Latest news with #ArtistStudio
The Star
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
'Squid Game' stocks sink as blockbuster ends with mixed reviews
South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae reprises his role as Seong Gi-hun (Player 456) in the third season of 'Squid Game'. Photo: Handout Shares in South Korean companies tied to the hit Netflix series Squid Game (2021 to 2025) slumped on June 30 following the release of the show's final season, which debuted to a lukewarm audience reception despite topping global streaming charts. Artist Company, an entertainment agency in which Squid Game 's main actor Lee Jung-jae is the largest shareholder, tanked by as much as 21%. Artist Studio, a unit of Artist Company, also declined 24 per cent. South Korea-based Dexter Studios, a visual effects production firm that is a partner on the blockbuster production, fell 8.5%. 'Much of the criticism stems from how the show ended – viewers whose interpretation of the show's worldview doesn't align with theirs,' said Kim Hern-sik, a pop culture critic in Seoul. 'It's hard to top Season 1 – it was a global sensation.' The third season of Netflix's anti-capitalist parable, which premiered on June 27, was directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk and stars Lee, Lee Byung-hun and Im Si-wan, among other South Korean actors. The television series topped the global TV show rankings on Netflix in all countries, according to FlixPatrol, which tracks viewing on streaming services. Season 3 earned an 83% approval rating among professional critics and a 51% approval rating from audiences, according to review-aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes. First released in 2021, Squid Game became a cultural phenomenon, igniting global conversations with its brutal social allegory and captivating visuals. It remains Netflix's most-watched show of all time, drawing about 600 million views to date across the first two seasons. The South Korean dystopian survival thriller has won six Emmy awards, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Lee Jung-jae and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for Hwang, in 2022. – Bloomberg
Hype Malaysia
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Secret Idol: What We Know About The New K-pop Spy Film Under Lee Jung Jae's Studio
It seems more Korean-made movies are going global, thanks to exciting partnerships with international companies. Recently, news outlets revealed that a South Korean production studio led by 'Squid Game' star Lee Jung Jae (이정재) has partnered up with a UK-based production company to work on a K-pop spy film. Tentatively titled 'Secret Idol', the movie is about a spy who goes undercover as a K-pop idol trainee. The movie is still in its early stages, but there are already a few notable details about the project. Here's what we know about the film so far: It's A Collaboration Between Lee Jung Jae's Studio & A Top UK Production Company The upcoming movie is a collaboration between Artist Studio and Imaginarium Productions. The partnership includes the early stages of story development and coordinating production strategies. The two companies are currently discussing the movie's casting, global distribution and expansion of international production partnerships. Artist Studio, led by Lee Jung Jae, is the content production division of the actors' agency, Artist Group. Meanwhile, Imaginarium Productions was co-founded by actor-director Andy Serkis and producer Jonathan Cavendish. The company is known for its expertise in performance capture and tech-driven storytelling. Some of its current projects include a 'Lord Of The Rings' prequel. The Movie Revolves Around A Young Spy-Turned-Kpop Trainee According to news outlets, the live-action film blends the K-pop world with the teen spy action genre. The story follows a secret agent who infiltrates the K-pop industry by going undercover as a K-pop trainee. The character has to navigate fierce competition behind glamorous stages while taking on a global crime syndicate. Lee Jung Jae Might Also Sign On As Producer & Director There's no news on what Lee Jung Jae's role is in the movie besides his studio's involvement. However, there is a high chance that the star might sign on as the executive producer for the project and even the director. If true, this wouldn't be the first time Lee Jung Jae helmed a spy movie. The actor's directorial debut was the 2022 South Korean film, 'Hunt', which follows two National Intelligence Service (NIS) agents. Fans Want BTS Jin & T.O.P In The Cast Since the movie revolves around the K-pop industry, it's no surprise that fans want a K-pop star in the cast. Some commonly mentioned names in fans' casting include BTS Jin (진) and former Big Bang member T.O.P (Choi Seung Hyun/최승현). Interestingly, T.O.P has played an assassin in the 2009 hit Korean drama 'IRIS' and has co-starred with Lee Jung Jae in 'Squid Game', so he might be a top contender for the spy role. Since the project is in its planning stage, there's probably another year or two before 'Secret Idol' could see a premiere date. What are your thoughts on the movie so far? Sources: Allkpop, Chosun, Instagram What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0
Korea Herald
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Lee Jung-jae's studio teams with 'Lord of the Rings' producer for K-pop spy film
