Is Solo Leveling getting a live-action? Everything we know about the upcoming adaptation

Kakao Entertainment has unveiled plans for a live-action drama adaptation of the iconic webtoon Solo Leveling, according to a report published by South Korean media outlet Yonhap News on January 21, 2025. This announcement comes on the heels of the anime adaptation's second season release. Solo Leveling - Arise From the Shadow premiered on January 5 as part of the Winter 2025 anime lineup, receiving widespread acclaim from fans and critics.

Originating as a web novel by Chugong and later adapted into a webtoon by the late Jang Sung-rak, aka Dubu, of REDICE Studio. The story follows the transformation of Sung Jin-woo, a hunter initially deemed the weakest, into the world’s most formidable hunter.

The franchise has expanded across multiple platforms, including a mobile game and anime, gaining immense domestic and international acclaim. With this latest development, Kakao Entertainment aims to introduce the story to new audiences and further captivate existing fans.

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Solo Leveling expands with live-action drama as anime and game dominate globally

The Solo Leveling universe has become a cornerstone of K-content due to its compelling narrative and stunning visuals. The story’s blend of epic transformations and a grandiose plot has captivated audiences worldwide, turning Sung Jin-woo’s journey from underdog to hero into a global phenomenon.

The plot of the webtoon revolves around Sung Jin-woo, a hunter infamous for being the weakest among his kind in a world where hunters battle monstrous creatures emerging from mysterious gates. His life changes forever after surviving a deadly double dungeon that annihilates most of his party.

Following this traumatic event, a mysterious entity known as the System selects Jin-woo as its sole player, granting him the extraordinary ability to grow stronger through leveling up—a power no other hunter possesses. As he navigates this newfound path, Jin-woo faces relentless challenges, uncovering the hidden truths behind the dungeons and his extraordinary abilities.

His journey reveals his destiny as the Shadow Monarch, a ruler with command over the dead. Unlike the other Monarchs, who seek humanity’s annihilation, Jin-woo uses his powers to fight for mankind's survival, embarking on an epic quest filled with battles, revelations, and a determination to protect the world at all costs.

Kakao Entertainment’s announcement of a live-action adaptation signals a new chapter for the IP, with its media division actively involved in the project’s planning, development, and scriptwriting. While casting and release dates remain undisclosed, expectations are high for the adaptation to faithfully recreate the webtoon’s intricate characters and intense storyline.

Produced by A-1 Pictures, the second season of the anime series premiered on January 5, 2025, and quickly became a global hit. It topped the Amazon Prime TV show rankings in Japan and secured a place in Netflix’s top 10 in 11 countries during its debut week.

On Crunchyroll, the premiere episode received over 400,000 likes, cementing it as one of the platform’s most highly rated shows. These achievements follow the first season’s success, which earned the Best Anime Series award at the 4th Astra TV Awards in 2024.

The franchise’s mobile game, Solo Leveling: Arise, launched in 2024 and achieved extraordinary milestones. It was downloaded in 174 countries, ranking first in downloads in 141 nations and first in revenue in 21 countries.

The game surpassed 50 million cumulative users within five months of its release and won the Grand Prize at the 2024 Korea Game Awards. These achievements reflect the franchise’s robust appeal across different mediums.

In celebration of the anime’s success, Kakao Entertainment is also hosting a fan engagement event titled Solo Leveling: Castlevania Entry Quest from January 19 to February 1, 2025. The Solo Leveling universe continues to expand with the sequel series, Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, which is currently serialized and maintaining high reader rankings.

A spokesperson from the company emphasized in a statement to Yonhap News that Solo Leveling has become a representative IP of K-content and expressed their goal.

“‘Only I Level Up’ has established itself as an IP representing K-content. We will continue to make record-breaking history through continuous investment in the IP. ”

The live-action adaptation represents an exciting new frontier for the Solo Leveling franchise. As details about the cast and release schedule emerge, fans can anticipate an immersive experience that honors the original work while introducing the story to new audiences.