Director Kim Byung-woo of the film 'Omniscient Reader: The Prophet' expressed confidence that "even those who haven't seen the original work will enjoy the movie."
At the press screening and roundtable for 'Omniscient Reader: The Prophet' held at COEX Megabox in Seoul on the afternoon of the 15th, Director Kim Byung-woo was asked about the efforts made during production to include audiences unfamiliar with the original work. He responded, "We paid close attention from the scriptwriting phase. The most definitive method was conducting surveys. We continuously showed drafts to those who hadn’t read the original and meticulously checked their feedback."
He added, "The version you saw today, in our opinion, should pose no problem for viewers to enjoy, regardless of their familiarity with the original work."
'Omniscient Reader: The Prophet' is a fantasy action film where the world of a novel, which has been serialized for over ten years, becomes reality on the day it concludes. The story follows 'Kim Dokja,' the novel's sole reader, 'Yoo Joonghyuk,' the novel's protagonist, and their companions as they strive to survive in this doomed world. With the film adaptation of the web novel that has amassed a huge following both domestically and internationally, there's been significant interest in whether the movie has successfully retained the identity and charm of the original work.
Director Kim Byung-woo stated, "Adapting a very famous original work comes with its mix of anticipation and concern. Our goal was to design it in such a way that everyone could enjoy this film on its own, whether they are familiar with the original or not. I understand there might be a bit of discomfort for those who know the original. However, what I want to say is, just sit back and relax without any preconceptions or expectations, like you're on a subway ride on line 3, and let us entertain you with an exciting adventure. Leave the rest to us."
The movie is set to premiere on the 23rd.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)