After dominating anime charts and webtoon shelves, Solo Leveling takes its next step, with Netflix and Byeon Woo-seok now in the picture.
Netflix has officially confirmed a live-action adaptation of Solo Leveling, the hugely popular South Korean web novel and webtoon that recently found global success with its anime adaptation. Set to lead the series is South Korean actor Byeon Woo-seok, who will take on the role of Sung Jin-woo. The announcement was made on 10 July via Netflix’s official X (formerly Twitter) account:
Known for his breakout performances in Lovely Runner and Netflix’s 20th Century Girl, Byeon Woo-Seok has become one of the most recognisable faces in Korean entertainment, following a sold-out fan meeting tour across Asia. His casting marks a major moment for both the actor and the Solo Leveling franchise, which continues to expand its global reach.
Netflix confirms Solo Leveling live-action series
Netflix has promised that the live-action adaptation will bring the series’ world to life with large-scale dungeon sequences, high-stakes battles, and the kind of visual flair fans have come to expect from the source material. The streaming platform described the series as “dynamic,” with richly imagined quests, fearsome monsters, and thrilling action.
According to a report from The Korea Times, the project will be co-directed by Lee Hae-jun (Castaway on the Moon, My Dictator) and Kim Byung-seo (Cold Eyes). The directors are known for their work in both cinematic storytelling and stylish, large-scale productions, which could serve the fantasy-action series well.
What’s Solo Leveling about?
Solo Leveling is set in a modern world where mysterious gates have opened, connecting reality to dangerous dungeons filled with monsters. To combat these threats, some humans awaken as “hunters”, individuals granted supernatural abilities. Sung Jin-woo, the story’s protagonist, is considered the weakest hunter in South Korea and barely scrapes by on low-level missions.
Everything changes when Jin-woo accepts a seemingly routine raid that turns out to be a deadly double dungeon. After barely surviving, he is chosen by a hidden system that allows him to gain power over time, something no other hunter can do. This sets him on a path of rapid growth as he faces increasingly powerful enemies and uncovers the truth behind the dungeons.
Originally titled Only I Level Up (Na Honjaman Level Up, 나 혼자만 레벨업) and sometimes translated as Only I Level Up, Solo Leveling was written by Chugong and began serialisation on KakaoPage on 25 July 2016. The digital novel was later published by D&C Media under their Papyrus label, with Yen Press licensing the English version.
The webtoon adaptation, illustrated by the late Jang Sung-rak (Dubu), debuted on 4 March, 2018. The first season concluded on 19 March, 2020, and the second ran from August 2020 to December 2021. As of June 2025, D&C Media has released 14 collected volumes. Yen Press also publishes the English version of the webtoon. A spin-off series, Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, launched in July 2024.
The Solo Leveling franchise has attracted over 14.3 billion views across its digital formats, and remains one of the most internationally recognised Korean fantasy titles to date.
The anime adaptation of Solo Leveling, produced by A-1 Pictures, premiered in January 2024 and aired its second season, titled Arise from the Shadow, from January to March 2025.
The anime received critical acclaim, sweeping nine categories at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. It won Anime of the Year, Best Action, and Best Character. The series was also recently confirmed as Crunchyroll's most-watched anime so far.
While Season 3 has not yet been confirmed, Crunchyroll’s CEO stated that it remains “hopeful” about continuing the series with the same creative team in the future.
