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Why was Bae Suzy's K-drama 'Anna' canceled after 6 episodes? Fans say 'I want more'

K-drama's director to reportedly sue the OTT platform Coupang Play for editing and cutting short 'Anna' to six episodes without approval

Following the hit K-drama ‘Start-Up’ in 2020, we finally got the return of Bae Suzy as an actor and a K-pop idol. Dubbed the ‘Nation’s First Love’, she finally returned to our TV screens by bagging the lead role of the K-drama ‘Anna’ and the sci-fi film ‘Wonderland’ starring Choi Woo-shik and Park Bo-gum. While fans had missed her idol days as part of the girl group miss A, she also made a singing comeback 2 years later with the single ‘Satellite’ and PSY’s ‘Celeb’. She is also set to now release an OST for the ongoing hit drama ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’.

Well, for her first acting project of 2022, we got Suzy in the titular role of ‘Anna’, a psychological thriller following the story of Yumi who pretends to be Anna and is then forced to live a new life because of a small lie that she made up. She experiences Ripley’s Syndrome, where one is unable to differentiate between their real self and a false self that they make up. Directed by film director Lee Joo-young, the drama was commended for its cinematic storytelling and crisp editing of an intense plot over a period of 8 episodes. However, before its premiere, it was reported that ‘Anna’s last two episodes had been canceled and only 6 episodes would air.

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'Anna' director clashes with Coupang Play

However, after the finale of ‘Anna’, the positive reception and praise for Suzy’s acting led to the showrunners announcing that it would get an extended release in August. Fans had hoped that the canceled last 2 episodes would be a part of the extended version. Well, it seems that we could have gotten all 8 episodes in the first go itself if the director had been given a free rein. On August 3, it was reported that the director and also the scriptwriter of ‘Anna’, Lee Joo-young was considering suing the OTT platform Coupang Play for changing the duration and editing of ‘Anna; which had affected its storytelling.

Despite its commercial success, some viewers had felt that ‘Anna’ could have had a better ending as it was too rushed. It looks like the director agrees and even knows the reason for this criticism. Lee’s lawyer has shared, “‘Anna’, which was first released through Coupang Play on June 24, consists of six episodes (45-63 minutes per episode). But the master file finalized by director and writer Lee Joo-young was originally of 8 episodes (45-61 minutes per episode), and the script approved by Coupang Play was also 8 episodes. As Coupang Play unilaterally edited it, it was not only reduced in length, but the narrative, filming, editing, and narrative intentions were all severely damaged.”

Unhappy with the direction that ‘Anna’ had gone, Lee had asked her name to be taken off the credits but it had been ignored with the lawyer sharing that it was an infringement of Lee’s moral right as a director. They are threatening legal action if the platform does not respond soon. There has been no response regarding these accusations from Coupang Play apart from the statement that there was indeed a disagreement between them and the director. There has also been no new update regarding ‘Anna’s extended release which is set to be released sometime in August. 

Update: Even the K-drama's editor has shared that the drama they worked on is not the final version that was aired on Coupang Play. Editor Kim Jung-hoon also felt the same way as director Lee and wanted to take their name off the credits but the OTT platform has not complied.

'Keep it short but solid'

One fan tweeted, “The reason why I said that there’s something missing on  #Anna ep 5&6-which should’ve been more intense bcs it was the final- were turned out to be CPlay unilaterally edited the director work! THAT IS SO DAMN CRAZY! And the dir plan to sue the platform!” Another had shared, “#Anna only ep 6 I want more.” One fan wrote, “Not only they didn't release the drama internationally but they did this to the director too. I'm so disappointed with coupang play.”

One viewer felt, “It's no wonder that I've heard 8 eps before, but it's also a bit strange that the original Anna suddenly died, like a lil bit abruptly.” Another commented, “What's the reason they edit it? The story is also incomplete, it's really weird without permission, the writer director must feel unappreciated, it's best to go through legal channels, right?” One viewer added, “No wonder the plot is too fast and like jumping. This drama will be good if you dig deeper like how can Anna speak English, how to speak, etc., like Parasite, keep it short but solid.”

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