Han So-hee wields a longsword as S-rank hunter Cha Hae-in, and Rain turns into a beast as the White Tiger guild master. Netflix has just locked the cast of the live-action Solo Leveling, standing beside Byeon Woo-seok as “Sung Jin-woo”, announced last year.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Series | Solo Leveling, Netflix’s live-action Korean series |
| Lead | Byeon Woo-seok (Sung Jin-woo) |
| Directors | Lee Hae-jun, Kim Byung-seo, Han Dong-wook |
| Production | Kakao Entertainment, SANAI PICTURES |
| Cast announced | October 7, 2026 (Korea time) |
| Release date | Not announced |
The live-action Solo Leveling cast
| Actor | Role | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Byeon Woo-seok | Sung Jin-woo | An E-rank hunter who gains extraordinary power after a near-death experience |
| Han So-hee | Cha Hae-in | The only female S-rank hunter, a biker who fights with a longsword |
| Kang You-seok | Yoo Jinho | A C-rank hunter and the second son of the Yoojin Group, who looks up to Jin-woo like an older brother |
| Sung Joon | Woo Jinchul | An A-rank hunter and head of the Hunters Association’s monitoring team, the first to suspect Jin-woo has awakened |
| Lee Sung-min (special appearance) | Go Gunhee | Chairman of the Korea Hunters Association |
| Rain (special appearance) | Baek Yoonho | An S-rank beast-form hunter and master of the White Tiger guild |
Familiar faces
Netflix stresses that Han So-hee looks “very much like” Cha Hae-in and already has action experience from My Name and Gyeongseong Creature. Kang You-seok is known for When Life Gives You Tangerines and Resident Playbook, and Sung Joon for The Fiery Priest 2 and Island.
Both special-appearance roles go to big names. Lee Sung-min has appeared in 12.12: The Day and No Other Choice. Rain (Jung Ji-hoon), the star of Full House and the Hollywood film Ninja Assassin, recently appeared in season 2 of Netflix’s Bloodhounds. Lead actor Byeon Woo-seok is best known for 20th Century Girl and Lovely Runner.
The team behind it
Netflix announced the project on July 9, 2025, at the same time as Byeon Woo-seok’s casting as Sung Jin-woo, directed by Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo, produced by Kakao Entertainment and SANAI PICTURES, with an international visual effects team. This time, Han Dong-wook, who won Best TV Director at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards for The Worst of Evil, has been added as a co-director. Netflix has not announced the writers or a release date.
How far has Solo Leveling come?
Solo Leveling began as Chugong’s web novel on KakaoPage in 2016, then became a hit webtoon drawn by Dubu (Redice Studio) from 2018 to 2021. A-1 Pictures’ anime aired two seasons in 2024 and 2025 and, according to Netflix, won 9 categories at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025, including Anime of the Year. The franchise also includes Netmarble’s Solo Leveling: Arise, and most recently a collaboration with Overwatch. Netflix says the franchise has reached 14.3 billion cumulative views.
OtaHub’s take
This cast shows Netflix is treating Solo Leveling as a major project: a female lead who fits the look, two veteran special guests and a director who has won at the Baeksang. The real test is the effects: the Shadow Army and the fights inside the gates are what fans will scrutinize most. For fans who loved the webtoon and the anime, this is a project worth waiting for, though the wait may be long since Netflix has not hinted at a release date.
FAQ
Who is in the live-action Solo Leveling cast?
Byeon Woo-seok (Sung Jin-woo), Han So-hee (Cha Hae-in), Kang You-seok (Yoo Jinho), Sung Joon (Woo Jinchul), plus two special appearances by Lee Sung-min (Go Gunhee) and Rain (Baek Yoonho).
When does the live-action Solo Leveling come out?
Netflix has not announced a release date. It only says “coming soon, only on Netflix”.
Who directs the live-action Solo Leveling?
Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo, with Han Dong-wook (director of The Worst of Evil) newly added. It is produced by Kakao Entertainment and SANAI PICTURES.
What role does Rain play in Solo Leveling?
Rain (Jung Ji-hoon) makes a special appearance as Baek Yoonho, an S-rank hunter who can turn into a beast and leads the White Tiger guild.
Sources: Netflix (official news site, July 9, 2025 and October 6, 2026), Korea Herald, MyDramaList, Wikipedia.
