Cast members of Netflix's mega-hit zombie drama Kingdom have teased what viewers will need to watch out for in the upcoming second season. Ju Ji Hoon, Bae Doona, Ryu Seong Ryong and Kim Sung Kyu talked about their characters' evolution and said that despite the exciting first season, the real storytelling only begins in Season 2.
According to lead star Ju Ji Joon, Kingdom 2 will be gruesome since it depicts the beginning of the battle against those who are infected by the mysterious disease. His character Lee Chang, the Crown Prince who started a quest to topple the ruling Haewon Cho Clan at the beginning of the series, is now headed back to Hanyang to take back the throne to save the people.
"In the end, it comes down to what Chang ought to do as the Crown Prince," Ju Ji Hoon said.
Kim Sung Kyu, who played a key role Young Shin, one of the best fighters in Season 1, will join the Crown Prince as he heads for the Palace to assume power. He is expected to play a key role in the Prince's rebellion against Hak Cho and the Queen.
"I was so surprised when I read the scenario. I was caught off guard," Ryu Seong Ryong, who plays the role of Hak Ju, confessed during an interview. Other cast members have agreed and said that the way that the second season will unfold with definitely shock viewers of the show.
"[He] is a person who shows how scary humans who follow power and false beliefs are. In Season 1, he is the character who is free to do what he wants. In Season 2, his role will give tension to confronting opposing opponents. Like in Season 1, he is stuck next to the prince like a shadow, and is worried that the prince might get hurt," he said.
For her part, writer and series creator Kim Eun Hee that for the upcoming season, she wanted to depict how the characters will make choices based on their social status. She said that it will be an interesting aspect to see but generally said that the characters make wise choices.
Director Kim Sung Hoon also shared some of the challenges in filming the second season. He said that the large scale production required all of the actors, supporting cast members and extras to nail their scenes perfectly and simultaneously because it was all being shot as an entire sequence. He said perfecting the scenes was both exciting and challenging.
