Blackpink’s Jisoo and Park Jeong-min on Navigating Romance — and Zombies — in Prime Video’s ‘Newtopia’: ‘The Chemistry Between Us Was Great’

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran In Prime Video‘s “Newtopia,” love doesn’t just survive the apocalypse — it thrives in it. The Korean series pairs Blackpink‘s Jisoo and acclaimed actor Park Jeong-min in a romantic comedy with undead twists that’s being billed as a fresh take on the zombie genre.

The series follows Lee Jae-yoon (Park), a late military conscript, and Kang Young-joo (Jisoo), a rookie professional, whose relationship is tested first by a breakup and then by a zombie outbreak in Seoul.

Under the direction of Yoon Sung-hyun, “Newtopia” aims to blend heart-pounding action with light-hearted romance. “It’s more adorable, humorous and light-hearted — a true zombie romantic comedy, a ‘zom-com,'” Park tells Variety. “That uniqueness was what made me want to be part of this project.” The actor, who admits to being a Blackpink fan with signed albums to prove it, found instant chemistry with his co-star. “From the very first moment, the chemistry between us was great and it was easy to form a close bond.” For Park, the role offered unique creative opportunities. “Being placed in situations that I have never experienced — and likely never will — was the most intriguing aspect of working on this series,” he explains. “It opened up endless possibilities for imagination, allowing me to reflect on the various choices I might make if I found myself in those situations.” The collaboration between the two leads was enhanced by Jisoo’s presence on set. “Jisoo is such a wonderful person who never shows any signs of negativity,” Park says. “Working with her helped me stay connected to my character’s emotions throughout the filming process.