The head of Omniscient Reader, Won Dong-yeon, noted that he respects the opinions of fans of the original work; however, he added that there was "a reason" for the absence of the character Yi Sun-sin.
On the 22nd, an interview with Won Dong-yeon, head of the production company of the film "Omniscient Reader: The Prophet" (hereafter referred to as Omniscient Reader), was held at a café in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.
"Omniscient Reader" (directed by Kim Byung-woo, provided by Lotte Entertainment and Smilegate, distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by Realies Pictures, co-produced by MYM Entertainment, Smilegate Realies, and The Present Company) is a fantasy action film about a world that becomes reality on the day the novel, which has been serialized for over 10 years, is completed. The only reader, Kim Dok-ja (played by Ahn Hyo-seop), teams up with the protagonist Yoo Jung-hyuk (played by Lee Min-ho) and others to survive in a world that has been destroyed.
The original web novel of the same name has received tremendous love, surpassing a global cumulative view count of 300 million, and has a production budget of approximately 30 billion won. It was recently reborn as a film this year, following a webtoon, and features Hallyu stars Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop, as well as Cha Soo-bin, Shin Seung-ho, Nana, and BLACKPINK's Jisoo. Additionally, this film marks the return of director Kim Byung-woo, who directed "The Terror Live" (2013) and "PMC: The Bunker" (2018), after seven years, and is produced by Realies Pictures, headed by Won Dong-yeon, who created the 10-million-view hit "Along with the Gods" series.
Won Dong-yeon, who debuted as a screenwriter in the 1995 film "Run Away with the Money," later transformed into a producer and has released many works. After many ups and downs, he produced his first hit, "My Sassy Girl" (2006), followed by the 10-million-view films, "Masquerade" (2012), "Along with the Gods: Sin and Punishment" (2017), and "Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days" (2018). Most notably, the "Along with the Gods" series set an unprecedented record as the first Korean film series to simultaneously produce the second and third parts, achieving 10-million-view status.
Currently, Omniscient Reader has confirmed pre-sales in 113 countries worldwide, including Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Europe, North America, and Germany, signaling a hot meeting with international audiences and indicating a global box office hit. In Germany, where Korean films are rarely released, it is exceptionally set to hit theaters, demonstrating its competitiveness. Moreover, just a day before the release, according to the integrated computer network for movie ticket sales, real-time reservations approached 30%, topping the list.
Won Dong-yeon recounted the circumstances leading him to encounter the original work of Omniscient Reader, saying, "I have three daughters. My wife suffered a lot when she had our first child. Since it was her first pregnancy, the labor pains were long, and she was in so much pain that she said she wouldn't have any more children. But one day, she said, 'It would be a bit lonely with just one,' and then she ended up having a second and third. I also finished 'Along with the Gods' and was really exhausted. The budget was significant, and the VFX was taxing, so I wanted to work on a softer genre, something less burdensome. At that time, a director junior suggested, 'You should read this. It's a web novel that's hard to find in Korea.' I found it really interesting the moment I read it. I had said I wouldn't do something like this, but instinctively I thought, 'Was there such a movie in our country? This is completely unique!' I was drawn to the story and narrative and went crazy for it. (Laughs) Although I said I wouldn't do it, I ended up doing it."
He continued, "Personally, 'Along with the Gods' was extremely painful. It brought me glory and many benefits in my lifetime, but it was also that difficult. It was the first time to shoot two films simultaneously in Korea, and although I didn't give birth to a child, it was as agonizing as childbirth. I was approached with the proposal for the Omniscient Reader web novel right after finishing 'Along with the Gods.' This was not two to three years later; it was less than six months after the film work was completed. I thought, 'If I don't do it, someone else surely will…' So I said, 'Let's do it.' Thus, five years later, Omniscient Reader was released," indicating that it felt like an unavoidable fate.
However, the process of adapting the web novel onto the screen was not easy. As a globally popular IP that has exceeded 300 million views, expectations were sky-high, and the absence of major supporting characters like Yi Sun-sin led to concerns among fans. BLACKPINK's Jisoo played the high school student Lee Ji-hye, who calls Yoo Jung-hyuk her mentor. The original protagonists rely on the powers of historical figures. Lee Ji-hye has General Yi Sun-sin as a 'supporting character', and some fans expressed dissatisfaction at seeing her wield a gun instead of a symbolic sword.
Won Dong-yeon stated, "I think fans of the original work might be viewing this piece from the perspective of the author. Their memories and youth are all embedded in this work, much like Kim Dok-ja. In the novel, there is only one Kim Dok-ja, but Omniscient Reader is not one. It's as if there are thousands of Kim Dok-jas. So (even if criticisms are directed) you cannot hate Kim Dok-ja. One thing I hope for is that the fans of the original work see how it was completed and 'speak their minds. Whatever you say, I'm ready to hear it all.' The production team is not foolish enough to alienate fans of the original work; there's no benefit to that."
Previously, while producing 'Along with the Gods,' he bore the criticism that came from removing a character, saying, "I can't convey how much backlash I received for removing the protagonist. (Laughs) But that was all a decision made for the sake of the work. I didn't care what anyone said back then at all." He added, "If you watch Omniscient Reader, you'll understand why Lee Ji-hye wields a gun instead of a sword. I always urge filmmakers to create character identities, not just introduce characters. I dislike characters that come in without meaning and lack depth. Due to Lee Ji-hye in Omniscient Reader, alliances and cooperation emerge, and in that process, guns become extremely important. Swords or bows have limitations; they can even feel contrived, while guns are universal as modern weaponry. This character had no choice but to wield a gun."
Additionally, Won Dong-yeon mentioned, "Part 1, which was released today, had to explain the characters and world first, inevitably. While those who have seen the original will come to the theater, we must ensure that the unfamiliar viewers also understand easily. However, if we include all the supporting elements, explaining everything corresponding, we cannot finish Part 1. In Part 1, only the two supporting elements of Jung Hee-won (played by Nana) and Lee Hyun-seong (played by Shin Seung-ho) are included. Still, we need to convey the idea that 'there is such a supporting element,' so we included just that much. Otherwise, it wouldn't fit within two hours," expressing the challenges faced as a commercial filmmaker.
When asked, "As a producer, how satisfied are you?" he replied, "I have never been satisfied with my work even once. Not even with the failed films." He added, "Some people feel embarrassed or shy about their work, wanting to hide; I am the opposite. I am really proud of my work, and I cherish it. I can proudly show it to others. However, once all the work is done, I never watch it again. (Laughs) Without conditioning myself, I can't continue in this line of work." (To be continued in interview②)
[Photo] Provided by Realies Pictures.
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