Lee Jung-eun to lead noir action series 'Granny' with Kim Mu-yeol

Netflix has confirmed the production of 'Granny,' a noir action series featuring a woman in her 70s as the protagonist of a revenge story. A powerhouse cast, including Lee Jung-eun, Kim Mu-yeol, Huh Joon-ho, Choi Sung-eun, Bae Nara, Seo Hyun Woo, and Moon Jong-won, has joined the project. The series features an unconventional premise: an elderly woman living an ordinary life picks up a gun after decades to face a criminal organization for the sake of her grandson.

The Netflix series 'Granny' follows Jeong Suk-ja (Lee Jung-eun), who embarks on a revenge mission for her grandson, and Seo Yeon-u (Kim Mu-yeol), who awakens her hunting instincts, as they confront the criminal organization Cheonghwa Group. The core of the series lies in the clash between the ordinary daily life of an elderly woman and the ruthless world of crime, unraveling secrets and twists surrounding the target of her revenge.

Director Lee Kwon, who delivered stylish action and thriller elements in 'A Shop for Killers,' will take the helm. His signature use of space and fast-paced action is expected to pair with the unique character of a 70-year-old female protagonist to create a style distinct from traditional action genres.

Jeong Suk-ja, played by Lee, is a woman in her 70s who has raised her grandson alone while running a restaurant. Her peaceful life is shattered when her grandson falls into a life-threatening situation following a mysterious attack.

Ultimately, Suk-ja pulls out the gun she held in her youth for the first time in decades. As she hunts down the forces that put her grandson in danger, she transforms from an ordinary grandmother into a hunter driven by vengeance.

This marks a new challenge for Lee. Having expanded her acting spectrum through works such as 'Zombie Daughter,' 'Light Shop,' 'Miss Night and Day,' and 'A Bloody Lucky Day,' she now tackles full-scale action. A key point of interest will be how she blends her seasoned character depth with physical action performance.

Kim Mu-yeol will play Seo Yeon-u, the strategist behind Suk-ja's revenge. He approaches Suk-ja to reveal the hidden connection between her grandson's accident and the Cheonghwa Group, reawakening her long-dormant hunting instincts.

While he assists in the revenge using exceptional information and judgment, Yeon-u is not a character who reveals everything. He adds tension to the drama as a mysterious figure who acts as both an ally to Suk-ja and someone who may harbor his own separate motives.

Following his intense performance in the recent Netflix series 'Temptation,' Kim is set to showcase a more weighted action style in 'Granny.' Notably, this marks his reunion with Lee for the first time in approximately four years since 'Juvenile Justice,' raising expectations for their chemistry.

The ensemble surrounding the Cheonghwa Group is equally formidable. Huh Joon-ho plays Jang Gwang-cheol, the former leader of the Heukseong-pa and the current chairman of the Cheonghwa Group. As the head of a ruthless criminal organization, he serves as the primary antagonist to Suk-ja and Yeon-u.

Choi Sung-eun will portray Shin Ji-hyeon, the head of the Cheonghwa Group's China branch and a director of the 3rd Action Team. Bae Nara will add tension within the organization as Chun Tae-seok, the Chief of Staff for the Cheonghwa Group and a director of the 2nd Action Team.

Additionally, Seo Hyun Woo joins as Yoo Il-gu, a director of the 4th Action Team, while Moon Jong-won plays Eom Sang-pil, a guesthouse owner with a secretive past.

The most compelling aspect of 'Granny' is its decision to center the revenge story on a 70-year-old woman rather than a young, physically dominant warrior. It deviates from the typical action formula of youth and athleticism, instead using experience, memory, and familial devotion as the driving forces for vengeance.

While recent hits like 'Mr. Bum' focused on family-driven revenge, and works like 'Married Killer' blended daily life with a killer's double life, 'Granny' introduces a new variation through this generational shift. The central question is how much catharsis the story of Suk-ja—who unearths a lifetime of hidden skills to protect her grandson—will provide.

All eyes are on the intersection of Suk-ja's hidden past, the criminal secrets surrounding her grandson, and the uneasy cooperation between two revengers with different motives. It remains to be seen if 'Granny,' combining Lee's first major action role with Kim's heavy genre acting, will establish a new legacy for Netflix revenge dramas.