Controversial drama 'Speaking Dead' reborn after 5-year hiatus

A drama that saw its production halted due to political controversies surrounding its Chinese source material is returning to viewers with a new title and format after five years of reorganization. Originally produced under the title 'Until Morning Comes,' the series has been retitled 'Speaking Dead' and is preparing for release after overcoming the hurdles of source controversy and production suspension.

'Speaking Dead' is a mystery thriller that follows Jang Jae-wook (Han Suk-kyu), a forensic scientist identified as a notorious terror suspect. As he draws global attention following his confession, the series pursues the truth behind a case buried in darkness over 10 years ago.

Recently released press stills capture the extreme confrontation and psychological tension of the characters at the center of the case. The image of Jang (Han Suk-kyu) standing in the middle of a city center surrounded by police cars while holding a hostage suggests the confusion and desperation of a man who became a terror suspect in an instant.

The determined expression of profiler Yeo Su-jeong (Jung Yumi) and the tense appearance of investigation chief Go Kyung-hee (Yeom Hye Ran) foreshadow the fierce psychological warfare that will unfold during the investigation. Furthermore, the reveal of key figures from the case 10 years ago, such as prosecutor Kang Young-il (Lee Hee-joon) and judicial officer Heo Kyung-pil (Kim Jun Han), has heightened expectations for the work's complex narrative structure.

'Speaking Dead' has already received critical recognition after being officially invited to the Fantascape section of the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. Tickets sold out within just 5 minutes of the reservation opening, and following the official screening, a Guest Visit (GV) will be held with creator Kyung Shik Lee, writer Park Shin-gyu, and actors Lee Hee-joon, Yeom Hye Ran, and Kim Jun Han.

However, the process leading up to the release of this work was not smooth. 'Speaking Dead' was originally planned as a 16-episode drama titled 'Until Morning Comes,' but production was halted when political controversies surrounding the original source erupted during filming.

The problematic aspect was that the work was based on the mystery novel 'The Long Night of the Difficult Dawn' (Zhang Ye Nan Ming) by Chinese mystery novelist Zi Jinchen. As allegations arose that the original work was a promotional piece related to the Chinese Communist Party, the so-called 'Communist glorification controversy' spread within Korea.

In particular, the controversy grew larger as it was revealed that institutions and media outlets related to the Chinese Communist Party had introduced or promoted the work during its publication process. As issues regarding the original author's past political remarks were also raised, demands for social verification of the work itself increased.

Ultimately, the production company re-examined the entire work, including portions that had already been filmed, and re-edited it from the original 16-episode format into an 8-episode format. After a long period of modification and supplementation, the work was reborn as a new production under the title 'Speaking Dead.'

The production team stated that, separate from the controversy surrounding the original source, they focused on the core narrative of pursuing the truth and human psychology to enhance the quality of the work. Through a structure where a forensic scientist, a profiler, and investigators are intertwined, the series aims for a social mystery genre where past events and present tragedies intersect.

Attention is focused on whether 'Speaking Dead,' after a long five-year hiatus, can be evaluated as an independent thriller beyond the traces of controversy, and whether it can successfully reach the public by overcoming the burden of the political debate.

'Speaking Dead' is scheduled to be released in the second half of this year.