Director Kim Byung-soo (3rd from R) and cast members of the action fantasy “Omniscient Reader: The Prophet” pose for photos during a press conference in Seoul on June 17, 2025. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 17 (Korea Bizwire) — The action fantasy “Omniscient Reader: The Prophet” is designed to make audiences feel like active participants rather than mere viewers, director Kim Byung-soo said Tuesday.
One of the film’s biggest appeals lies in its ability to make viewers ask themselves, “What would I have done in that situation?” Kim said at a press conference in Seoul. “Because the audience and characters begin from the same starting point without special knowledge or powers, viewers can enjoy the film with a strong sense of personal involvement,” he added.
Adapted from the popular web-based novel of the same name, the movie follows Dok-ja, played by Ahn Hyo-seop, who is the sole reader of a fictional series that suddenly comes to life on the day its decadelong serialization ends.
Teaming up with the novel’s protagonist Joong-hyuk (Lee Min-ho) and a diverse group of allies — some from his original reality and others from the novel itself, Dok-ja sets out to alter the novel’s foregone conclusion, intent on crafting his own ending.
“The biggest charm of the original novel was its seamless blend of reality and fantasy,” said the director, known for “The Terror Live” (2013) and “Take Point” (2018). The production team and cast engaged in extensive discussions about how to best portray a cinematic world that strikes the right balance between reality and fantasy, Kim said.
Actor Ahn said he was attracted to the project, curious to see how the script would translate to screen.
“It was a film with a scale I haven’t seen in Korea before. I was also intrigued by the film’s underlying philosophy,” he said, noting his particular alignment with the film’s core message about supporting one another through difficult times.
Lee shared similar sentiments, saying “In a society that’s becoming increasingly individualistic, I felt the idea of humans drawing strength and comfort from each other and overcoming adversity together is something we really need right now.”
BLACKPINK’s Jisoo also appears in the film as Ji-hye, a high school student who follows Joong-hyuk, calling him her master.
The director described Jisoo as being extremely “enthusiastic” and “an incredibly hard worker” during script reading sessions and on set. She did not attend the conference.
“Although her role doesn’t have a lot of screen time, it was a character I took very seriously,” he said. “I am very satisfied with how it turned out.”
The adaptation of the popular web novel, which had also been adapted into a webtoon, has generated substantial buzz since production began. The film is produced by Won Dong-yeon, whose company Realize Pictures was behind the successful “Along with the Gods” series.
“Omniscient Reader: The Prophet” is set for release on July 23.
(Yonhap)
