CJ ENM-owned producer becomes second outfit to remake hit Japanese drama
CJ ENM’s Studio Dragon has agreed a scripted format pact with Nippon TV in Japan to remake its hit local drama Life’s Punchline.
The deal marks the second international version of the series following a Hong Kong-based show produced by MakerVille for pan-Asian streaming giant ViuTV, and comes five years after the original debuted in Japan.
That 10 × 60-minute series follows three young men in a comedy trio who decide to disband in their late 20’s after ten years of chasing stardom.
Facing the harsh reality of having no career or savings while their peers move on to marriage and stable jobs, they find themselves in the midst of a ‘quarter-life crisis’, with their story intertwining with that of a young former elite professional who has experienced burnout.
All five look to restart their lives, with the series featuring a structure that sees each episode opening with a comedy skit performed by the main characters as a ‘play-within-a-play’, which eventually blends into the bigger plots of the drama.
The original secured almost 14 million total views on VOD within 10 weeks.
Keisuke Miyata, Nippon TV’s sales and licensing chief, said: “This story is for anyone who has ever chased a dream, supported someone from the shadows, or compared their own life to the success of others, and the series utilizes a unique storytelling technique, weaving actual comedy skits into the drama to deliver unexpected surprises and laughter, leading to pathos.
“I believe these universal emotions will deeply resonate with Korean viewers, and the Korean version will captivate audiences around the world.”
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