Rebooted TV series ‘Meteor Garden’ premieres on Netflix
TAIPEI: You’ve probably watched a movie like Pretty Woman starring an obscenely rich guy (Richard Gere) falling for a prostitute (Julia Roberts) and swooned over the improbable coupling of different personalities.
Well, a hit Taiwanese TV series back in 2001 had a similar storyline. It was known as Meteor Garden, featuring members of the smash-hit band F4.
A remade 48-episode version of the series is streaming on Netflix, with the same rich boy, poor girl theme.
Meteor Garden 2018 narrates the tale of a girl (Shancai, portrayed by Shen Yue) from a poor family who annoys the wealthiest and most arrogant boy (Daoming Si, portrayed by Dylan Wang) in a university.
Angie Chai, who produced the original Meteor Garden, collaborated with producer Adam Tsuei for the remake, which was directed by Lin Helong.
“Meteor Garden debuted in 17 countries and was well received across Asia in 2001,” recalled Chai. She had adapted it from the Japanese manga series Boys Over Flowers.
Added Angie: “It was a drama series loved by many, including teenagers and young adults. The new rendition is re-adapted for the millennial generation – from the story, the script, to an on-demand viewing platform so that a new generation of viewers (can) enjoy this classic love story. Netflix is top-of-mind for me as the platform to present this classic remake, because it will showcase the unique charisma of Asian idol dramas to a global audience. The new Meteor Garden also sets a new high for Mandarin idol drama.”
The original series was a huge hit across Asia.
It was a drama series loved by many, including teenagers and young adults.The new rendition is re-adapted for the millennial generation – from the story, the script, to an on-demand viewing platform so that a new generation of viewers (can) enjoy this classic love story. Angie Chai, producer