The highly anticipated summer blockbuster "The Universal Reader's Perspective" is drawing global audience interest beyond the domestic market.

On the 17th, a production press conference for the film "The Universal Reader's Perspective" (hereafter referred to as "URP") was held at the Lotte Cinema at Konkuk University in Seoul. Attendees included lead actors Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Min-ho, Chae Soo-bin, Shin Seung-ho, Nana, and director Kim Byung-woo.

"The Universal Reader's Perspective" (directed by Kim Byung-woo, provided by Lotte Entertainment and Smilegate, distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by Realize Pictures Co., Ltd., co-produced by MYM Entertainment, Smilegate Realize, and The Present Company), which has garnered attention since the production stage, is a fantasy action piece where the world of the novel becomes reality on the day the novel, serialized for over 10 years, is completed. The lone reader, Kim Dokja (played by Ahn Hyo-seop), survives in a destroyed world alongside the novel's protagonist, Yoo Jung-hyuk (played by Lee Min-ho), and his companions.

A major production with a total budget of about 30 billion won, it is based on the popular web novel of the same name, which has garnered love from global fans. Following a webtoon adaptation, it has been reborn as a film this year, casting Hallyu stars Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop, along with the global girl group BLACKPINK's Jisoo. Additionally, it is the latest work by director Kim Byung-woo, who directed "The Terror Live" (2013) and "PMC: The Bunker" (2018), after a seven-year hiatus, and is produced by Realize Pictures, which created the blockbuster "Along with the Gods" series.

As a fantasy genre, "URP" required extensive CGI work, with most of the filming conducted on blue screens. This led to skepticism about whether the "amazing imagination of the web novel could really be brought to the screen."

Director Kim Byung-woo noted, "Initially, I was greatly troubled by the thought of 'how do I make this into a film?' Nevertheless, the great charm of the original lies in the seamless blend of reality and fantasy. If it were purely fantasy, the audience would likely find it heavy and feel obligated to explain it cinematically. However, the fantasy integrates into reality very naturally. That is the greatest attraction of the original," adding, "Secondly, I thought that while watching 'URP' in theaters, the audience could participate more. It would provoke thoughts like 'What would I do? If I were in that position? If I had those abilities?'.

He continued, "In the directing process, I had to carefully and sensitively consider how to balance reality and fantasy and how to rearrange the sequences. I found a good solution at that point."

Adapting a work with a massive fanbase to the screen inevitably comes with pressure. Nevertheless, director Kim Byung-woo focused on important aspects while writing the screenplay.

He remarked, "Firstly, 'URP' is a novel that I enjoyed reading. It involves the destruction of the world, and that has become reality. 'What will we do?' is a situation that is not a distant tale but an issue that faces us directly. It was important to make sure the audience does not forget that. Rather than feeling burdened, the original's fame made it quite difficult for all of us."

In response to the question, "Are there any changes in the storyline compared to the original?" director Kim Byung-woo replied, "It's a very lengthy novel, and we took some parts to make a two-hour film. There might be points where distortion and loss occur, but as someone who loves the original, I felt it was best to maintain the author's intention and the fun inherent in the original work while creating it. There were places that needed modification and adaptation. The most important aspect of making a film is ensuring completeness in a single piece. The story designed within two hours was important, and while adapting, we inevitably had to fill in some empty spaces."

On that day, director Kim Byung-woo also addressed concerns surrounding the character Yi Sun-sin and Lee Ji-hye in the original work.

Earlier, the 'URP' team revealed a still of Lee Ji-hye, played by BLACKPINK's Jisoo, holding a gun, provoking unexpected reactions.

Jisoo portrayed Lee Ji-hye, a high school student who follows Yoo Jung-hyuk, calling him her master, while in stills and video, she held a gun instead of a sword. In the original, the main characters have a setting where they borrow the powers of historical figures. With Lee Ji-hye having Yi Sun-sin as her 'backing', some fans argued that her holding a gun instead of a symbolic sword did not suit her.

In response, director Kim Byung-woo explained, "From a visual perspective, we had to implement action, and many characters in the original wield long swords. However, I concluded that diversifying these elements and bringing in variations visually could be beneficial."

He also noted, "The character Lee Ji-hye is detached from the reader team, but I could not overlook her. There had to be a mechanism for her to explode at the most dramatic moments, and (the decision to choose a gun instead of a sword) came after much deliberation. I understand that fans who loved the original might be worried about these aspects through trailers or photos. I believe that rather than lengthy explanations, the results can be understood through the film itself," expressing confidence.

Regarding the casting of Jisoo, director Kim Byung-woo stated, "The casting criteria were clear. First, it was important to ensure that we are working with someone who can give their best. When I first met Jisoo, there was a strong energy, and she worked very hard during the pre-reading session. Although her role isn't huge, I thought it would be great if we could have an actress who could capture more attention. (Jisoo matched her character well and put in great effort), and now I am very satisfied with the results," expressing strong trust.

"The Universal Reader's Perspective" is set to be released on July 23.

[Photo] OSEN DB, film still cut

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