The 'Omniscient Reader' finally lifts the veil and is revealed to the audience.
On the afternoon of the 15th, a press conference for the movie 'Omniscient Reader: The Prophet' was held at Megabox Coex in Seoul. Attendees included lead actors Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Min-ho, Chae Soo-bin, Nana, Shin Seung-ho, and director Kim Byung-woo.
'Omniscient Reader: The Prophet' (directed by Kim Byung-woo, provided by Lotte Entertainment and Smilegate, distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by Realize Pictures Co., Ltd.), features a fantasy action plot where the world of a novel becomes reality on the day the ten-year serialization of the novel concludes, with the unique reader, Kim Dok-ja (played by Ahn Hyo-seop), surviving in a ruined world alongside the protagonist Yoo Jung-hyuk (played by Lee Min-ho) and other companions.
With a production budget of approximately 30 billion won, this large-scale project is based on the popular web novel of the same name, which has garnered love from global fans. Following the webtoon, it was reborn as a movie this year, and stars Hallyu stars Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop, along with global girl group BLACKPINK's Jisoo. In addition, director Kim Byung-woo, known for 'The Terror Live' (2013) and 'PMC: The Bunker' (2018), has released a new work after seven years, and it was produced by Realize Pictures, which created the blockbuster series 'Along with the Gods.'
Director Kim Byung-woo noted, "In the end, what had to come, came. It was the most frightening and something I wanted to avoid during the filmmaking process," as he reflected on the end of the press conference.
While fans of the original work are eagerly waiting for the 'Omniscient Reader', it is also a highly anticipated work for prospective audiences who are not familiar with the original. Regarding this, director Kim Byung-woo stated, "I showed the script to people who have not read the original and carefully checked their reactions. I judged that it would be sufficiently enjoyable regardless of the original work and that it wouldn’t matter."
When asked about the aspect he was most concerned about, he said, "When we first talked about making a movie, I wondered, 'How should we create it? Surely there must be expectations.' However, I contemplated on what more we could do and realized that one of the key values of the original work is 'being together.' The message that Kim Dok-ja is not using his power just for himself but for everyone resonated deeply. I aimed to make this call to action sharper."
He continued, "I aimed to depict the inner world of the characters. The most critical aspect for me was the characters' inner selves. Although genre films can be enjoyable and you can leave the theater without much thought, if I were to be a bit greedy, I wanted this film to leave an impression of 'there is meaning in this,' so I designed it that way."
Ahn Hyo-seop plays Kim Dok-ja, who is the only person that knows the ending of the novel serialized for over ten years. He is an ordinary contractual employee at a game company and the sole reader of the novel 'Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World.' The film will showcase Kim Dok-ja's ordinary life and how he gradually transforms into a stronger figure in a world where the novel becomes reality, marking his screen debut after ten years.
Lee Min-ho passionately portrayed Yoo Jung-hyuk, the protagonist of the novel that has been serialized for over ten years. Yoo Jung-hyuk, the protagonist of the novel 'Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World', possesses overwhelming skill and strength to clear all scenarios through a revival skill that allows him to restart from the beginning even after death. He returns to the screen after ten years since 'Gangnam 1970.'
Additionally, Chae Soo-bin plays Yoo Sang-ah, who skillfully handles thread; Shin Seung-ho portrays Lee Hyun-seong, a former soldier; Nana plays Jeong Hee-won, who fights for justice; and BLACKPINK's Jisoo plays Ji-hye, a high school student who calls Yoo Jung-hyuk her master.
Due to the fantasy genre, there were particularly many CG effects and VFX work. Lee Min-ho commented, "I think I'll have to act in front of a blue screen more often. I believe that imagination and creative thinking will become more important in the actor's domain. Through this work, I found myself imagining more than usual, though I’m not typically one to daydream. This project has provided me with more opportunities for rich imagination. Of course, it would be better to act with direct eye contact, but this is also a domain actors must endure."
Ahn Hyo-seop shared, "Ultimately, it was so much fun. When else would I get to go into the belly of a dragon and fly around saving my comrades?" He added, "I wondered if the things I had only imagined on set would come to life, and when I saw them on the screen, it was exhilarating."
Nana mentioned, "I had never acted in front of a blue screen before. Since this was my first time, I was worried about it. I wondered if I could concentrate while imagining. I pondered whether I could truly express real emotions." She continued, "When I acted on set, my costume and makeup were all perfectly in place, and everyone was focused and serious. The worries I had completely disappeared, and I could freely act by adding the movements I had practiced based on my imagination. I had ample discussions with the director to understand the storyboard clearly, which helped me avoid any difficulties or discomfort while acting."
However, some fans expressed concerns, asking, "Can the unique settings and fun of the original work be translated onto the screen?" The 'Omniscient Reader', which was first publicly revealed at the press conference, has received favorable reviews, exceeding expectations.
Ahn Hyo-seop said, "When I first encountered the script, I didn’t realize how significant the original IP was. I just thought the script itself was attractive. It made me excited as a person who loves movies when it was being adapted to live-action." He added, "With such high expectations, there comes a sense of pressure. I believe this inevitably leads to negative impacts. What I could do then was to stay true to the script, communicate with the director, the production team, and my colleagues, and do my best in the situation I was in. I filmed each day on set without embarrassment. I did my best to engage with this work. My hope is for not just the fans of the original but for everyone to enjoy it together."
Director Kim Byung-woo mentioned, "Creating a work based on a very famous original has its advantages, but it also carries disadvantages and pressure. The higher the expectations, the more burdensome they become at times." He continued, "My best goal was to design it so that whether you have seen the original or not, you can enjoy just this one piece. I understand that some people familiar with the original may have uncomfortable feelings, but what I want to convey is that if you sit on subway line 3 without pressure or expectations, something interesting will happen, and we'll take care of the rest." He expressed confidence.
Finally, the director added, "The possibility of a sequel depends on how much love this film receives, based on the theater situation," and candidly stated, "To be honest, I feel quite desperate. I hope to get a lot of support."
Meanwhile, 'Omniscient Reader: The Prophet' is set to be released on July 23.
[Photo] Reporter Jo Eun-jung
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