As the curtain rises on a new day, join us in uncovering the hidden gems, celebrating the pioneers, and anticipating the groundbreaking narratives that await. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or a curious newcomer, The BL Express is your ticket into the ever-evolving realm of Boys Love. With that being said, here’s whats hew and happening this week.

Joseon Chefs | Suunjapbang

Astro’s Sanha and Kim Kang Min (To My Star) will take the lead roles in the upcoming Korean bromance movie ‘Suunjapbang’. The movie portrays the story of a nobleman Kim Yu, a real person in the Joseon Dynasty who wrote a recipe book of the same name. In his 3rd year of taking the national civil service exam, Kim Yu met Gye Am, who calls himself the best chef in Joseon, and starts searching for the life he really wants as he gets immersed into the world of gastronomy. Joseon Chefs will premiere in local theatres on December 24th 2023.

The Rebound

Golf Tanwarin, the director behind ‘609 Bedtime Story’ and ‘The Eclipse Series’ has finally revealed the project she has been working on in secret the past few months. It is a sports themed drama titled ‘The Rebound’ and it stars none other than Meen Nichakoon and Ping Krittanun from the loveable ‘My Dear Gangster Oppa Series’. Their co-stars are Nammon Krittanai and Frank Thantasaran. The project is on its last leg of filming and will be released very soon on VIU. Stay tuned for more details regarding the plot and the release date.

Ossans Love Returns

The highly acclaimed Japanese television drama, “Ossan’s Love,” is set for a comeback with its sequel, “Ossan’s Love – Returns -,” on January 5th 2024 on TV Asahi’s Friday night drama slot. The series, which first aired in 2018, returns after five years. The original cast, including Kei Tanaka and Kento Hayashi, are reprising their roles, promising a fresh take on the show’s unconventional romance narrative. The story picks up after Haruta and Maki are married. Maki was transferred abroad for work and upon his return he finds the newly-wed lifestyle is not what he imagined. He and Haruta seem to be fighting over the smallest things, and it doesn’t seem to be getting any easier. Musashi Is retired now, but after visiting the couple he finds his old love for Haruta still persists.

To Be Continued

Fluke Pongsapat and up-and-coming actor Junior Kajbunditt will star in a Thai BL series titled ‘To Be Continued’. The project is a collaboration between Domundi x Channel 3, it portrays a meeting between two friends who haven’t seen each other in ten years, Achi is now a popular celebrity and Jirawat a headstrong doctor. Meeting again rekindles old feelings each of them harbored in their hearts. Details regarding the release date of this series are yet to be released.

Gray Currents

Lee Jae-Bin who starred in Choco Milk Shake will play the lead in another BL series tentatively titled ‘Gray Currents’. The sort depicts Cha Soo-Hyuk who is focused only on his survival, without any grand goals in life. He reunites with Lee Yoon-Dae, who he was once very close with. Yoon-Dae was living with his girlfriend but after a breakup has nowhere to go. They end up living together. How will these new living arrangements change their relationship? Gray Currents is currently filming, more details regarding its release will be available soon.

Mary and George

“Mary & George” is an upcoming British historical drama television miniseries based on Benjamin Woolley’s non-fiction book The King’s Assassin (2017). It is inspired by the unbelievable true story of Mary Villiers, who molded her beautiful and charismatic son, George, to seduce King James VI of Scotland and I of England and become his all-powerful lover. Through outrageous scheming, the pair rose from humble beginnings to become the richest, most titled and influential players the English court had ever seen, and the King’s most trusted advisors. And with England’s place on the world stage under threat from a Spanish invasion and rioters taking to the streets to denounce the King, the stakes could not have been higher. Prepared to stop at nothing and armed with her ruthless political steel, Mary married her way up the ranks, bribed politicians, colluded with criminals and clawed her way into the heart of the Establishment, making it her own.  Mary & George is a dangerously daring historical psychodrama about an outrageous mother and son who schemed, seduced, and killed to conquer the court of England and the bed of King James. A premiere date has not yet been set for the series.

Cooking Crush

Prem is losing confidence in his skills as a chef when he meets Ten, a medical student under a heavy burden of stress. Ten approaches Prem to teach him cooking, and Prem uses this as an opportunity to scam Ten and make some money. However, as the lessons go on, it isn’t just the food that’s hot, but also their faces as they slowly fall for each other. This series was adapted from the novel ‘Love Course!’ by iJune4S and will star Off Jumpol and Gun Attaphan (Not Me Series). It is expected to premiere on the 26th of November 2023 on the usual GMMTV Channels. See the just released trailer below:

7 Days Before Valentine

The producer of ‘180 Degrees the Series’ is back with what promises to be another masterpiece, a BL series starring Jet Somjet, Atom Nathaphop, and Thank Ekdanai. The drama follows Sun who recently got dumped by his boyfriend. As a joke fate decided to send him a reaper instead of cupid. The reaper offers to delete ‘make disappear’ 7 people who Sun believes are an obstacle to his true love. 7 nights, 7 lives, 7 deaths. Will these deaths bring back Suns true love? The series premieres om November 22nd 2023 and will be made available to watch internationally.

Official Trailer-

Idol Next Gen

Chinese and Thai production companies are collaborating to produce five tv series, four of which have a Boys Love theme. The collaboration is called ‘Idol Next Gen’ and the projects which will be adapted into series are called ‘UniverSad’, ‘I Love You I Kill You’, ‘Project S’ and ‘Silent Bloom’. Castings are being held by Artop Media and will include Anita Sung (Kiseki: Dear to Me), Chai Ji Dan (Addicted & Stay with Me), and Patrick Rangsimant (My Ride), The three will collectively cast and screenwrite all four projects. stay tuned to our page for more information.

Teach Me Touch Me

Kantee, a 34-year-old man owns a luxury imported car showroom. He often goes to a close friend’s club after work. In addition, he holds a VIP club card which gives him access to a private room on the 5th floor, incase he happens to meet someone he likes and he wants to get to know them a little better in private. One day he’s in his private room when he hears someone walk in, a young, innocent, fourth year student by the name of Gear. Gear got lost and accidently walked into the wrong room, but does he want to leave? And does Kantee want him there? ‘Teach Me Touch Me’ is based on the novel of the same name by Wara and will be adapted into a tv series come next year.

The Sign

Idol Factory has released the official trailer for their upcoming thriller romance, “The Sign”. The drama is adapted from the novel “Premonition” (ลางสังหรณ์) by I-Rain-Yia (ไอเรนเยีย), and it centers around a reincarnation theme. Billy Patchanon and Babe Tanatat will take the lead roles as the show premieres on 25th November 2023. Make sure to watch Uncut on IDF’s official YouTube Channel.

Synopsis:

Phaya & Tharn loved each other in the past. An incident forced them to part ways but destiny intervenes & they are reincarnated in new bodies, partners in the Special Investigations Unit.

Official Trailer-

And that’s a wrap for this week, join me again next week as I bring you the latest and greatest from the BL universe.