Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy’s Director Kim Byung Woo Opens Up About Jisoo’s Role and Fan Backlash

Director Kim Byung Woo didn’t hold back when asked about the backlash surrounding BLACKPINK’s Jisoo. She plays Lee Ji Hye in the upcoming film Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy. Even though her screen time is short—just around five minutes—discussions online have been loud. Many fans of the original novel questioned her casting from the beginning.

The movie is based on a popular web novel. It follows Kim Dok Ja, a regular man who finds himself inside the very novel he’s been reading. Suddenly, everything in the story becomes real. Now, he must survive in this new world. It’s a survival story mixed with action, fantasy, and huge stakes.

The cast is packed with big names like Ahn Hyo Seop, Lee Min Ho, Chae Soo Bin, Shin Seung Ho, Nana, Jisoo, and Kwon Eun Seong. With such a lineup, expectations are naturally high. But despite the hype, not everyone has been on board with the casting choices. Especially when it came to Jisoo.

In the original story, Lee Ji Hye is a strong and respected fighter. She follows Yoo Joong Hyuk, a key figure in the novel-turned-reality. In the source material, she uses a sword. In the film, though, she uses a gun. That choice sparked more debate, but the director had a reason for it.

Why the Film Changed Jisoo’s Character (And Why It Matters)

Director Kim explained that using only swords made action scenes feel repetitive. To break that rhythm, they decided to vary weapons. That’s why Jisoo’s character uses a gun. This wasn’t about ignoring the original—it was about making the action more dynamic.

Then there’s the question of Jisoo’s acting. Many fans weren’t confident she could play such a meaningful character. And with only a few minutes of screen time, her performance had to leave a mark fast. When asked if he had any regrets, Director Kim was honest. He said casting a familiar face helped give impact to a character that shows up late in the story.

He even admitted something important: introducing a key character that late isn’t usually a good idea in movies. But since Lee Ji Hye is important in the original novel, the team couldn’t just skip her. She had to be there. But her late arrival in the plot posed a challenge. Kim believed that using a well-known face could help make up for that short screen time. Viewers would instantly recognize her, which helps the character feel more important even if she doesn’t appear for long.

He also said, “If it wasn’t Jisoo, the character could’ve been forgotten.” That’s a big statement. It shows that her fame helped the character stay visible, even in a crowded story.

Kim didn’t shy away from the criticism. He said he understood why some people were upset. But he also pointed out something different: people talking about her casting so much proves that she left an impact. That attention, even if it’s mixed, means the choice was effective.

He also cleared up one rumor: nothing was cut from Jisoo’s scenes. What audiences see is everything that was planned for her. There were no deleted parts. That means the team knew from the start that her role would be short but important.

The Bigger Picture: Adapting for Film

At a recent special talk event, Director Kim also praised Nana for her role. She plays Jung Hee Won and reportedly trained hard for her action scenes. Kim said he was shocked by her performance. Some scenes were filmed in one long take without cuts. That’s tough for actors, especially in action roles, but she pulled it off. He was clearly proud.

Kim also spoke about the bigger picture. Adapting a long web novel into a single film wasn’t easy. He had to choose a main theme. That theme, he said, was “togetherness.” Unlike books, where imagination fills the gaps, films rely on real people in real spaces. So, the actors had to express both action and emotion.

Takeway

The film focuses not only on big fight scenes but also on what the characters are feeling. That mix of emotion and action is what he hopes will make it stand out. The movie doesn’t try to copy the book word for word. It tries to translate its heart into a film format.

Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy is set to release in theaters nationwide on the 23rd. Whether fans agree with every casting choice or not, it’s clear that the team put a lot of thought into each part. Director Kim seems fully aware of the risks. But he also seems ready to stand by the creative decisions made during production.

From Jisoo’s short but loud appearance to Nana’s action-heavy scenes, the film sounds like a mix of calculated risks and deep respect for the source.

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