The popular web novel, which has garnered over 200 million views since its serialization in 2018, is set to captivate audiences as a film adaptation. Director Kim Byung-woo of the movie 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' (hereafter 'ORV') emphasized the importance of maintaining the unity of various episodes within the story. Ahn Hyo-seop, who takes on the lead role in this large-scale project for his screen debut, expressed both pressure and excitement.
On the 17th, a production briefing for 'ORV' was held at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University in Jayang-dong, Seoul. Attendees included director Kim Byung-woo and actors Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Min-ho, Chae Soo-bin, Shin Seung-ho, and Nana.
'ORV' is a fantasy action film based on the novel of the same name. The core plot revolves around a mysterious event occurring in reality after the completion of the long-serialized novel 'Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World.' In 'ORV,' the world of the novel becomes a reality once the story concludes.
The original work was a highly popular piece. Director Kim stated, "I spent a long time contemplating how to adapt the novel into a film. We had to start the movie when the novel was still in its early stages, not knowing how the story would unfold." He added, "The great charm of the original is the seamless blend of reality and fantasy. If it were purely fantasy, it might feel heavy for the audience, with much to explain cinematically. However, fantasy naturally enters within reality. The keyword is 'the novel only I knew has become reality.'" He also highlighted the film's appeal, saying, "In the theater, audiences can ponder 'What would I do?' and engage more with the story. Since it starts in the 'reality' of a subway, audiences might find it relatable."
Ahn Hyo-seop plays Kim Dok-ja, the sole reader of the decade-long serialized novel. Taking on the lead role in a film based on a famous novel for his screen debut, Ahn admitted, "It would be a lie to say there was no pressure. There was a burden to do well because of the beloved original. However, that pressure didn't help me at all. Instead of focusing on the film debut or the large scale, I positively thought about creating the scenario I enjoyed from the reader's perspective."
In the film, Kim Dok-ja is greatly disappointed by the novel's ending, where the protagonist Yoo Joong-hyuk survives alone. On that very day, the novel becomes reality. Kim Dok-ja resolves to change the ending to one where he survives with his companions.
Ahn Hyo-seop shared, "I was curious about how the scenario would be realized. It was a scale of film not seen in Korea before." He also expressed interest in the film's philosophy, saying, "I was drawn to the message of living together rather than alone." Regarding the action scenes, Ahn noted, "Kim Dok-ja doesn't have special skills, so I had to run as fast as possible. I think I've become faster from all the running," he laughed.
Director Kim humorously recalled his first meeting with Ahn, saying, "I thought Kim Dok-ja didn't need to be that tall and handsome." He added, "Initially, I wondered how to make it universally appealing. I believed universality was most important."
Lee Min-ho portrays Yoo Joong-hyuk, the protagonist of the decade-long serialized novel. He explained his choice to join the project, saying, "I read the script while thinking about how society is becoming increasingly fragmented. The emotional journey of gaining strength through humans and overcoming adversity in a ruined world felt necessary for today's era. I thought it could resonate with audiences." He added, "As we live our lives, we each carry important values and burdens. I believe Yoo Joong-hyuk is no different. He might have lived with a glimmer of hope that a reader-like figure would come to this world as he cleared missions."
Lee Min-ho described Yoo Joong-hyuk as having a "regression skill" and considered him a "tragic character." He explained, "He lives a lonely life, repeatedly reborn while holding onto countless emotional exchanges alone." When asked about living an immortal life, Lee responded, "If I were to live an immortal life, I think it would be rather unhappy. Nonetheless, life expectancy is increasing. If I could live long, I'd like to live as (Ahn) Hyo-seop and (Chae) Soo-bin," he said.
In the original, Yoo Joong-hyuk is depicted as an incredibly attractive character. Lee Min-ho admitted, "That was the biggest hurdle. I've been in communication with the production company representative since the early stages of this project. I tend to avoid characters that overtly claim to be cool, though I've encountered them unintentionally," he laughed. He continued, "I prefer characters who become cool after overcoming a process of deficiency, so starting as a cool character was a bit burdensome. I feared the film might not meet the expectations of original fans. But I did my best." When asked about the character's synchronization, he humbly answered, "10%," eliciting laughter.
Chae Soo-bin plays Yoo Sang-ah, a colleague who faces the moment when the novel becomes reality alongside Kim Dok-ja. Chae shared, "The script was a smooth read. I thought it would be fun to be part of such an interesting story, so I immediately said yes."
In the film, Yoo Sang-ah has the ability to produce threads. Chae noted, "I wasn't an actor who had done action scenes or acted in front of a blue screen, so there were challenges. But I learned a lot by creating scenes together with everyone."
Shin Seung-ho plays Lee Hyun-sung, a soldier who provides significant help with his strength and defense in times of crisis. Shin shared, "I first read the script while on a plane. I usually get motion sickness, but I was so engrossed from takeoff to landing." He added, "I'm not a production company employee, but I found myself imagining which actor would take on the roles," he laughed.
Having previously portrayed a soldier with intense acting in 'D.P.,' Shin once again takes on a military role. He described his character as "a solid, rock-like figure" and said, "As an actor, I tried to incorporate and express my strengths into Lee Hyun-sung."
Nana takes on the role of Jung Hee-won, a character from the novel. Nana recalled, "Before receiving the script, I heard about the project, director, production company, and character from my company. I had great trust in Director Kim's work. I watched 'Along with the Gods' by Realize Pictures' Won Dong-yeon, and I thought if they could handle such a large scale, they could do well with this." She added, "I wasn't familiar with the original work before reading the script. Seeing it without prior knowledge felt fresh. I wondered, 'Is it possible to produce such a film in Korea?' I was curious about filming with a blue screen." She also shared, "I've always had a thirst for action in my acting. When doing action in fantasy, there's a lot that audiences can accept, so I thought it was worth challenging."
Nana expressed her enthusiasm for action acting, saying, "I don't think I've ever had so few lines before," and added, "Action gives me great energy. Perhaps because I was an idol from a young age, doing action filled me with energy. I want to become an action actor," she laughed.
The vastness of the original work's fame also brought pressure. Director Kim stated, "The original is a lengthy novel. Making it into a feature film with a runtime of about two hours means some parts are lost. However, as someone who loves the original, I tried to maintain the author's intent. In some areas, I adapted it to fit the film. I believed achieving completeness as a single film was most important."
Ahn Hyo-seop expressed, "The pressure was overwhelming, but I did my best. I hope it becomes a film that doesn't disappoint many audiences." Nana added, "The director wanted sweat to be more visible than blood. We worked hard on the shoot. I think the director's vision came out well."
'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' is set to be released on the 23rd of next month.
Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr