The Dark Nuns: A Thrilling Sequel Starring Song Hye-kyo and Jeon Yeo-been
The upcoming South Korean movie “The Priests 2: Dark Nuns” (also referred to as “Black Nuns”) has generated significant buzz, largely due to its unexpected casting choices and intriguing plot. The film company has brilliantly paired Song Hye-kyo with Jeon Yeo-been, who famously played Song Joong-ki’s love interest in the popular series “Vincenzo”, heightening anticipation among fans. This female-led sequel to the hit thriller “The Priests” promises a gripping narrative as Song Hye-kyo and Jeon Yeo-been unite to confront demonic forces through exorcism.
While Song Hye-kyo, often hailed as the “Queen of Korean Dramas,” is a familiar face on television, her appearance in a film has sparked considerable discussion online, especially given the current challenges facing the Korean film industry. Securing Song Hye-kyo for this project underscores her star power and the hope that she can draw audiences back to theaters. The actress’s fans are eager to witness the unique depth she will bring to “The Priests 2: Dark Nuns.”
The Haunting Plot of The Priests 2: Dark Nuns
“The Priests 2: Dark Nuns” revolves around Sister Yuni (Song Hye-kyo), who believes that the evil spirit tormenting a young boy named Hee-joon (Moon Woo-jin) could be one of the “12 Forms” of evil. Facing delays with the arrival of a qualified exorcist, and with Hee-joon’s life hanging in the balance, Yuni decides to defy church rules that forbid nuns from performing exorcisms. However, Father Paul (Lee Jin-wook) remains skeptical, advocating for medical treatment above all else. Determined, Yuni enlists the assistance of Sister Michaela (Jeon Yeo-been) to secretly remove Hee-joon from the hospital. The two nuns then embark on a dangerous journey, performing risky exorcism rituals to save Hee-joon from the clutches of darkness.
Continuing the Legacy of The Priests
“The Priests 2: Dark Nuns” follows the success of the 2015 Korean thriller “The Priests”, which starred Kim Yun-seok, Kang Dong-won, and Park So-dam. The original film captivated audiences of over 5.4 million, setting a November box office record in Korea. Park So-dam received accolades for her performance.
“The Priests” told the story of Father Kim (Kim Yun-seok), who is ostracized by other priests. He fights to save a young girl (Park So-dam) exhibiting strange symptoms after a car accident. Ignoring the church’s doubts, Father Kim insists on performing a mysterious ritual with the help of a seminary student (Kang Dong-won).
Song Hye-kyo’s Transformation: From Drama Queen to Exorcist Nun
In “The Priests 2: Dark Nuns”, Song Hye-kyo embodies Sister Yuni, a character with a strong sense of justice and a determination to advocate for what she believes in. Her driving motivation is to save lives.
Song Hye-kyo talked about the challenges of her role, especially the prayers, “I memorized them as soon as I woke up, continued while showering, and even while washing dishes. That’s how I finally memorized the prayers. Also, because I’m playing a character who fights against evil spirits, my body is constantly tense, and there are moments when I suddenly feel stiff. Acting is really difficult, and this project was also challenging for me. I see it as a challenge.”
Fresh from her career peak in “The Glory,” Song Hye-kyo eagerly embraced the role of a nun confronting a powerful evil spirit in “The Priests 2: Dark Nuns.” The actress revealed that she was actively searching for a unique role to follow “The Glory” and was drawn to the script because it offered a distinct challenge and the chance to explore a different side of her acting abilities.
A New Chapter in Song Hye-kyo’s Filmography
Despite her status as one of Korea’s leading drama actresses, Song Hye-kyo has only appeared in a handful of Korean films, including “My Girl and I” (2005), “Hwang Jin Yi” (2007), “A Reason to Live” (2011), and “My Brilliant Life” (2014).
Riding high on the success of “The Glory”, where she garnered acclaim for her improved acting and won awards, Song Hye-kyo’s decision to star in “The Priests 2: Dark Nuns” suggests that this role holds promise and a chance for her to showcase her skills in new ways.
Embracing a Role That Defies Expectations
After recieving the Grand Prize at the 2nd Blue Dragon Series Awards, Song Hye-kyo expressed her hope for future roles, saying that she want to challenge herself. “Acting has always been good and difficult, but at times, because I haven’t filmed a variety of works, I’ve become tired of my own performances.”
The film represents a new direction for her, moving away from romance dramas. Teaming up with Jeon Yeo-been further boosts the film’s appeal, promising dynamic and powerful performances from both actresses.
A Harmonious Partnership: Song Hye-kyo and Jeon Yeo-been
Jeon Yeo-been, known for her role with Song Joong-ki in “Vincenzo”, plays a fellow nun assisting Song Hye-kyo in “The Priests 2: Dark Nuns.” The actress emphasized how her character’s reactions and emotions are communicated, “The most important part of my character is her reaction. More than the lines she says, I think it’s important to show the energy, eyes, trembling, and emotions she possesses. On set, the person who gave me the most strength was Hye-kyo’s gaze.”
Jeon Yeo-been admitted to being a long-time admirer, describing Song Hye-kyo as her idol and saying, “Hye-kyo is a goddess I’ve admired since I was a student. She’s a senior I’ve always wanted to meet, and I’m really happy to be working with her this time!”
Song Hye-kyo generously acknowledged Jeon Yeo-been’s talent, saying, “I think it’s great. I originally wanted to work with Yeo-been. My close friends are also very familiar with Yeo-been, so I often hear about her. After actually acting with her on set, I felt that she was even better than I had heard. Yeo-been really gave me a lot of strength.” The actress said that Jeon Yeo-been is like a “savior” to her.
The Priests 2: The Cast and Crew of Dark Nuns
“The Priests 2: Dark Nuns” emerges from the creators of the original “The Priests”, featuring a stellar lineup and the director recognized for *“Exhuma.” Together, the cast which features Song Hye-kyo from “The Glory,” Jeon Yeo-been from “Vincenzo,” Lee Jin-wook from “Sweet Home,” Heo Joon-ho from “Escape from Mogadishu,” and Moon Woo-jin from “Although I Am Not a Hero,” combines horror elements with the theme of exorcism to create a must-see film.