So-young]