‎Netflix greenlights live-action 'Solo Leveling' series starring Byeon Woo-seok as Sung Jinwoo

By: Shawn
‎Netflix has officially announced the production of a live-action adaptation of Solo Leveling, the globally celebrated webtoon phenomenon that has captured the imagination of fans across the world. South Korean rising star Byeon Woo-seok, known for his acclaimed performances in 20th Century Girl and Lovely Runner, has been cast in the lead role of Sung Jinwoo, the series’ central character.
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‎Netflix confirms Solo Leveling live-action series starring Byeon Woo-seok as Sung Jinwoo, based on the global hit webtoon with 14.3B views.
‎Netflix
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‎First introduced as a web novel by Chugong in 2016, Solo Leveling quickly evolved into a cultural juggernaut. The webtoon version, developed by h-goon with artwork by Dubu of Redice Studio and distributed by D&C Webtoon via KakaoPage in 2018, has since amassed over 14.3 billion cumulative views globally. The property has consistently dominated the KakaoPage platform, holding its rank as the No. 1 web novel and webtoon for years.
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‎The storyline follows Sung Jinwoo, an E-rank Hunter, the lowest classification in a world plagued by supernatural “Gates” that unleash deadly monsters. After a harrowing experience inside a high-level dungeon nearly claims his life, Jinwoo awakens with a rare ability that allows him to level up in strength and skill like a video game character. This transformation launches him on a journey from weakest to strongest, ultimately positioning him as humanity’s last line of defense against apocalyptic threats.
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‎Netflix is producing the series in collaboration with Kakao Entertainment and Sanai Pictures. The directorial team behind the project includes Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo, who previously partnered on acclaimed films such as Ashfall, Like a Virgin, and Castaway on the Moon.
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‎The popularity of Solo Leveling surged further with its recent anime adaptation, which made history at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards by winning nine major categories, including Anime of the Year, Best Action, and Best Character. It marked the first time a Korean animation swept the prestigious international awards.
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‎Adding star power to the anime’s second season, global reggaeton icon J Balvin will join the voice cast for Solo Leveling Season 2 — Arise From the Shadow.

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