Latest news with #OmniscientReader
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blackpink's Jisoo Stars in Fantasy Movie Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy Trailer
ComingSoon is excited to debut the full trailer for the U.S. and Canadian release of Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy. The Korean blockbuster fantasy movie is out in theaters on August 1. It has a star-studded cast that includes Blackpink's Jisoo and Ahn Hyo-seop. 'Kim Dokja (Ahn Hyo-seop), an ordinary man in his 20s, is the only reader of an obscure web novel titled 'Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse'. After having read the last chapter, the novel suddenly becomes reality, and its omnipotent hero Yu Junghyeok (Lee Min-ho) appears before Kim. As the only person who knows how to survive in this world, Kim and his companions strive to save the world by writing his own, new ending,' says the synopsis. Check out the Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy trailer below: (watch more trailers): Who is all involved in Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy? Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy stars Ahn Hyo-seop (Business Proposal, Dr. Romantic), Lee Min-ho (Panchinko, The King: Eternal Monarch), Chae Soo-bin (The Rebel, I'm Not a Robot), Shin Seung-ho (A-Teen, Alchemy of Souls), K-pop star Nana (K-Pop groups After School, Orange Caramel), and Jisoo (Blackpink) in her first leading role in a film. Directed by Kim Byung-woo (The Terror Live, Take Point), who also cowrote the screenplay with Lee Jung-min, the movie is produced by Won Dong-yeon for Realies Pictures, the studio behind the Along with the Gods franchise. The post Blackpink's Jisoo Stars in Fantasy Movie Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy Trailer | Exclusive appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Solve the daily Crossword
Straits Times
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Omniscient Reader Director on Adapting Web Novel Without Fan Pressure
Blackpink's Jisoo (left) plays warrior Lee Ji-hye in the fantasy film Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy, which is directed by Kim Byung-woo. SINGAPORE – South Korean film-maker Kim Byung-woo, director of South Korean fantasy Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy, was not going to let a passionate fan base paralyse him creatively. His first concern was making a good movie rather than worry about whether followers of the source material – the popular web novel Omniscient Reader (2018 to 2020), with more than 200 million views globally – would cry foul if it failed to be a faithful adaptation. 'If I think about too many elements of the web novel, then the film wouldn't be good or meaningful. My first priority was to make this a very entertaining film for the audience,' says Kim, who also co-wrote the screenplay. He was speaking through an interpreter to The Straits Times at a press event at Marina Bay Sands on July 29. He and lead actors Ahn Hyo-seop and Lee Min-ho were in town to promote the film, which is showing in cinemas. Positive fan reactions can push a live-action movie derived from a webtoon, web novel, anime or manga to box-office success, as with South Korean fantasy film Along With The Gods: The Two Worlds (2017) and its 2018 sequel. They were adapted from a 2010 webtoon. The opposite happens when fans rall y to pour online scorn. That fate met Hollywood's 2017 take on the seminal manga Ghost In The Shell (1989 to 1991), with celebrated anime versions already existing. It also happened to Netflix's live-action adaptations Death Note (2017) and Cowboy Bebop (2021), both sourced from anime and manga. While the quality of the films was judged to be poor by most viewers, the fervent online campaign waged by fans of the source materials helped put a nail in the coffin of the idea of sequels. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump modifies reciprocal tariffs ahead of deadline; rate on Singapore likely to remain at 10% Singapore PM Wong to deliver National Day message on Aug 8 Singapore Data breach involving Cycle & Carriage Singapore customer details under probe Singapore Man charged over kicking woman's face in Teck Whye Lane flat, leading to her death Singapore 'For one last time, let's go home': Tears, laughs as last scheduled Jetstar Asia flight touches down Singapore Over half of job applications by retrenched Jetstar Asia staff led to offers or interviews: CEO Life The Projector to leave Cineleisure for return to Golden Mile Tower Singapore 3 men charged over living on the earnings of prostitution Kim, 45, says he did what he felt was best for his movie adaptation. 