The film Heartman, which will inject hot energy into theaters in the new year of 2026 (director Choi Won-seop, distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by Movielock·Like M Company), has raised expectations as key production staff who have led the success of the Korean comedy genre have joined in large numbers.
The film Heartman is a comedy in which Seungmin, the returned man (Kwon Sang Woo), struggles desperately not to lose the first love he meets again, but a secret that he can never tell her arises.
The film Heartman raised the work's level of completion with the large participation of key production staff who have led the success of the Korean comedy genre. Centered on director Choi Won-seop, who has built a distinctive rhythmic humor and scene tempo through the Hitman series, production staff from hit films such as Pilot and Hitman have gathered again, promising the return of a lineup audiences can trust.
Cinematography was handled by director of photography Kim Sung-an, who has showcased delicate shooting techniques across various genres including Perfect Number, Runaway, and Pilot. In Heartman he vividly captured characters' expressions and movements focusing on music, performances and flashback scenes, rendering the characters' emotional lines three-dimensionally. In particular, the scene of Seungmin's college rock band 'Ambulance' increased the film's immersion with a sense of being in an actual live performance venue—for example, positioning the camera among the audience to give the feeling of breathing with the viewers and being on stage together.
Costumes were handled by costume director Hong Soo-hee, who worked on the Hitman series, Midnight Runners, and Secret: Untold Melody, and makeup was handled by makeup director Lee Seo-jin of Witness, Sweet & Sour: 7510, and Pilot. They focused on naturally connecting the characters' flow between their college days and the present, convincingly completing the external changes in time for Seungmin and Bona.
Finally, the participation of the late music director Bang Joon-seok adds meaning to the music. His music, which left a deep impression through many works including Veteran and Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days and Mogadishu, firmly built the film's mood around major themes that touch Seungmin's emotions in Heartman. In addition, the insertion of the legendary band Eve's "Lover" will add a strong impression at moments symbolizing the youth of Seungmin and Won-dae.
Built on the synergy of such a solid production team, the completed film Heartman will meet audiences as a passionate comedy on Jan. 14 (Wed).<
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