KB News Desk
Former Japanese child actor Ashida to take on lead role of autistic lawyer
“Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” the Korean drama series that became a breakout hit in 2022, is getting a Japanese remake.
According to a post on Netflix Japan’s official X account, “Extraordinary Attorney Minami” will follow Minami Minamida, a rookie lawyer with autism spectrum disorder, as she navigates her new career in a heartwarming courtroom drama.
The series will premiere on Japan’s Fuji TV and stream on Netflix on Oct. 19.
Mana Ashida will star as Minamida, marking another major role for the actor who rose to fame as a child star in 2010 Japanese hit series “Mother.” Her filmography also includes Guillermo del Toro’s “Pacific Rim” (2013), as well as “BL Metamorphosis” (2022) and “Under the Stars” (2020).
The Japanese remake follows the success of the original “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” which starred Park Eun-bin as Woo Young-woo, a talented lawyer on the autism spectrum. The series aired on ENA from June to August 2022, with ratings climbing from 0.9 percent viewership for its premiere to 17.5 percent for its finale as it became a nationwide breakout hit.
Its popularity extended beyond Korea, with the series topping Netflix’s global non-English TV rankings within a month of its release. Park also earned the grand prize at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards for her performance, taking home the ceremony’s highest honor in the TV category.
