Netflix has confirmed that it is working on a film called Mantis, which will be a spin-off ofthe streamer’s hit espionage movie Kill Boksoon.
Netflix announced Mantis’ production on September 2, sharing that the spin-off will focus on an agent sharing the film’s namesake who works for MK Entertainment, the same contract killing company introduced in the original film. Agent Mantis was also notably mentioned in passing in the original Kill Boksoon.
Although Kill Boksoon revolved around the story of a mother struggling to balance her duties as a single parent and her clandestine operations as a contract killer, Netflix described Mantis as an intense action film involving the titular character and his two rivals in a race to prove themselves as top assassins, per Korea Joong-Ang Daily.
Boyhood and Run On star Im Si-wan has been cast as the film’s titular protagonist, while Park Gyu-young of Sweet Home season two has been cast as Jae-yi, a character who was fired from MK Entertainment. Narco-Saints’ Jo Woo-jin, on the other hand, is set to play Dok-go, only described by Netflix as a retired assassin.
Meanwhile, Kill Boksoon assistant director Lee Tae-sung will be taking charge of Mantis, marking his directorial debut. Original director Byun Sung-hyun has also contributed to the upcoming spin-off as a screenwriter. Other details such as a release window, detailed synopsis and other cast members have yet to be announced by Netflix.
It’s a cutthroat world in the hired killer industry
In a spin-off to the Netflix hit #KillBoksoon comes Mantis (WT), where an A-level killer, his rival, and a retired legend face off to determine who is the most lethal of them all
Starring: #YimSiwan, #ParkGyuyoung, #JoWoojin pic.twitter.com/5bo0Ng4S3B
— Netflix K-Content (@netflixkcontent) September 2, 2024
In other K-drama news, former Hellbound actor Yoo Ah-in was sentenced to a year behind bars today (September 3) after he was found guilty of violating South Korea’s Narcotics Control Act.