Live-action adaptations are not new. Back in the dark depths of 2005, the slice-of-life, rock music-centric anime Nana was made into a movie. Though the film suffered from pacing issues because a rather lengthy series of 40+ episodes was squashed into a feature running for only 2 hours, it wasn’t a bad re-telling of the popular story. Mika Nakashima did a brilliant job of bringing the broody Nana to life, and the movie was given a 3.5 rating out of 5 on IMDB.
Since then, we’ve had re-tellings of other popular anime including Death Note, Cowboy Bebop, and One Piece, with mixed responses across the board. Some find the alternative live-action needless, citing that conglomerate entertainment companies shouldn’t fix what’s not broken. Others are more open to experiencing their favorite stories from new angles, enjoying what the nuances of real people can bring to their beloved characters.
So what about Solo Leveling? Is Sung Jinwoo’s story of rising power one ripe for adapting in a real-world setting? Or is it best left as the subtle and finessed anime that catapulted the franchise to god-like levels throughout 2024 and 2025?
Reaching For New Heights
Development on the live-action adaptation was announced on 10th July 2025, with Byeon Woo-Seok, the South Korean model and actor, set to play Sung Jinwoo. In terms of visuals alone, the casting directors have absolutely nailed it. Side by side images of Sung Jinwoo and Byeon Woo-Seok show their physical similarities, and the actor himself has been praised for the diversity and authenticity in his work, particularly in his latest role as Ryu Sun-Jae in Lovely Runner, which was released on 8th April 2024.
A Lot To Live Up To
Sung Jinwoo’s transformation is dramatic, particularly at the start of his journey, where his mindset gradually changes from one of self-sacrificial depreciation for his own weaknesses to an acceptance of a growth mindset through the horrific trauma of living through the double dungeon with the help of the ‘System’.
Byeon Woo-Seok has his work cut out for him portraying that kind of dynamic personality alteration, but his achievements, including award nominations at the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Buil Film Awards, as well as his victory winning the KBS Drama Award for Best New Actor for his role as the rambunctious crown prince in Moonshine, are very encouraging. Though other cast members will play a critical role in making or breaking this live-action adaptation, everyone knows that it is Sung Jinwoo, and by extension Byeon Woo-Seok, who carries the brunt of this tale.
If Byeon Woo-Seok is up to the challenge, as we suspect he is, then it should be exciting to see what he will bring to the already quite complex character of Sung Jinwoo. Will he pull on Jinwoo’s struggle to hold on to his humanity as his power grows ever more monstrous? Or will he lean more into Sung Jinwoo’s natural altruism, portraying a more overall heroic character? Will the adaptation stick to the source material to try and guide Woo-Seok in a certain direction? Or will the budding star take the character in a way that will inspire the writers to include original and expansive scenes?
Staying True To Source Material
The real danger with any live-action adaptation lies with how well it interprets the source material. The live-action release of One Piece showcased an intelligent and enjoyable portrayal of that journey, a passion project that drew audiences into a showcase of pure joy in the story that made people question: ‘If this tribute series is this good, then how good is the original material?’
Considering how beloved Solo Leveling already is, the live-action needs to follow in One Piece’s footsteps. It will need to show a deep understanding of Sung Jinwoo, his journey, and his world, as well as a thorough consideration of what has made this series so virally popular. Taking Jang Su-Rak’s brilliant manhwa shot for shot isn’t going to be enough. Following the exquisite frame-rating of the anime’s gorgeous fight scenes isn’t going to be enough.
The live-action will need to show something different that keeps to the canon without cheapening the characters at all. It’s a delicate and fine line to tread, one that Netflix is bold to tackle in a high-risk, high-reward maneuver that fans are buzzing to see through.
The VFX Problem
Characterization and source material aside, a lot of the live-action series’ quality will be judged based on its effects, mostly due to the epic fantasy elements present throughout the story. Should the visual effects not be up to par, it could damage the immersiveness of the story in a way that both the manhwa and the anime didn’t have to worry about.
Luckily, the Solo Leveling live-action adaptation can boast the involvement of directors Lee Hae-Jun and Kim Byung-Seo, both of whom are well known for their experience with VFX, so despite this being an ambitious project, with shadow armies, giant ants, and magical abilities to portray, it’s more than likely that the fans won’t be disappointed.
Solo Leveling’s Season 3
So, with the live-action in the works, will Solo Leveling’s Season 3 for the anime proceed? According to a teasing social media post by Aleks Le, the English voice actor for Sung Jinwoo, as well as Crunchyroll officials, the answer is yes, though no release date has been confirmed. Speculation still circulates about the idea of a release for the 2028 Olympics, with Sung Jinwoo taking Goku’s place on the billboards in Solo Leveling’s big hit countries as the new season airs and the hype is maximised.
Whenever Season 3 is set to release, it’s certain, with increasingly diverse adaptations like the live-action, that it will still be rife in the minds of the fans. Sung Jinwoo’s journey, as he confronts the mysterious ‘System’ with the newly acquired title of Shadow Monarch under his belt, will continue to captivate audiences, and perhaps, with the new live-action fans in mind as well, there will be even more hype when the coveted season finally drops.
