Netflix has confirmed the production of a Korean live-action adaptation of the popular web novel Solo Leveling. Here are all the details we have about the upcoming series starring Byeon Woo-seok in the lead role.
Byeon Woo-seok is widely recognised for his breakout roles in 20th Century Girl (2022) and Lovely Runner (2024) and will portray protagonist Sung Jin-woo, an E-rank Hunter who unexpectedly becomes humanity’s last hope after a near-death experience unlocks his extraordinary powers.
His dramatic transformation, from the weakest Hunter to an unstoppable force with awakened magical abilities to fight off monsters and clear dungeons, forms the heart of this action-packed fantasy.
Nicknamed “straight out of a manhwa” by fans, Byeon Woo-seok is widely celebrated for his striking appearance and compelling performances. Naturally, he is perfect to bring Jin-woo’s thrilling journey to life.
Everything we know about the Netflix live-action adaptation of Solo Leveling
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The series will be co-directed by Lee Hae-jun, known for hit Korean movies such as Like a Virgin (2006), Castaway on the Moon (2009), and Ashfall (2019), and Kim Byung-seo, renowned for Cold Eyes (2013).
While the plot remains under wraps, the series will follow protagonist Sung Jin-woo’s adventures. According to Netflix, it will feature vivid characters, dynamic action sequences, and exhilarating quests, brought to life by a world-class global VFX team.
“The series will also introduce viewers to fantastical dungeons and uniquely powerful monsters, setting a new standard for live-action adaptations”, the OTT giant further revealed.
Do we have a release date for the live-action series?
While Netflix announced the production of the series on 10 July 2025, no official release date has been confirmed yet.
More about Solo Leveling
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Originally written by Chugong, Solo Leveling began as a web novel on KakaoPage in July 2016. It rapidly gained a loyal following, becoming KakaoPage’s #1 web novel, with an astounding 14.3 billion cumulative views worldwide. The series has been licensed in English by Yen Press.
The global popularity of Solo Leveling expanded with an anime adaptation, which aired its first season from January to March 2024, followed by Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadow from January to March 2025. The anime made history at the May 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, sweeping nine major categories — including Anime of the Year, Best Action and Best Character. It became the first Korean animation to achieve such a feat.
Further expanding the universe are the spin-off webtoon Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, which premiered in July 2024, and the action role-playing game (RPG) Solo Leveling: Arise, which was released by Netmarble on 8 May 2024, for both PC and mobile platforms.
(Hero image credit: Byeon Woo-seok via Instagram/ Solo Leveling via Instagram; Featured image credit: Byeon Woo-seok via Instagram)
