Netflix is turning Solo Leveling into a live-action series, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the platform’s biggest Korean adaptations yet.
Based on the wildly popular web novel and webtoon, Solo Leveling exploded in 2024 with a hit anime that won Anime of the Year at the 2025 Crunchyroll Awards and is now the most-watched show ever on the anime streaming site, Crunchyroll.
Following on from the success of the One Piece live-action adaptation, Netflix has now confirmed that it has turned its attention to Solo Leveling.
We’ve outlined everything we know so far about the cast and story behind its leading protagonist, Sung Jinwoo.
Netflix has confirmed the live-action Solo Leveling series is in production, but no release date has been announced yet. We’ll be sure to keep this section updated as and when new details arrive.
Who’s in the cast?
On July 10, 2025, Netflix officially announced that Byeon Woo-seok will play the lead role of Sung Jinwoo. The South Korean actor is known for his breakout roles in 20th Century Girl and Lovely Runner, where he earned the nickname “만찢남,” a Korean phrase meaning “straight out of a manhwa (comic).”
The series will be co-directed by Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo, known for films such as Ashfall, Castaway on the Moon, and Cold Eyes. Kakao Entertainment and Sanai Pictures are handling production, with a global VFX team onboard to bring Solo Leveling’s dungeons, monsters, and action sequences to life.
More casting announcements are expected as filming progresses, so we’ll update this section as soon as new details are revealed.
Solo Leveling live-action plot
Netflix’s Solo Leveling live-action series focuses on Sung Jinwoo, a low-ranked Hunter who unlocks powerful new abilities after a deadly mission. As he levels up, he rises from the bottom to become humanity’s last line of defense against the deadly creatures emerging from the mysterious Gates.
In the anime and webtoon, Jin-woo famously gains access to a unique system that allows him to level up, and he quickly rises to become one of humanity’s greatest weapons.
Will the live action follow the anime or manhwa?
Netflix has not confirmed whether the live-action series will directly follow the anime or webtoon novel, but major story beats from Sung Jinwoo’s rise to power are expected to be present.
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