'Omniscient Reader' CEO Won Dong-yeon said that the success of the first part is the most important, but noted, "There is a scenario for the second part," raising expectations for the sequel.
On the 22nd, an interview with CEO Won Dong-yeon of the film 'Omniscient Reader: The Prophet' (hereafter '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, SmilegateRealies, and The Present Company) is a fantasy action piece where, on the day the novel that has been serialized for over 10 years concludes, the world within the novel becomes reality, and the only reader, Kim Dok-ja (played by Ahn Hyo-seop), along with the main character Yoo Jung-hyuk (played by Lee Min-ho) and his companions, strives to survive in a devastated world.
The original web novel of the same name received tremendous love, surpassing 300 million cumulative views globally, and it is a blockbuster that had a total production cost of about 30 billion won. Recently reborn as a film this year following a webtoon, it has cast Hallyu stars Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop, along with Chae Soo-bin, Shin Seung-ho, Nana, and BLACKPINK's Jisoo. Additionally, director Kim Byung-woo, who directed 'The Terror Live' (2013) and 'PMC: The Bunker' (2018), presents a new work after seven years, produced by CEO Won Dong-yeon's Realies Pictures, known for the record-breaking 'Along with the Gods' series.
CEO Won Dong-yeon, who debuted as a screenwriter in the film 'Runaway with Money' in 1995, transformed into a producer and has created many works. After a series of ups and downs, he began with his first hit 'My Sassy Girl' (2006) and went on to produce the ten-million-view films 'Masquerade' (2012), 'Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds' (2017), and 'Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days' (2018). Notably, the 'Along with the Gods' series achieved an unprecedented record of producing parts 2 and 3 simultaneously, surpassing ten million viewers for both.
Currently, 'Omniscient Reader' has secured pre-sales in 113 countries worldwide, including Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Europe, North America, and Germany, signaling a promising global box office. It is unusual for a Korean film to be released in Germany, where significant challenges exist, proving its competitiveness. Additionally, the day before its release, according to the integrated computer network for movie ticket sales, its real-time reservation rate approached 30%, even ranking first.
CEO Won Dong-yeon has elevated the quality of 'Omniscient Reader' by recalling his experiences from working on 'Along with the Gods.' Each hell was expressed using VFX visual effects, which drew admiration, and he noted that 'Omniscient Reader' was a much more challenging endeavor. Approximately 1,300 out of 1,500 cuts were filled with CG, showing the significant role of VFX. Careful attention was given to creating and visualizing a new worldview that had never been seen before, rather than one that looked familiar.
He stated, "Since I have VFX experience from working on 'Along with the Gods,' I have connections and crew. Many staff members from 'Along with the Gods' have come to work on 'Omniscient Reader.' The supervisor in charge of VFX said, 'Hyung, you must take this! It's going to be amazing' (laughs). When I asked how they would create monsters or creatures, they said, 'We will grind their bones and souls.' The technicians are obsessed with 'Something New.' They have the mindset, 'No one has done this before. We have to do it.'"
CEO Won Dong-yeon confessed, "Back then, I felt like I had 50,000 bricks of confidence on my shoulders, but now it has all gone away. First, the pandemic came, and the market situation has changed dramatically," adding, "For a movie to be properly realized, an appropriate budget has to be set, and I worry about whether we can generate revenue with that budget. While receiving an Academy Award or the Palme d'Or at Cannes could be significant in my life, my foremost duty as a producer is to ensure I don't incur losses. I worry about launching a project with a high break-even point and inadvertently harming the industry."
Currently, words are emerging describing the South Korean film industry not as 'difficult' but at a 'devastation level.'
CEO Won Dong-yeon, who has made over ten commercial films in 30 years, empathizes, stating, "It's not that there's a sense of mission or anything, but as a commercial film producer, it is my essence and duty to generate revenue. While it's good to convey meaning and messages through films, the primary responsibility is to ensure that the ecosystem continues to function. When we were making 'Along with the Gods,' the industry was booming, and I wasn't anxious or fearful about shooting parts 1 and 2 together. Combining the two would yield a budget much larger than that of 'Omniscient Reader'," and he continued, "But now it's different. This year, there are no blockbuster films like ours. Most big-budget films failed last year. We can't continue like this."
He further mentioned, "We have to show that Korean films can be profitable. It's important to prove that we can make money in the Korean market. We should demonstrate, 'Korean films are still sexy! With a profit rate of 50%, do not hesitate to invest.'" He expressed, "Honestly, I have earned enough to live comfortably. But what if we destroy the future of our talented and skilled juniors? Given that Korean content is at its most popular right now, I fear that the industry is in shambles and that we're not giving opportunities to our juniors. I am worried about that."
CEO Won Dong-yeon has planned to cast 'Omniscient Reader' as a global project from the start, hoping to surpass the break-even point domestically. It is known that they need to attract 5 to 6 million viewers.
"Recently, Ahn Hyo-seop has become more famous due to Netflix's 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,'" he responded, "That's great (laughs). He did voice acting there, and the real actor appears in 'Omniscient Reader.' He was originally popular for 'Business Proposal' and 'Romantic Doctor,' while Lee Min-ho needs no mention in Asia. Moreover, casting BLACKPINK's Jisoo targets a global audience."
Regarding the sequel, he stated, "It's dependent on the success of the first part, but honestly, I have already worked on the scenario for the second part. Director Kim Byung-woo only needs to write his parts," adding, "The actors love this project, and when we start serious work on the second part, it seems we will make it exactly like the original. I can't share details as it may spoil the plot, but while the worldview and message will not change, it will be even more groundbreaking." (To be continued in interview part 3)
[Photo] Provided by Realies Pictures
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