After 20 years… Shim Hye-jin returns as "Francesca": "I can feel the passage of time"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Shim Hye-jin has returned as "Francesca" after 20 years.

"The Seat Next to Me, Francesca," a spin-off drama produced by MBC that will be released on the 6th, expands the setting of the legendary sitcom "Hello, Francesca," which is returning after more than 20 years, to a "high school." It depicts a sweet and spicy high school romance involving Pina Young (Han Su-ah), a vampire who transferred from Romania and has failed to adapt to the human world; Jang Woo-ju (Kim Hyun-jin), a "model class president" medical school applicant who knows nothing but studying; and Yoo Hyeol (Lee Seung-gyu), another vampire hiding in the school.

In addition, Shim Hye-jin as "Francesca," Park Seul-ki as "Sofia," and Park Hee-jin as "Mrs. An Sung," who drove the explosive popularity of the original work, have suddenly joined the cast.

Shim Hye-jin and Park Seul-ki, icons of the original work, shared their feelings about returning after 20 years and their impressions of reuniting.

Shim Hye-jin expressed her emotional state, saying, "The news that a spin-off project was being prepared alone was welcome and joyful. It is a drama that reminds me of memories that were fresh to me long ago."

Regarding the feeling of donning makeup again for the "original vampire" character, Shim Hye-jin said, "When I first appeared, it was always the same makeup I did, so there was no sense of alienation. But seeing myself with new makeup, I felt the passage of time very strongly." She revealed her passion by adding, "I acted hard to capture the feeling of that era."

Park Seul-ki shared, "When I put on my bangs wig and looked in the mirror, I couldn't hide the fine lines, but it was fortunate that I could reenact 'Sofia, the older aunt' somewhat similarly. Perhaps because it has aged for another 20 years, the line 'Son of blood' felt natural to me. Now that I have children, I became immersed in delivering the lines as if treating my actual child."

As the two filmed together for the first time in 20 years, Shim Hye-jin said, "I thought we would be awkward since it was our first meeting after the drama ended, but that wasn't the case at all. It felt like returning to that time, which was truly nice." Park Seul-ki added, "It seemed as if Shim Hye-jin's older sister had come riding a time machine that leaped over more than 20 years of time. She has passed through the years so gracefully and beautifully. Meeting senior Shim Hye-jin, whom I interacted with at age 20, now at age 40, felt comfortable like an older neighbor sister. It felt as if we had been doing a fun comedy routine throughout the filming."

Finally, Shim Hye-jin said, "I sincerely thank the fans who have remembered us even after such a long time. Please love 'The Seat Next to Me, Francesca,' which has returned with a new and fresh atmosphere."

Wave original drama "The Seat Next to Me, Francesca" will be exclusively released on Wave on the 6th.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original