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Arashi’s Ohno will be appearing for the first time in a drama series & first lead role… TBS channel’s “MAOU” (Devil)

It has been revealed on the 8th that the popular group, Arashi’s leader, Ohno Satoshi (27) will be appearing for the first time in a drama series with his first lead role in TBS channel’s “Maou” (Friday, 10pm) starting in July. It’s a double lead role with Johnny’s Jr. Ikuta Toma. This work is a remake of the popular suspense drama that was aired last year in Korea. Ohno will show us a new side of himself by taking on the challenge of a lawyer who is plotting revenge on the person who killed his blood relatives.

As Arashi’s leader, Ohno is active in concerts and variety shows, and will now be ready and waiting to tack on this drama series debut.

“Maou” is a suspense drama aired on Korea’s KBS last year. This act of revenge where a man, whose family was killed without mercy, takes a gamble with his entire life caught the attention of many, to the extent that a gathering was opened for thousands of core fans called the “Maou Tribe”, bringing forth a social phenomenon within Korea. This time that popular work will be remade, with Ohno taking on the challenge of the role of a lawyer who is a vengeful demon with an angelic mask.

Speaking of Ohno, we know of his brilliant sense for stage play. He stepped onto his first stage performance for the Shounentai’s “PLAYZONE” in 2001, then widened his scope by moving from tough roles filled with ad libs to performances of an assassin, with his talents guaranteed to produce quality work. Started in 2003, the stage play “Puu series” that he starred in has also gained high praise.

Producer Takahashi Masanao explains the reasons for this casting: “He’s known for showing his gentle and slightly spaced out character in variety shows but, there should be many who have noticed the mysterious, unique charm hidden deep inside. To have him play the role of a laywer who has the face of a cruel, vengeful demon = devil under the face he shows to others will, without a doubt, make it far more frightening.”

For the sake of this role, Ohno has cut his hair and dyed it black. He says with great spirit, “As it’s my first drama series I’d like to have fun acting in it but, because it’s such a special setting, it looks like I may turn stoic in my daily life too (laughs). I’ve never taken revenge before, nor have I considered it. It’s a tough role but, I will do my best to live up to everyone’s expectations.”

On the other hand, Ikuta who has stepped into the limelight with a great leap with the popular drama “Hanazakari no kimitachi e ~IKEMEN PARADISE~” last year will play the double lead role of the detective who is pursuing the mysterious series of murders. He has performed with Ohno in stage plays in the past but, it’s their first collaboration in a drama. He says with high spirits, “I’d like to do a drama that will be thrilling, new, something that will have great depth for everyone.”

The bottom simply brings up other reputed Korean drama remakes.