Global Webtoon Sensation Heads to Netflix as Live-Action Series

Netflix is turning Solo Leveling, one of the most popular webtoons in the world, into a live-action series, and fans are already buzzing. The show will star Byeon Woo-seok, who has been getting a lot of attention for his recent roles. He’s set to play the main character, Sung Jinwoo, a low-ranked hunter who suddenly gains overpowered skills and starts climbing to the top.

This news comes straight from Netflix and Kakao Entertainment, who are working on the show together with Sanai Pictures. It’s a big move, considering just how massive Solo Leveling has become. Since it debuted on KakaoPage back in 2018, the webtoon has collected more than 14.3 billion views around the world. It actually started as a web novel by Chugong in 2016, then turned into a webcomic with writing by h-goon and art by Dubu, the late CEO of Redice Studio.

The story is pretty simple but super addictive. It’s about a guy named Sung Jinwoo, who’s known as the weakest hunter in a world full of deadly monsters and magical gates. After a mission almost kills him, he wakes up with a special ability that lets him level up like in a game. That’s when everything changes. He goes from being ignored to becoming the most powerful hunter in the world.

The anime version of Solo Leveling came out recently and it made history. It swept the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, winning major categories like Best Action and Anime of the Year. People loved how it looked, the fight scenes, and the way the world was built. One viewer said, “Jinwoo is a likable enough lead that his nondescript niceness is much preferable over the edgy dweebs you sometimes get as the heroes of these kinds of fantasy power trips.”

Some fans thought the story was a total page-turner. “There is a great sense of reward as you get to see Jinwoo level up and the new problems that arise as he heads towards godlike power,” one reviewer said. Others were more critical, especially about how the story ended. Some called it rushed and full of holes. “Jinwoo seemingly didn’t need a grand, heroic reason for having power, making the reason as simple as wanting to live with and protect those he loved,” one person said about the ending.

Even with those mixed reactions, the series continues to grow. The original web novel has pulled in over 2.4 million readers just on KakaoPage. It was picked up by Yen Press for English readers, and the webtoon has been released in 14 volumes so far. There’s also a spin-off called Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, a mobile game titled Solo Leveling: Arise, and now a live-action drama on the way.

The live-action series will be directed by Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo, who have worked together on a few movies before. Fans are hoping they bring something fresh but still keep the exciting, fast-paced feel that made Solo Leveling a global hit.

Byeon Woo-seok playing Jinwoo has fans especially hyped. After his breakout performances in 20th Century Girl and Lovely Runner, this could be the role that really puts him on the global stage.

The news comes from announcements shared by Netflix and updates from Kakao Entertainment.

This adaptation is being closely watched by fans, and all eyes are on Netflix to see if it can live up to the massive success of the original story.

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