The hit K-drama Descendants Of The Sun will return as an Indonesian film remake in 2027, the South Korean production company behind the original series, Next Entertainment World (NEW), said on Sept 7.
According to NEW, the Indonesian adaptation has wrapped filming and is in post-production, with a theatrical release planned for 2027 in both Indonesia and South Korea.
Hanung Bramantyo, a two-time Best Director winner at the Indonesian Film Festival, directed the film. His Indonesian remake of NEW’s Miracle In Cell No. 7 ranked among the country’s highest-grossing films of all time.
Following the success of the adapted Miracle In Cell No. 7, which led to a sequel and an animated adaptation, NEW is expanding its global co-production business through Descendants Of The Sun.
NEW is participating in the planning and co-production of the remake, which incorporates Indonesian settings and cultural sensibilities.
The original 2016 series starred Song Joong-ki as Captain Yoo Shi-jin and Song Hye-kyo as cardiothoracic surgeon Kang Mo-yeon, whose romance unfolded against a backdrop of military operations, disaster relief, and humanitarian missions.
Actors Reza Rahadian and Dian Sastrowardoyo will lead the film as Baskara and Dr Cahaya Diandra respectively, taking on roles inspired by the central military-doctor pairing from the original series.
Singer-actress Eva Celia and Indonesian-American actor Yoshi Sudarso, best known for his role in Power Rangers Dino Charge, are also part of the cast.
It is reported that filming has been completed and is now in its post production phase.
The Indonesian adaptation is expected to retain the central storyline of the original while incorporating local cultural elements and sentiments.
Written by Kim Eun-sook and Kim Won-seok, the original Descendants of the Sun followed the relationship between Yoo Shi-jin, a captain in the South Korean Army’s special forces, and Kang Mo-yeon, a surgeon.
Their different views on life and duty initially split them apart, but the two eventually reunited in a disaster-torn fictional country, where they take part in humanitarian efforts.
The series went on to win numerous awards, including the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards and Best Drama Series at the 21st Asian Television Awards.
In Malaysia, the series also enjoyed strong popularity, with many praising its combination of high-stakes action and mature romance, which offered audiences a refreshing break from some of the typical K-drama conventions of the time.
However, this is not the first Southeast Asian remake of the series.
A Vietnamese adaptation consisting of 48 episodes was broadcast in 2018, followed by a Philippine adaptation, Descendants of the Sun: The Philippine Adaptation, which aired in 2020.
The Philippine version later won the Most Popular Foreign Drama of the Year award at the 15th Seoul International Drama Awards.
