KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — More than a decade after it became a global hit, Descendants of the Sun is set to return in a new form, with the popular Korean drama being adapted into an Indonesian film scheduled for release in 2027.
Released in 2016, the original 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.
According to Korean and Indonesian media reports, the Indonesian adaptation is titled Descendants of the Sun Indonesia, directed by Hanung Bramantyo, whose previous films include Ayat-Ayat Cinta (2008) and Habibie & Ainun (2012).
Indonesian 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.
Both Reza and Dian have also recently made headlines in Malaysia.
Reza is set to star in the upcoming Malaysian film Langit 2 Warna, directed by Erma Fatima, while Dian’s latest feature, The Fox King, recently debuted in Malaysian cinemas and drew praise for her performance as Lara.
The Indonesian adaptation will not be the first remake of Descendants of the Sun.
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.
Next Entertainment World, the South Korean production house behind the original Descendants of the Sun, is involved in the Indonesian film remake, and its subsidiary Contents Panda will handle the film’s distribution in South Korea.
No official release date has been announced for Descendants of the Sun Indonesia yet.
