Who will take the lead? Studio Dragon and Jaedam Media are gearing up to bring a popular Naver webtoon to life on screen.
Adaptations of webtoons and web novels are set to continue. Studio Dragon and webtoon production company Jaedam Media have begun a full-scale collaboration aimed at diversifying their IP business, starting with the popular webtoon 'High School Queen.'
Studio Dragon recently signed a planning and development contract with Jaedam Media to adapt High School Queen into a drama. Last year, CJ ENM and Jaedam Media signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly plan and produce webtoon-to-drama projects.
Jaedam Media specializes in webtoon and web novel IP, and owns several successful titles that have been adapted for the screen, including 'Weak Hero,' 'Seasons of Blossom,' and 'Positively Yours.' Studio Dragon is currently developing 'High School Queen' as a full-length drama, maintaining the webtoon’s “refreshing action” while also enhancing the romance elements that cross between historical Joseon and the present day. Furthermore, Studio Dragon is planning to expand the IP into other formats such as films and animation through its collaboration with CJ ENM.
Hwang Nam Yong, CEO of Jaedam Media, expressed optimism: “Through this collaboration with Studio Dragon, if 'High School Queen' expands into various forms of content, we can further showcase the richness of its world and the charm of its characters.”
A Studio Dragon representative added, “Previously, adaptations of a specific IP were usually approached sequentially after confirming a drama or film’s success, which made rapid development difficult. With High School Queen, we are starting from the planning stage with the intention of developing it across multiple genres of visual content, leveraging its status as a popular one-source IP.”
About the Webtoon 'High School Queen'
'High School Queen,' created by writers Kriti and Nehae, features a classic reincarnation storyline. The protagonist, Kim Cheong Ha, a queen of Joseon and the kingdom’s top swordswoman, is caught in the palace strife and meets an unjust death. She is then reincarnated into the body of Park Da Jin, a modern high school girl facing bullying.
Kim Cheong Ha finds that the freedom of modern life suits her well and confronts the school bullies in her new teenage body. Using her Joseon-era martial arts, she punishes the wrongdoers and delivers thrilling, cathartic action. The webtoon was widely loved for its engaging storylines and natural artwork.
If adapted into a drama, capturing Kim Cheong Ha’s lively personality and the webtoon’s exhilarating action sequences will be key to winning over fans. Jaedam Media has previously succeeded with the drama adaptation of Weak Hero, and Studio Dragon has extensive experience producing domestic dramas, fueling high expectations for this live-action adaptation.
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