Netflix has announced a live-action adaptation of the globally celebrated Solo Leveling, with South Korean actor Byeon Woo-seok cast as the lead, Sung Jin-woo. The series, based on the hit web novel and webtoon, is now in production, with filming set to start soon, co-directed by Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo.
Solo Leveling follows Sung Jin-woo, an E-rank hunter—the lowest tier—who gains extraordinary powers after a near-death experience in a deadly dungeon. As he “levels up,” Jin-woo transforms from the weakest hunter to humanity’s greatest hope against monstrous threats emerging from mysterious portals called Gates.
The webtoon, originally a 2016 web novel by Chugong, has amassed 14.3 billion views worldwide on KakaoPage, where it remains the platform’s top web novel and webtoon. Its anime adaptation recently made history, sweeping nine categories at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, including Anime of the Year and Best Action.
Byeon Woo-seok, known for his roles in Lovely Runner and 20th Century Girl, is a fan-favorite choice for Jin-woo, often praised for his “manhwa-like” visuals. The series, produced by Kakao Entertainment and SANAI Pictures, promises dynamic action and high-quality visual effects to bring the fantasy world to life. Directors Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo, who previously collaborated on films like Ashfall and Castaway on the Moon, will lead the project.
No release date has been confirmed, but production is expected to continue through 2025, with a potential premiere on Netflix in 2026. Additional casting details are yet to be revealed, though fans are eagerly awaiting updates. The series joins Netflix’s growing slate of Korean genre projects, following successes like Squid Game and One Piece.
Solo Leveling’s global fanbase has shown mixed reactions on platforms like X, with some excited for Byeon’s casting and others skeptical about adapting the action-heavy anime into live-action. The project aims to set a new standard for live-action adaptations, leveraging Netflix’s expertise in the genre.
