The cast of Netflix time travel romance A Time Called You revealed insights into their characters, including how they got into the roles. They explained all this in an earlier series of interviews released by Netflix. Ahn Hyo-Seop, Jeon Yeo-Been and Kang Hoon spoke about their efforts to make their characters real and relatable.
A Time Called You centers around Jun-Hee (Jeon Yeo-Been), who is grieving the death of her boyfriend Yeon-Jun (Ahn Hyo-Seop). One day, she plays a mysterious cassette tape that transports her to 1998. She suddenly wakes up in the body of a high school girl named Min-Ju. The confused ‘Min-Ju’ then meets Si-Heon, who looks exactly like Yeon-Jun, and their friend In-Gyu (Kang Hoon).
The cast unanimously cited the the script as the key part of A Time Called You. “There were so many moments in the story that naturally made sense as it progressed,” said Ahn Hyo-Seop, expressing his confidence about dramatic turning points.
Jeon Yeo-Been described A Time Called You as “a series that evokes nostalgia for the past and the love from that phase in life,” emphasizing the sentimental romance theme. “The time travel element will keep the story intriguing as it progresses. I hope you don’t miss any moment in the series,” added Kang Hoon.
Ahn Hyo-Seop on Yeon-Jun and Si-Heon
In the past, Ahn Hyo-seop effortlessly transformed himself into his roles in Dr. Romantic, Business Proposal, Lovers of the Red Sky, and Abyss. For A Time Called You, he said he was conviced to take on the project after the script left a strong first impression on him.
“I kept wondering what would happen next and how the story between the two main characters would end,” he said. “The story kept me curious throughout.”
He added: “I felt intrigued by the characters because there were many aspects I could portray depending on which timeline each character was in.” He explained he built his each of his characters by calibrating every detail of their identity. This ranged from styling choices to their skin tones, gaze, and behavioral traits when interacting with others.
Jeon Yeo-Been on Jun-Hee and Min Ju
Having showcased her charisma and charm through projects such as Glitch, Secret Zoo and Vincenzo, Jeon Yeo-Been was eager for the challenge of dual roles. She explained: “What was most crucial to me was to believe in myself; I had to believe that I was Min-Ju when playing the character, and likewise, that I was Jun-Hee when playing her.”
She reflected on her experience on set, where she was fully immersed in both her characters. “Min-Ju and Jun-Hee showcase very different perspectives, behaviors, and reactions in their interaction with Yeon-Jun and Si-Heon. So, I had to heavily rely on my co-star as we performed together.”
Jeon Yeo-Been said that the hairstyling, makeup and costume departments were crucial in creating the contrasting looks for the characters. “I trusted the director and the rest of the crew and focused on each and every moment to bring the characters to life,” she added.
Kang Hoon on In-Gyu
Kang Hoon previously captivated viewers in projects such as The Secret Romantic Guesthouse, Little Women, and The Red Sleeve. In A Time Called You, he plays In-Gyu, a close friend of Si-Heon secretly in love with Min-Ju.
He said: “I was drawn to the intensity of the story that gripped me from start to finish, and Jung In-Gyu was such an intriguing character.” He also embraced the challenge of portraying one of In-Gyu’s hidden qualities.
“Although he seems physically weak and slender, I could tell how rational and cool-headed he was,” Kang Hoon said. “I knew I could portray these aspects of the character well, so I was very eager to win this role.”
Kang Hoon also wanted to showcase In-Gyu’s nuanced emotional arc. The character finds himself stuck between his close friend Si-heon and his secret crush Min-ju, to complete the love triangle.
A Time Called You premieres on Netflix on Sept 8, 2023.
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