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Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Byeon Woo-seok to lead Solo Leveling live-action adaptation as Sung Jin-woo in hit Korean Webtoon's global crossover
Netflix has officially announced a live-action adaptation of the hugely popular Korean webtoon Solo Leveling, sparking excitement among global fans. Revealed just after Anime Expo 2025, the news marks a significant milestone for Korean webtoon adaptations entering mainstream international media. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Adding to the anticipation, rising Korean star Byeon Woo-seok has been cast as the protagonist, Sung Jin-woo—a timid E-rank hunter who evolves into humanity's most powerful defender. Known for his roles in Lovely Runner and 20th Century Girl, Byeon's casting has been widely praised by fans who see him as a perfect match for the brooding and complex character. Byeon Woo-seok to lead Netflix's Solo Leveling live-action anime Netflix's casting of Byeon Woo-seok has been met with near-universal approval. Known for his roles in 20th Century Girl, Lovely Runner, and Strong Girl Nam Soon, Byeon brings both dramatic depth and a striking resemblance to the character of Jin-woo. Fans have long described the actor as a 'manhwa come to life,' and with his rising profile in Korean entertainment, he is poised to carry the emotional and physical weight of this highly anticipated adaptation. To ensure the adaptation meets global expectations, Netflix has enlisted acclaimed directors Lee Hae-jun (Like a Virgin, Castaway on the Moon) and Kim Byung-seo (Ashfall, Cold Eyes). Together, they bring a blend of visual storytelling and emotional resonance that is ideal for the dark, action-packed world of Solo Leveling. The series is being developed in collaboration with Kakao Entertainment and Sanai Pictures, who are overseeing scriptwriting and creative direction to keep the show faithful to the original source material. Solo Leveling's rise: From web novel to global multimedia phenomenon Solo Leveling began as a web novel by Chugong and later became a visually stunning webtoon illustrated by the late DUBU (REDICE Studio). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It quickly gained traction among global readers for its gripping narrative, where a weak 'E-rank' hunter is suddenly granted the mysterious power to grow stronger without limits. Over time, the story transcended its original format and expanded into a multi-platform franchise that includes: A best-selling anime adaptation (streaming on Crunchyroll) A popular mobile game Multiple merchandise lines A massive international fanbase, with over 14 billion views on platforms like KakaoPage and WEBTOON Solo Leveling becomes a global hit with Webtoon anime and more The story of Solo Leveling centers on Sung Jin-woo, once known as the weakest hunter in a world overrun by magical portals and monsters. After barely surviving a deadly dungeon raid, Jin-woo discovers a unique ability: he can 'level up' like a video game character. This ability allows him to surpass his limits, evolve rapidly, and eventually assume the mantle of Shadow Monarch—humanity's final hope against powerful beings known as Monarchs. This 'zero to hero' arc has resonated with millions, creating a protagonist who is both emotionally complex and physically has had a rocky history with anime-to-live-action adaptations. Series like Cowboy Bebop, Death Note, and Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 received mixed-to-poor responses for lacking fidelity to the source material or failing to meet VFX standards. However, Solo Leveling could change that. Unlike One Piece—which faced criticism for cutting corners on visual effects—Netflix has promised to bring in a top-tier global production team to ensure cinematic quality in the fantasy-action scenes. Solo Leveling joins the ranks of Squid Game and All of Us Are Dead With this adaptation, Solo Leveling now sits among Korea's biggest pop-culture exports, alongside global hits like Squid Game and All of Us Are Dead. It also becomes the first major Korean-origin anime franchise to receive a full-scale live-action series, marking an important shift in how Korean IPs are treated in the global entertainment landscape. While Netflix has not yet confirmed an official release date, production is already underway, and insiders suggest that the series may be slated for late 2025 or early 2026. With the show's high production value, a compelling cast, and a creative team focused on authenticity, fans are hoping Solo Leveling will finally deliver a live-action adaptation that honors its anime roots. Also Read |
Pink Villa
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Solo Leveling live adaptation brings Byeon Woo Seok to lead in Sung Jin Wook role, here's everything we know so far
Exciting news for Byeon Woo Seok fans! The talented actor is set to take on a new role in an upcoming fantasy drama. He will lead the live adaptation of Solo Leveling as reported by Netflix on June 11. Through the OTT series, he will bring to life a character vastly different from his previous roles, generating immense excitement among fans. Byeon Woo Seok is to star as Sung Jin Wook in Solo Leveling live adaptation The Lovely Runner fame will be seen taking on the role of the protagonist Sung Jin Wook in the live adaptation of Solo Leveling. The character is an E-ranked hunter– the lowest tier among the defenders of the real world, who work to safeguard against monsters that appear through the mysterious Gates. However, Sung Jin Wook becomes humanity's last hope when he gains extraordinary powers after escaping a near-death situation. Thus, his transformation from a vulnerable hunter to a powerful force, forms the focal point of the upcoming dark fantasy K-drama. More about Solo Leveling's drama and anime version The series will be produced by Netflix in collaboration with Kakao Entertainment and Sanai Pictures. It promises to bring the popular manhwa to life in a whole new way. Before Solo Leveling's live-action adaptation, the series was made into an anime that achieved great success, sweeping nine major awards at the 2025 Crunchyroll Awards– the largest animation awards in the world. They included– Anime of the Year, Best Action, and Best Character titles. Now the anticipation is building up to see how Byeon Woo Seok will portray the iconic lead character of the manhwa on screen. Byeon Woo Seok's latest projects The actor is currently filming for the upcoming drama Wife of a 21st Century Prince, alongside IU. It is set to air as a Friday-Saturday drama via broadcasting network MBC in 2026. Byeon Woo Seok will play the role of Lee Wan, the king's second son, who is destined to live in the shadows. He was last seen in the drama Lovely Runner. With the role of Ryu Sun Jae, his fame skyrocketed and he became a household name in South Korea. He will next be seen in Solo Leveling's live-action.
GMA Network
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
'Solo Leveling' live action series in the works at Netflix; Byeon Woo Seok set to star
"Solo Leveling" is getting a live action adaptation at Netflix! The popular web novel turned webtoon — and later turned anime series and video game — is now getting a Korean TV series treatment. "20th Century Girl" star Byeon Woo Seok is set to breathe life into Sung Jin Woo, the protagonist who starts off as an E-rank hunter before leveling up to become humanity's hope against deadly threats from beyond the mysterious Gates. In a statement, Netflix said it promises to feature "vivid characters, dynamic action sequences, and exhilarating quests, brought to life by a world-class global VFX team." It will also introduce "fantastical dungeons" and "uniquely powerful monsters." The series will be co-directed by Lee Hae Jun and Kim Byung Seo. Kakao Entertainment and Sanai Pictures are set to produce. Byeon Woo Seok's other works include "Lovely Runner," "Strong Girl Namsoon," and "Record of Youth." "Solo Leveling" was written by Chugong. It was first published in 2016. The anime series premiered in 2024, and swept nine major categories at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, including Anime of the Year, Best Action, and Best Character. —JCB, GMA Integrated News
