The "living legend" of esports, professional gamer Faker (real name Lee Sang-hyeok), is taking on his first fixed variety show.

On July 15, Disney+ announced that the release date for its new AI mystery deduction game show, 'Murder Club', has been set for Wednesday, July 29, and unveiled the main poster and main trailer, which are filled with intense tension.

'Murder Club' is an AI mystery deduction game show where celebrities visit the 'Murder Club,' a mysterious group where anyone can seamlessly transform into a suspect in a murder case. The program features a new setting and era each episode, ranging from a baseball stadium to the Joseon Dynasty and a prison. In each episode, the cast members become unique players and suspects, engaging in an intense psychological battle involving lies, cover-ups, acting, and deduction to identify the single culprit. In particular, the AI-generated murder case episodes are expected to provide a unique experience compared to existing mystery variety shows by offering a realistic sense of immersion, as if the cast members are actually reenacting the crime.

Above all, 'Murder Club' is drawing attention as the first fixed variety show for Faker, a global icon of esports. Having previously appeared on variety shows only as a guest or on talk shows, expectations are high for Faker to showcase his intense brain games and psychological warfare as a fixed member.

'Murder Club' boasts a star-studded lineup of players alongside Faker, further raising expectations. The cast includes Pani Bottle, the top travel YouTuber with 2.58 million subscribers; comedians Choi Yang-rak and Um Ji-yoon; actor Shin Sung-rok; former civil servant Kim Seon-tae (known as the 'Chungju City PR Man'); singer Choi Kang-changmin; baseball player Kim Hyun-soo; Beomgyu of Tomorrow X Together (TXT); and chef Park Joo-sung, also known as 'Iron Arm' from the popular cooking survival show 'Culinary Class Wars'. These celebrities, representing various fields, are expected to engage in an unpredictable psychological battle.

The main trailer released on this day immediately captured attention by showing the tense role-playing of the players who became suspects against the backdrops of a baseball stadium, the Joseon Dynasty, and a prison. Along with the ominous voice saying, "The goal is only one: find the culprit of the murder case," the trailer shows the cast members guarding against each other while hiding their own truths.

As they dig deeper into the case, sharp interrogations ensue, and the cast members engage in fierce arguments, saying things like, "Doesn't he seem like a psychopath?", "That is a very vicious person," and "Did that person try to kill me?", foreshadowing a tense psychological battle. In particular, even Faker, who has shown more perfect composure and cool-headed judgment than anyone else, is seen looking flustered and confused, raising curiosity about whether he will be able to successfully identify the true culprit in this daunting murder mystery.

The AI mystery deduction game show 'Murder Club' will premiere on Wednesday, July 29, and will be released every Wednesday on Disney+.

(Photo courtesy of Disney+)

Reported by Kang Sun-ae