🎬 “This actor levels up differently” Casting news about Byun Woo-seok

Do you know how excited I am today? 😱 Our trustworthy Byun Woo-seok is finally making his transition to Netflix! And he has been cast as the lead in the massive project ‘Solo Leveling’, which has become a global IP. (Clap, clap, clap)

My reaction when I first heard this news:
“Huh? Really? Wow, that’s amazing… Why does it suit him so well?” → “But seriously, when is it airing?” → “Can I survive until the trailer comes out…” 😂

📖 What is ‘Solo Leveling’? (Original fans are in a frenzy)

Let me introduce the work for those who may not know! (Original fans can scroll past this part~)

“In a world where gates open and monsters appear,
the weakest hunter, Sung Jin-Woo, awakens the system and
embarks on a growth story to become the true strongest.”

To summarize the charm points of this work in three sentences:

1. ⭐ Huge hits across all media including web novels, webtoons, and animations
2. ⭐ A cathartic development like “I am the protagonist”
3. ⭐ A gaming-style growth system (it has indeed been turned into a game!)

Personally, I first encountered it through the webtoon version, and it’s a dark history of binge-reading for three hours in the bathroom… Anyway, highly recommended! 👍

💯 Byun Woo-seok = Sung Jin-Woo? Three reasons for the perfect casting

Why must it be Byun Woo-seok? I analyzed this!

1. Already leveled up in appearance

The original character Sung Jin-Woo is one who “transforms from an ordinary appearance to a charismatic face”, and Byun Woo-seok is a visual that embodies growth! (We all know this~ I’ve been following him since ‘Yeonnam-dong’ days 👀)

2. Action acting skills verified

You remember the realistic action scenes he displayed in ‘The Divine Move’, right? This work combines action + growth + emotion, and it’s possible with Byun Woo-seok!

3. A transformation with completely different charm

It’s a point that it’s a character entirely different from his past image! Fans have mixed feelings of excitement and worry…
(My personal guess: After the first airing, he will definitely be trending number one on Twitter)

🎥 From the production team to controversy! Collaboration between Kakao Entertainment + Snaid Pictures

This project is a large-scale effort made by Kakao Entertainment and Snaid Pictures. (Wow… the scent of money…) The production cost is said to be over 30 billion won 💸

Notably, directors Lee Hae-joon (‘Tazza’) and Kim Byung-seo are jointly directing, and the synergy between the two is highly anticipated!

By the way, at the production press conference, Byun Woo-seok reportedly said, “I will show performances that won’t embarrass original fans”…
Will our hearts level up as well?

💬 Summary of fan reactions (Beware of explosive comments)

After the news broke, communities and SNS were set ablaze! Here are some representative reactions.

• “I just started re-reading the original work and cried again at the casting news” (Webtoon Gallery)
• “Thinking about Byun Woo-seok in action scenes makes my heart race already” (DCinside)
• “This is Netflix making another hit with Korean drama” (International fan Twitter)
• “Is Sung Jin-Woo this handsome…? (Excited comparing with the original)” (Naver Movie Cafe)

Particularly explosive reactions are coming from international fans. The hashtag #SoloLevelingLiveAction has already risen to global trends! 🌍

❓ Fact-checking Q&A

Q. When is the airing date?

A. It is in production aiming for the second half of 2024! (If you want to see it quickly, prepare ahead with the original!)

Q. Will there be differences from the original?

A. The production company stated, “We will maintain the essence of the original but add a new interpretation for the drama.”

Q. Who are the other cast members?

A. Not officially announced yet, but rumors say that the major supporting cast will be an all-star lineup… 👀

Q. Will it be linked to the animation?

A. It’s a separate work, but there are rumors that the OST from the anime will be remade for the drama!