On July 23, the Korean film adaptation of the widely popular web novel turned webtoon — Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint — will finally appear on the big screens! This action fantasy by sing N song quickly gained popularity due to its nuanced characters, gripping battles, and immersive plot. Given how loved the story is, the announcement of another adaptation sparked a lot of attention from fans worldwide.
Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy marks the first of five feature films planned for the adaptation. Led by director Kim Byung-woo, we’re eager to know how they’ll translate the story’s out-of-this-world elements into a live-action film. With its star-studded cast and high-end production, this already feels like a blockbuster waiting to happen.
From Web Novel to Film: ORV’s Beginnings
Released in 2018, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint (also known as ORV) is a Korean web novel by co-authors, sing N song. With over 20+ million readers on Munpia, its serialization concluded with 551 chapters for the main story. However, the writers have also released several side stories over the years.
ORV’s journey didn’t stop there, as a webtoon adaptation was announced immediately after the novel ended. Produced by Redice Studio and illustrated by Sleepy-C, it’s currently ongoing and available to read worldwide on Naver Webtoon. The page-turning narrative, amped up by the addition of breathtaking visuals, naturally caught the attention of millions of readers. This is why it’s become one of the platform’s highest-rated webtoons of all time.
What is Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint?
The story follows Kim Dok-ja (Ahn Hyo-seop), an ordinary office worker who happens to be the sole reader of a decade-long web novel titled “Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse (TWSA)”. When the final chapter drops on his way home, he suddenly receives a copy from the author as a gift. Due to winning a small “contest,” they tell him the novel will officially turn into paid content, essentially becoming unavailable to the public. Everything seemed normal until Dok-ja’s train suddenly stops, and a strange goblin-like creature proposing a twisted challenge (referred to as “scenarios”) appears before them. Faced with a strangely familiar event, he comes to an unsettling realization: his favorite novel just became a reality.
Thrust into an apocalyptic world with all of their lives at stake, Dok-ja becomes the only person who knows how the novel ends. Armed with this knowledge, he uses it to survive and rewrite the story’s — and his — fate.
The Cast and Characters of Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy
The main cast lineup includes Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Min-ho, Chae Soo-bin, Nana, Shin Seung-ho, BLACKPINK’s Ji-soo, and Kwon Eun-seong. From big names to emerging actors, this upcoming film has it all.
One of the most loved aspects of ORV is its characters and their dynamics with one another, which fuels our anticipation even more. Whether you’re a novel reader or a K-drama fan, you’ll surely find something (or someone) to love about this movie!
Ahn Hyo-seop as Kim Dok-ja
Kim Dok-ja is your average office worker with a normal life. He doesn’t like standing out and has low self-esteem, which causes him to be quite harsh on himself. For over a decade, his only source of escape and leisure came from reading the web novel “Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse.” When the real world suddenly turns into his beloved novel, he uses his knowledge to his advantage to survive and protect the people around him.
Lee Min-ho as Yoo Joong-hyuk
Yoo Joong-hyuk is the protagonist of “Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse”. He’s a naturally powerful and experienced fighter with a commanding presence wherever he goes. However, he possesses a rare regression ability that forces him to start over from the beginning every time he dies. This turned his caring personality into something more cynical and jaded, worn down from reliving the same scenarios over and over. His meeting with Dok-ja sparks a surprising change that cuts through the endless loop he’s forced to experience. Although suspicious of his abilities and motives, Joong-hyuk reluctantly forms an alliance with him as time goes on.
Chae Soo-bin as Yoo Sang-ah
As Dok-ja’s colleague at work, Yoo Sang-ah is one of the few acquaintances he knew before the apocalypse began. She’s a well-rounded employee known for her competence and kindness, which is why Dok-ja sees her as an ideal heroine — someone who’s his exact opposite. Sang-ah navigates the new world with Dok-ja, facing the dangers ahead with an unwavering heart and impressive adaptability. Her comforting presence gives them their much-needed warmth in an otherwise grim scenario.
Nana as Jung Hee-won
Described as a fierce fighter, Jung Hee-won is another member of Dok-ja’s team known for her agile skills and unshakable principles. She often goes out of her way to fight for what she believes is right and devotes herself to protecting her loved ones. Using daggers as her primary weapon, she doesn’t hesitate to be on the front lines when the situation calls for it.
Shin Seung-ho as Lee Hyun-sung
Lee Hyun-sung is an ex-army lieutenant recognized for his formidable strength and blinding loyalty, often trusting Dok-ja’s leadership and following his lead. He serves as the team’s reliable defense with his fighting experience in the military proving to be an advantage in their now-apocalyptic world.
Ji-soo as Lee Ji-hye
Unlike most of the main characters, Lee Ji-hye isn’t part of Dok-ja’s crew; instead, she sticks close to Joong-hyuk because of his unparalleled strength and even refers to him as “master.” Despite only being a high school student, she quickly adapts to the new world and showcases her powerful potential early on.
Kwon Eun-seong as Lee Gil-young
Lee Gil-young is a boy who survives the first scenario because of Dok-ja and joins him as a part of his team. He can communicate with insects, which becomes vital to the team’s survival in forthcoming missions. Though he’s the youngest in the crew, he’s incredibly perceptive of others and strong-willed for his age.
When and Where to Watch
Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy is officially coming to Korean theaters on July 23 courtesy of Lotte Entertainment.
Moreover, it’s also set to drop in North America on Aug. 1, just a week after its premiere in South Korea. Capelight Pictures will distribute the film with plans to release both an English-subbed and dubbed version. While that’s all the updates we have so far, further details about the movie’s release in other countries will be announced at a later date!
The world is set, and the stakes are high. Are you excited to watch Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy? Share your thoughts on our Instagram and Twitter/X!
Featured Image Credit: LOTTE Entertainment
