IWill Media Unveils Two New Short-Form Dramas
Global Ambitions with "Hongeom: Hunters" and "Free in a Dream"
On September 8, production company IWill Media announced that it will introduce two short-form dramas targeting the global market.
The new releases, "Hongeom: Hunters" and "Free in a Dream," condense action, visual effects (VFX), and immersive world-building into short runtimes, aiming to make a strong entry into the global short-form market.
"Hongeom: Hunters" is a fantasy action series in which YouTuber Kang Mu encounters the spirit of female swordsman Arachi and joins forces to eliminate evil spirits appearing in modern society. Kim Jinhwan of the group iKON plays Kang Mu, actor Ahn Jaemo appears as the main villain, and Jaehyo of Block B takes on the role of a watcher possessed by a Joseon-era warrior. The series is co-produced with Japanese short-form studio Gokko and directed by Ahn Seonggon, formerly of SBS.
"Free in a Dream" is a school fantasy drama based on a popular Naver Webtoon. The story follows a high school girl who, tormented by school bullying, meets a mysterious man in a lucid dream and is offered a chance for revenge. The webtoon achieved a rating in the high 9s and garnered hundreds of thousands of subscribers during its run. Actor Yoo Seonho stars as the protagonist Siyoon, and the series is directed by Hwang Dongseok. Music director Lee Myeongro and an art director from the film industry are also participating in the project.
IWill Media previously achieved its highest viewership rating of 12.3% with the fantasy historical drama "Guigung," as well as ranking No. 1 on Netflix in five Asian countries and No. 1 on Rakuten Viki in 89 countries. Building on this success, the company plans to produce more than five short-form dramas next year. They also intend to increase production efficiency by adopting artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as machine learning-based post-production editing and automated VFX.
Additionally, IWill Media has recruited Yoon Hyunbo as Head of Planning and Production to expand its drama business, including drama and OTT series planning and production. The company has also signed an exclusive management contract with singer and actor Yook Sungjae, expanding into the management business. IWill Media aims to become a comprehensive entertainment company encompassing both content production and artist intellectual property (IP).
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