Omniscient Reader: The Prophet hit theaters this past Wednesday and quickly soared to the top of the box office, holding the number one spot for five straight days. The film has also made waves overseas, setting a record for the highest opening-day revenue of any Korean film released in Taiwan.
To celebrate the release, we caught up with actor Ahn Hyo Seop at a café in Seoul’s Jongno district to chat about his experience and the film’s success. In the movie, Ahn Hyo Seop plays Kim Dok Ja, the only reader of a novel that suddenly turns into reality and becomes the story’s main character.
This film marks Ahn Hyo Seop’s big-screen debut and is a massive production with a budget of about 21.5 million USD. The film’s break-even point is set high, requiring about 6 million ticket sales. Reflecting on the pressure, Ahn Hyo Seop said, “Of course, I feel the weight of it, but it’s beyond my control now. As an actor, I gave my all on set. Finishing the shoot isn’t the end, I truly poured my heart into bringing Kim Dok Ja to life.”
He added, “I wanted to do justice to the character and went through a lot of trial and error. That process only deepened my love for Kim Dok Ja. I feel really lucky to have gotten to play such a meaningful character, and naturally, I hope the film does well.”
When asked about the challenges he faced, Ahn Hyo Seop shared, “It was a full process. Even before filming, I was working to build Dok Ja’s character. During shooting, I’d catch myself wondering, Does this feel like Dok Ja? Am I overdoing it? It was all about perfecting the little details to make him feel authentic.”
Ahn Hyo Seop also opened up about the physical and emotional toll of filming. “There were times when my body just wouldn’t cooperate, like when your legs refuse to run no matter how much you want to push harder. Developing the character through constant discussions with the director felt like a series of trial and error. We filmed the final action scene last, and you could see everything we went through in my eyes. At that moment, it didn’t feel like acting, I was fully immersed in the character.”
Omniscient Reader: The Prophet was always designed as a franchise, with the first film’s success determining if a sequel will happen. Ahn Hyo Seop expressed his hopes for the future: “This story has such a huge universe that one movie just can’t cover it all. Personally, I’m excited about a sequel. I want to show Kim Dok Ja growing into an even more impressive character. But of course, it all depends on how things go.”
He went on, “In this film, Dok Ja is still fumbling and hesitant as he tries to survive in a ruined world. In the sequel, I’m looking forward to showing him making confident, independent choices and finding his own path. That might lead to some struggles, but I believe it will help him grow. I want to show a Dok Ja who’s truly adapted to this new world.”
With a grin, Ahn Hyo Seop added, “I want to be able to fly in the sequel. This time I had to run a lot and I was a bit jealous of Yoo Joong Hyuk (played by Lee Min Ho). Dok Ja had to stay grounded this time, but next time, I want to do something cooler, like wielding a sword stylishly and spinning it around.”
Ahn Hyo Seop hopes audiences will feel that watching his film debut Omniscient Reader: The Prophet was time well spent. The movie is now playing nationwide.
