[HanCinema's News] "Goodbye Earth" Confirmed for Netflix Release Despite Yoo Ah-in's Legal Troubles

Last May, actor Yoo Ah-in was charged with illicit drug use, and fully admitted to press that he had taken cocaine. That incident had a disastrous impact on the actor's many projects, all of which had become tainted by his association. "Goodbye Earth" was one such project, having been filmed back in 2022 only to be put in limbo following the scandal. But Netflix appears to have decided that they've waited long enough, with the apocalyptic series confirmed for a worldwide streaming date on April 26th.

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The exact motivation of Netflix in this matter is not entirely clear. Yoo Ah-in's name is still quite toxic in the South Korean media sphere, in large part because his trial is not yet complete. Yoo Ah-in and his co-conspirators will face a fourth hearing in this case on April 16th. Yoo Ah-in's career is still a long way from recovery, assuming it ever does. However, from the first breaking of this news, the question has been begged as to how fair it is to consider all his existing projects as tainted.

"Goodbye Earth" is, for example, an ensemble piece. While Yoo Ah-in is credited as the lead, "Goodbye Earth" also stars Ahn Eun-jin as his ex-girlfriend now devoted to helping children in these trying times, Jeon Sung-woo as a mysterious religious figure, and Kim Yoon-hye as a soldier keeping the peace as the world ends. Indeed, the subject matter of "Goodbye Earth" itself is the main selling point rather than any of the cast, starting two hundred days before an asteroid is set to destroy the earth.

The official poster for the series avoids highlighting any of the cast members, instead calling attention to the original novel by Japanese author Kotaro Isaka. This serves as a reminder that Netflix is a worldwide streaming platform, and most of its consumers are unlikely to even know about Yoo Ah-in's legal troubles. Netflix exclusive productions from South Korea tend to be hit or miss in any event, so "Goodbye Earth" will go forward even as the status of Yoo Ah-in's other projects remains unknown.

Written by William Schwartz

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"Goodbye Earth" is directed by Kim Jin-min-I, written by Jeong Seong-joo, and features Yoo Ah-in, Ahn Eun-jin, Jeon Sung-woo, Kim Yoon-hye, Lee Dong-chan, Lim Ki-hong. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2024/04/26~Upcoming, Fri on Netflix.