Premiering Sept. 5, SBS’ new drama ‘The Mantis: Original Sin’ (written by Lee Young-jong, directed by Byun Young-joo) sets up a pulse-pounding scenario: more than 20 years after the capture of a notorious serial killer nicknamed “Mantis,” a copycat emerges. To crack the case, a detective is forced into an unthinkable partnership with the very person he has despised all his life ― his mother, who is the original Mantis. The high-density crime thriller stars Ko Hyun-jung (as Jung Yi-shin) and Jang Dong-yoon (as Cha Soo-yeol), both signaling bold transformations that have already fueled intense buzz.
As a tightly wound crime thriller, ‘The Mantis: Original Sin’ leans on intricate plotting, precise structure and razor-sharp direction ― and the creative team fits the bill. Director Byun Young-joo of the feature ‘Helpless’ and writer Lee Young-jong, whose credits include ‘12.12: The Day’ and ‘The Black House,’ join forces to promise a top-tier, meticulously crafted genre piece.
There’s another key factor: the coveted SBS Friday-Saturday drama slot, which has become a reliable home for hit genre fare. The network’s prime-time weekend dramas have delivered can’t-look-away momentum and well-timed impact, winning fervent audience support time and again.
Recent standouts from that block include acclaimed procedural ‘Through the Darkness,’ the phenomenon-making ‘Taxi Driver’ franchise, action-comedy favorite ‘The Fiery Priest,’ legal drama ‘Good Partner,’ fantasy-tinged ‘Judge From Hell,’ the gripping ‘Connection,’ and the twisty crime procedural ‘Flex X Cop.’ For many viewers, “SBS’ Friday-Saturday thrillers are a sure thing.”
Amid that anticipation, ‘The Mantis: Original Sin’ arrives with a dream-team production and a cast that marries serious acting chops with major buzz ― a recipe that all but guarantees soaring expectations.
So far, every drop ― from teasers and posters to set stills ― has landed with outsized impact, sending genre fans’ heart rates into overdrive. SBS is returning to what it does best ― and what viewers love most ― with a premium thriller built for weekend dominance.
The sole high-intensity crime thriller set to grip living rooms this fall, SBS’ ‘The Mantis: Original Sin’ will premiere after the conclusion of ‘The Winning Try’ on Friday, Sept. 5 at 9:50 p.m. KST.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)