Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop Star in $22M Korean Blockbuster "Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy" - 2025 Release Details
The most expensive Korean film of 2025 held its press conference this week, revealing behind-the-scenes details about the highly anticipated adaptation of the global webtoon phenomenon.
At Tuesday's media event in Seoul, director Kim Byung-woo didn't mince words about the enormous pressure facing the production. "What was bound to come has finally arrived. This is truly a terrifying moment I wanted to avoid during filmmaking," he admitted to reporters at Megabox COEX.
The film adapts "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint," a webtoon that has accumulated over 487 million views globally on WEBTOON alone. The story follows office worker Kim Dok-ja (Ahn Hyo-seop), the sole reader of an obscure web novel who must survive when the fictional world becomes reality alongside the story's protagonist Yoo Jung-hyuk (Lee Min-ho).
With a production budget of 30 billion won ($22 million), "Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy" represents Korean cinema's biggest financial bet this year. The film utilized extensive CGI and blue-screen technology, creating unique challenges for the cast.
Nana, making her action debut, initially worried about performing against imaginary elements. "It was my first time acting in front of a blue screen. I wondered if I could concentrate while imagining and express genuine emotions," she explained during the conference.
The production is planned as the first of five films, with Realize Pictures securing adaptation rights in September 2019.
Lee Min-ho faced an unusual acting challenge portraying Yoo Jung-hyuk, a character designed to be effortlessly powerful and charismatic. "I don't like characters that overtly exude coolness. I prefer characters who become cool by overcoming flaws. But Yoo Jung-hyuk is cool from the start, which was burdensome," the actor revealed.
This marks Lee Min-ho's return to Korean cinema after focusing primarily on television dramas in recent years.
Kim Byung-woo, known for "The Terror Live" (2013), emphasized accessibility for newcomers to the source material. "Based on our current assessment, whether you've read the original or not, there should be no problem enjoying the film," he stated confidently.
The director stressed themes of collective survival over individual heroism, describing the core message as "not just for one person's survival, but for everyone's survival-the concept of 'being together.'"
The original web novel by Sing Shong ran from 2018 to 2020, achieving massive popularity with over 26 million views on the Munpia platform. The webtoon adaptation, illustrated by Sleepy-C and published by REDICE Studio, launched in May 2020 and has become one of WEBTOON's most successful series.
An anime adaptation was also announced by Crunchyroll in July 2024, though production details remain limited.
"Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy" premieres in South Korean theaters on July 23, 2025, followed by the North American release on August 1, 2025. Lotte Entertainment handles Korean distribution, while Capelight Pictures manages the North American theatrical release.
The film's success will likely determine the production timeline for the remaining four planned installments in the franchise.
Ahn Hyo-seop described his approach to the protagonist role: "I thought my Kim Dok-ja should be someone starting from zero base. Rather than just showing heroic aspects, I considered what choices a person would make as a human being in such situations."
The ensemble cast also includes Chae Soo-bin, Shin Seung-ho, and BLACKPINK's Jisoo in her second major acting role following "Snowdrop."
Industry observers view the film as a critical test for Korean cinema's ability to successfully adapt popular digital content for global audiences, particularly given the source material's dedicated international fanbase and the production's significant financial investment.