Korean pop star Ok Taec-yeon marks his Netflix comeback in Soul Mate, set to premiere sometime next year.
Also starring Japanese actor Hayato Isomura, the live-action series set in Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo highlights the decade-long relationship between Ryu Narutaki and Johan Hwang, who find solace and safety in each other's company while in a foreign land.
“We arrived at the ultimate destiny story, where people from different cultures and backgrounds meet in a foreign land, and their lives intersect,” says executive producer Dai Ota.
Starting his career as a member of the Korean boy group 2PM, Taecyeon gained widespread recognition as an actor after his powerful portrayal of the villain Jang Joon-Woo in Netflix’s Vincenzo. Soul Mate will be his first boys-love (BL) drama.
“Because there were so many types of characters and genres that I hadn’t tried yet, I’d been wanting to gradually broaden my spectrum [as an actor] and discover new sides of myself,” the actor shares in a statement.
Taecyeon also shares how he got ready for the physically and emotionally challenging role: “To prepare, I lost weight and underwent boxing training, and I’ve continued to train diligently during filming to portray Johan as best as I can.”
On the other hand, Isomura has been active in the local movie and TV scene since 2013, appearing in projects like Extremely Inappropriate, Alice in Borderland, and Tokyo Revengers in support roles. In Soul Mate, he plays a main role in an international project, which excites the actor.
“The script moved me with its story of love amidst sadness and pain, and the incredible 10-year story arc crafted by director Hashizume has truly immersed me in the character. Filming in Japan, Korea, and Germany gives the project a truly global feel,” he shares.
Watch this space for more up-and-coming series streaming on Netflix.