'I know that there could be some concerns from fans of the original web novel when adapting a story into a screenplay, but just because we have the screen adaptation of the novel, it doesn't mean that it's going to undermine or change anything about the original work,' he adds. In keeping with the web novel's idea of a multiverse, he says t he novel and the movie can co-exist without one being considered superior to, or a replacement for, the other. 'T he audiences will be able to enjoy this fil m m ore if they see it as another version of the original web novel, as an extension of the universe created by th e a uthor,' he says. In Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy, Kim Dok-ja (Ah n) is an office worker who becomes the only reader of a fading web novel, Three Ways To Survive The Apocalypse. He is disappointed by the novel's conclusion but is chastised by the author, who tells him to write his own ending. Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy actors Ahn Hyo-seop (left) and Lee Min-ho (right) with director Kim Byung-woo at the press event at Marina Bay Sands. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Suddenly, he and everyone else on Earth are swept into an alternate reality in which the cataclysmic events of the novel happen, where Dok-ja meets the novel's hero Yu Jung-hyeok ( Lee ). A rmed with the knowledge of the future, Dok-ja must win a series of trials – including fighting deadly creatures – to escape this new reality. This is director Kim's first attempt at a web novel adaptation, having made action thriller The Terror Live (2013) and military thriller Take Point (2018). The element that drew him to his latest project was that the novel engaged readers by frequently placing them at strategic and moral crossroads – should they copy their favourite book's story for a surefire win or pick a riskier unknown option that can save more people? 'As a reader, it got me to think about what I would do in Dok-ja's position. The novel wasn't a simple story about a dystopian end of the world. It felt very interactiv e, ' he says. From pixels to pictures: Webtoons, web novels, anime and manga take over the big screen Here are the upcoming films that have their roots in East Asian comics, animation or online novels. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – Infinity Castle (Aug 14) Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – Infinity Castle is the first film of a trilogy that covers the final arc of the manga. PHOTO: SONY PICTURES The Japanese fantasy animated movie series is based on a manga that first appeared in 2016. It was followed by an anime series (2019 to 2024) that made the story a global hit. The story of teenager Tanjiro Kamado, who joins a corps of demon slayers after his family is slaughtered by demons, has spawned several hit movies. This film, the first of a trilogy that covers the final arc of the manga, has broken box-office records in Japan, becoming the fastest film to gross 10 billion yen (S$86.1 million yen). My Daughter Is A Zombie (Aug 28) Jo Jung-suk plays a dad whose daughter is infected by a zombie virus in My Daughter Is A Zombie. PHOTO: GOLDEN VILLAGE Based on a South Korean webtoon, this live-action drama tells the story of a devoted dad (Jo Jung-suk) who lives in a nation recovering from the devastation caused by a zombie virus. But he hides a dark secret: His daughter (Choi Yoo-ri) is infected. With society on guard against another outbreak, he must shield her from discovery. Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (Sept 25) Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc is set in a world where human fears come to life in the form of devils. PHOTO: SONY PICTURES In contrast with the other works of animation on the list, this Japanese movie is for adults only – it is gory and filled with dark, cynical humour. Based on an ongoing manga launched in 201 8, Chainsaw Man is set in a world where human fears come to life in the form of devils. Lead character Denji is a teenage orphan who hunts and kills evil creatures after he transforms into the human chainsaw chimera of the title. The Legend Of Hei 2 (August/September) The Legend Of Hei 2, an animated feature from China adapted from an online series, opens in Singapore in August or September. PHOTO: ENCORE FILMS Chinese artist MTJJ launched the story as an online flash animation in 2011. It gained cult status in China and, on the back of its success, a prequel film, The Legend Of Hei, was released in 2019. It went on to earn over $65 million worldwide, a strong number for a Chinese animation. The fantasy is set in a present-day China where spirits in human or animal forms exist. Humans and spirits live in an uneasy balance with one another. The protagonist Xiaohei is a black cat spirit in human form who has the power to summon matter-absorbing portals. In Hei 2, the once-idealistic and naive Xiaohei has matured and learns to lead other spirit warriors.
News18
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Is Lee Min Ho Using BLACKPINK Star Jisoo's Fame To Promote Omniscient Reader?
Lee Min Ho revealed that if the world of Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy ever became real, he would choose BLACKPINK's Jisoo as his ally. Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy was one of the highly anticipated projects of 2025. Based on a popular web novel and starring big names like Lee Min Ho, Ahn Hyo Seop, Chae Soo Bin and Jisoo, the film was expected to be a massive hit. But that did not happen. Made on a budget of $21 million, the box office collection of Omniscient Reader, which was released in theatres on July 23, is slower than expected. Amid the setback, the two lead actors, Lee Min Ho and Ahn Hyo Seop, attended a press conference in Singapore's Marina Bay Sands, the film's first and only international stop for promotions, on Tuesday, July 29. Omniscient Reader's director Kim Byung Woo was also present. At the event, the duo interacted with reporters and shared their experience about working on the movie. When the trio was asked which character they would want as their ally if ever the movie's world turned into a reality, they unanimously answered Lee Ji Hye, a resilient warrior who was played by BLACKPINK's Jisoo. Lee Min Ho shared the reason behind his selection, revealing that it's not her skill set for which he would want her as an ally, but to listen to her songs. He said, 'Instead of her weapon, I'll listen to her songs. Her music will be the biggest power to me." Ahn Hyo Seop agreed, saying that she would be the best partner. After the duo's remarks surfaced on social media, Jisoo's fans started criticising the actors. Why? Because fans were excited to watch their favourite actor-singer in the film, as her picture was heavily featured on the movie's poster. But to their disappointment, she only had a small role, which almost seemed like a cameo. Hence, her fans are now accusing the team of Omniscient Reader of using Jisoo's fame to promote the film. How Jisoo's Fans Reacted To Lee Min Ho And Ahn Hyo Seop's Remarks? 'No Jisoo in the promo—but sure, mention her anyway. Gotta beg for clicks somehow," said one fan. No Jisoo in the promo—but sure, mention her anyway. Gotta beg for clicks somehow Another wrote, 'Let's put all the blame on the director for mentioning Jisoo just for clout. Love all the casts, no hate, but the way Jisoo just never being part of the film promotions just baffles me." 'Finally, they are talking about Jisoo…guess the media training has been done?" mentioned a different fan. Notably, Jisoo has been missing from the promotional events of Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy as she is on a world tour with her BLACKPINK members. First Published: July 30, 2025, 10:27 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
AsiaOne
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
'I grew up watching him', says Ahn Hyo-seop on acting with Lee Min-ho in Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy , Entertainment News
South Korean actor Ahn Hyo-seop is making his debut on the big screens with the new movie Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy, and during a press conference at Sands Expo & Convention Centre today (July 29), he said he's a fan of co-star Lee Min-ho. "It was really easy to act throughout the filming process because like how (my character) Kim Dok-ja admires and idolises (Min-ho's character) Yu Jung-hyeok, I feel the same about Min-ho. I grew up watching him act and watching his projects, so I was already his fan," said 30-year-old Hyo-seop. Dok-ja is an ordinary office worker and the only devoted reader of a little-known web novel. When the story's fictional apocalyptic world comes to life and its omnipotent hero Jung-hyeok appears before him, Dok-ja must use his knowledge of the story to write a new ending. Besides the two actors, director Kim Byung-woo is also here. Here come Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop for the Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy.#LeeMinHo #AhnHyoSeop #OmniscientReader_TheProphet — AsiaOne (@asiaonecom) July 29, 2025 Singapore marks their first and only international promotional stop outside of South Korea. In the movie, Dok-ja is described as a "plain-looking person", and the host quipped that Hyo-seop isn't, asking if it was difficult to portray such a character. Laughing and shaking his head, he humbly said: "I don't think I'm that outstanding. Since the story talks about being ordinary, it made me question, 'What is being ordinary like in the world?' There are people who are tall, but there are also those who are short. "Some have prominent faces while others have plain ones. So, I was questioning myself, 'Who am I? Where do I belong?'" He concluded that he's ordinary: "If I consider myself outstanding or special, I thought that I wouldn't be able to start filming this movie." [[nid:720752]] Meanwhile, Jung-hyeok is described as someone with an "outstanding and beautiful face", and Min-ho, 38, said that's the hardest part about playing his character. "I believe that people should be defined by their internal self... I'm a very ordinary person internally, so knowing that, it was difficult to portray such an extraordinary character." Which character would Hyo-seop and Min-ho ally with if fiction became reality? Both of them chose machine gun-wielding Lee Ji-hye, because she's played by Blackpink's Jisoo. "Instead of using her weapon, I'll listen to her song. Her music will become the strongest power," Min-ho joked. Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy, which also stars Chae Soo-bin, Shin Seung-ho, Nana, and child actor Kwon Eun-seong, opens in Singapore cinemas on July 31. Hyo-seop, Min-ho and Byung-woo will make appearances at special screenings held at Golden Village Suntec City and Golden Village VivoCity today. Tickets are sold out. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AsiaOne (@asiaonecom) syarifahsn@
CNA
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop on why they would choose Blackpink's Jisoo as their ally when fighting monsters
Popular South Korean stars Ahn Hyo-seop and Lee Min-ho brought their smiles, charm and wit as they greeted reporters in Singapore on Tuesday (Jul 29) as part of promotions for their upcoming movie Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy. Singapore marks the movie's first and only international promotional stop outside of South Korea. The two were joined by director Kim Byung-woo as they fielded questions at Marina Bay Sands. Following the press conference, they are set to attend special fan screenings of Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy at selected Golden Village outlets. In Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy, Ahn Hyo-seop plays Kim Dok-ja, an ordinary office worker who finds himself battling monsters when his favourite novel comes to life. During the press conference, the 30-year-old, who has seen a rise in his global stardom following roles in 2022's Business Proposal and the smash hit movie KPop Demon Hunters, was asked if he had difficulties playing a "plain-looking character". Clad in a sleek, all-black ensemble, Ahn was the antithesis of "plain-looking" and cooly replied: "I don't think I'm an outstanding person. "Since the story revolves around being ordinary, I asked myself 'What is ordinary?' and 'Who am I?', and I came to the conclusion that my existence itself is ordinary. If I think of myself as outstanding and special, then I won't even be able to start this project. So I worked on balancing out and blurring the boundary between what's ordinary and extraordinary." Co-starring in the movie is Hallyu icon Lee Min-ho, who plays the brooding Yu Jung-hyeok – the original hero of Dok-ja's favourite novel. The 38-year-old echoed Ahn's sentiments of not feeling like an outstanding person. "In the original web novel, Yu Jung-hyeok was described as having an outstanding and beautiful face that can win over anyone. That was the most difficult part of acting," revealed Lee. "I consider myself an ordinary person because I believe people should be defined by their internal selves and not their external selves. And I believe I'm internally an ordinary person. Knowing that made it so hard to portray such an outstanding and extraordinary person [like Yu Jung-hyeok]." With Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy being an adaptation of a megahit franchise that has seen over 2.5 billion views worldwide across its web novel and web comic adaptations, questions have been raised about whether the movie will be a faithful adaptation of its source material. Director Kim Byung-woo, who won numerous accolades for his 2013 movie The Terror Live, said that there were "inevitable changes" because of the different mediums. "What I focused on the most was 'How can the story be entertaining and how can audiences find it exciting?' As such, I tried not to get too restrained by the original story," said Kim. "That being said, whatever you imagined from the web novel, we did portray and bring it to the world of the movie. I just want you to sit down, relax and have fun." In a moment that brought laughter to attendees of the press conference, all three men admitted that if the events of Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy became reality, they would pick Lee Ji-hye, a character played by Blackpink member Jisoo in the movie, to be their ally. And it's not exactly for her skill set. "Instead of her weapon, I'll listen to her songs," quipped Lee Min-ho. "Her music will be the biggest power to me." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Golden Village Pictures (@goldenvillagepictures) Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy will be released for general audiences in Singapore on Jul 31. It follows the story of Kim Dok-ja (played by Ahn Hyo-seop), an ordinary office worker and the only reader of a little-known web novel. Disappointed with the novel's ending, Dok-ja sends an angry message to its author, only to have the novel's apocalyptic world suddenly become reality. When the novel's original hero, Yu Jung-hyeok (played by Lee Min-ho), appears before him, Dok-ja must use his unique knowledge of the story to survive and bring forth a new ending.