'Squid Game' star expands into global production with genre-blending thriller Artist Studio, the production banner headed by actor Lee Jung-jae, has signed a development partnership with UK-based Imaginarium Productions to co-create a global K-pop spy thriller, the companies announced Monday. The collaboration will bring "Secret Idol" (working title) to the screen -- a live-action thriller that blends the glitzy world of K-pop with high-stakes espionage. The plot centers on a secret agent who goes undercover as a K-pop trainee to take down an international crime ring. The two companies are collaborating from script development through production, with discussions underway for casting Hollywood actors and securing global distribution and international co-production deals, officials said. Lee, who began as a fashion model before becoming a household name in Korean cinema, rose to global fame through his Emmy-winning performance in Netflix's "Squid Game." In addition to his recent appearance in Disney+'s "The Acolyte," Lee made his directorial debut in 2022 with the spy action film "Hunt." In 2016, he co-founded the management agency Artist Company with longtime friend and fellow actor Jung Woo-sung ("Steel Rain," "12.12: The Day"). Its production arm, Artist Studio, now operates within Lee's expanded entertainment group following recent consolidation. The company served as distributor for two films last year: "Following" and "One Win." Imaginarium Productions was founded in 2011 by Andy Serkis -- known for his motion-capture roles in "The Lord of the Rings" and "Planet of the Apes" -- and Jonathan Cavendish, producer of "Bridget Jones's Diary." The company is currently prepping "The Hunt for Gollum," a "Lord of the Rings" prequel with Warner Bros.
Korea Herald
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'Reborn Rich' confirmed for season 2
'Squid Game' star Lee Jung-jae's Artist Company, Artist Studio to create the new season "Reborn Rich," the series that swept awards and achieved global popularity for its adrenaline-filled narrative of a man seeking revenge after being reborn into the chaebol dynasty that wronged him, is officially returning for a second season. Season 2 is poised to expand its scope with a storyline designed for a global audience. While specific plot details remain under wraps, the upcoming season will stretch beyond the world of Koran conglomerates, introducing new characters and an expanded universe. It remains unconfirmed whether Song Joong-ki, who headlined the first season, will return to the series. Production duties for the sophomore season will be jointly handled by Artist Company and Artist Studio. Artist Company will take the lead on overall planning and creative development, while Artist Studio will oversee physical production. Both entities operate under the Artist Group umbrella — home to "Squid Game" star Lee Jung-jae and actor Jung Woo-sung, who serve as key shareholders. Originally airing on JTBC in 2022, the first season of "Reborn Rich," adapted from a web novel of the same name, became a cultural phenomenon, peaking at a 26.9 percent viewership rating. In the series, Song delivered a dual performance as Yoon Hyun-woo, a loyal secretary managing corporate risk for a powerful family — who is later reincarnated as Jin Do-jun, the youngest heir determined to upend the dynasty from within.
India Today
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Reborn Rich Season 2 production confirmed without Song Joong-ki
The popular 2022 K-drama 'Reborn Rich', originally starring Song Joong Ki, has been renewed for its highly-awaited second season. The official announcement was made on May 8. The upcoming season is likely to portray the main character's lust for success, love, and power, set against the backdrop of a global makers of the show, Artist Company and Artist Studio, will co-produce the second season of 'Reborn Rich'. In the official statement released on Thursday, they stated, "This project is a large-scale content that combines the respective strengths of Artist Company and Artist Studio. It is the first work and a symbolic project that comprehensively demonstrates the integrated production capabilities of Artist Group (sic)."advertisementFor the unversed, actor Lee Jung-jae, popularly known for his roles in shows and films like 'Squid Games' and 'Hunt', is a stakeholder in the company, Artist Group. Additionally, a representative from one of the companies stated, 'We're crafting this as a strategic content piece aimed at global audiences, and from the early stages, we're focusing on creating an emotional connection with international viewers," as reported by first season of 'Reborn Rich' originally aired on JTBC (a South Korean TV network) in 2022 and was received with widespread acclaim by viewers and critics globally. Besides that, the show was also nominated for an International Emmys 2023 under the Best Movie/Mini-Series Rich was available to stream in India on Netflix and JioHotstar. However, it has been removed from the platforms now. It gained widespread love for its fast-paced plot, captivating performances by Song Joong Ki and Lee Sung Min, and its portrayal of Chaebol (conglomerate) culture intertwined with Korea's real economic soon after the announcement was made, fans speculated whether actor Song Joong-ki would reprise his role as the lead in the upcoming season, given his last film, 'Bogota: City of the Lost', failed to impress audiences. No official announcement about the 'Reborn Rich' cast has been made first season of the show is currently available on Watch
