Actor Kim Ji-hoon made a special appearance in the Netflix series Genie, Make A Wish, delivering a powerful impact to the drama.
In the Netflix series Genie, Make A Wish, released on the 3rd (written by Kim Eun-sook, directed by Lee Byung-hun and Ahn Gil-ho), Kim Ji-hoon played Kim Gisa, a former search-and-rescue squad member, and acted as a loyal companion who stayed by the side of Ppoppi (played by Daniel Henney), a dog who became human named "Kim-gae."
Genie, Make A Wish, in which Kim Ji-hoon made a special appearance, is a stress-free fantasy romantic comedy about a lamp spirit genie (played by Kim Woo-bin) who wakes after a thousand years and meets Gi Ga-young (played by Suzy), an emotionally detached human, and the three wishes that ensue.
In the drama, Kim Ji-hoon served as the person vouching for Kim-gae (played by Daniel Henney) as he adapts to the human world, firmly supporting the mid-to-late narrative. He appeared with long wet hair and a perfect suit fit, immediately capturing viewers' attention, and demonstrated a heavy charisma by shadowing Kim-gae wherever he went and thoroughly protecting him.
With the sharp instincts befitting a former search-and-rescue member, he instantly detected surrounding gazes and found the owner Kim-gae had been looking for with just a few clues, while also provoking laughter with the surprise charm of nonchalantly accepting Kim-gae's still-unhidden dog instincts. His performance moved naturally between seriousness and humor, perfectly modulating the drama's tempo.
Although their time together was short, Kim Gisa, who formed a deep bond with Kim-gae, stayed by his side until the end as he weakened from illness and showed genuine concern. Kim Ji-hoon elevated the scene to the drama's emotional climax with his characteristic sincere emotional acting.
Recently winning the best acting award in the drama category at the 45th Golden Camera Awards, Kim Ji-hoon has continued steady acting transformations in dramas such as The Haunted Palace and Ijae, Soon to Die, and the film Ballerina. He also left a strong impression as the cold-blooded killer Gun in the Amazon Prime Video series Butterfly, proving his presence resonates in the global market. He then drew praise from domestic and international viewers for perfectly embodying his character with intense immersion in the Netflix series Crime Scene Zero.
Viewers reacted enthusiastically with comments such as "Is this Kim Ji-hoon in Genie, Make A Wish or Kim Ji-hoon role-playing Crime Scene?," "I like Kim Ji-hoon after watching Crime Scene these days; maybe I should watch Genie, Make A Wish," "The more I see Kim Gisa in Genie, Make A Wish, the more Crime Scene comes to mind," and "Was Kim Ji-hoon cast based on Crime Scene?"
Regarding his casting, writer Kim Eun-sook said, "I received the choice. Thanks to Kim Ji-hoon, who truly looked like a member of the search-and-rescue squad, the important scenes gained an almost magical "edge,"" expressing gratitude for his passion for the work and solid acting ability.
Even in a brief appearance, Kim Ji-hoon added depth to the drama by perfectly conveying the character's narrative and emotions. Known for steady self-management and an unbounded acting range, expectations are growing for what kind of acting transformation Kim Ji-hoon will show in the tvN Monday-Tuesday drama Nice to Not Meet You, scheduled to air in November this year.
Meanwhile, the Netflix series Genie, Make A Wish, in which Kim Ji-hoon appears as Kim Gisa, had all episodes released on Netflix on the 3rd.
[Photo] Provided by Netflix
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