Dropping its launch poster, Parasyte: The Grey, premiering April 5, offers a peek into an eerie reality of parasitic life forms infiltrating Korea.
As unidentified parasitic life forms that live off human hosts strive to grow their power and start to disrupt society, a group of humans wage war against the rising evil. The story is based on Hitoshi Iwaaki’s manga “Parasyte” in which parasites take over human brains to control their bodies.
With its imaginative ideas and philosophical probing, the manga has sold over 25 million copies in 20 countries and regions, and has spawned various anime and film adaptations. Director Yeon Sang-ho, a genre master creator behind JUNG_E, Hellbound, Peninsula, and Monstrous, develops a new storyline for the Netflix series based on the world of this seminal manga.
Jeon So Nee (Our Blooming Youth, When My Love Blooms, Soulmate) plays Jeong Su-in, who begins a strange coexistence with a parasitic organism. Koo Kyo Hwan (D.P., Kill Boksoon, Escape From Mogadishu, Peninsula, Monstrous) plays Seol Kang-woo who pursues the parasites to find his missing young sister. Lee Jung Hyun (Decision to Leave, Peninsula, The Admiral: Roaring Currents) plays Choi Jun-kyung, the leader of Team Grey, the task force on parasitic organisms.
Kwon Hae Hyo (Peninsula, Tazza: One Eyed Jack, Under the Queen’s Umbrella) plays Kim Chul-min, a police detective in the Special Operations Unit of Namil Police Station. Kim In Kwon (The Cursed: Dead Man’s Prey, The Battle of Jangsari, Cleaning Up) plays Kang Won-seok, a police sergeant and Chul-min’s partner.
This stellar ensemble cast of Parasyte: The Grey will bring the imaginative spirit of the original story to life in the live-action series.
Parasyte: The Grey draws inspiration from the legendary manga “Parasyte” by Hitoshi Iwaaki, which sold over 25 million copies in more than 30 regions and countries. Set in a new locale with fresh characters, the series charts its own unique course while maintaining the imaginative world and profound message of the beloved manga. At the center of the story is Su-in, portrayed by Jeon So Nee as she grapples with her newfound coexistence with a parasite. The series also tracks the efforts of “Team Grey,” a group dedicated to fighting mysterious parasites that live off humans.
Parasyte: The Grey is brought to life under the direction of Yeon Sang-ho, known for sparking the global K-zombie frenzy and acclaimed projects such as The King of Pigs, The Fake, JUNG_E and The Bequeathed. Notably, Yeon has demonstrated a knack for bringing comic book stories to life on screen, as he did with the globally praised Hellbound.
Both Hitoshi Iwaaki and Yeon Sang-ho have the deepest respect and support for each other’s work. A fan of Yeon’s film Train to Busan, Iwaaki shares, “I am most excited that this is ‘a new story’; while I am the author of the original manga, I could also be a member of the audience that experiences thrill and awe. Thinking back to when the original manga was adapted in Japan, “Parasyte” the manga is like a ‘child’ to me, born from my own work in a small room, while the animation and live-action film were like ‘grandchildren’, born from my child going out in the world and meeting many people and their wisdom, experience, and technology. I am overjoyed that another ‘grandchild’ is being born in Korea. I believe that this ‘new story’ taking place in a different location will lead us into a world beyond my imagination.” Director Yeon says, “In my twenties, “Parasyte” was a staple for those of us who were passionate about manga and animation. Having the opportunity to build upon it and create something new is not only a great honor, but also a dream come true from my younger years.”
Parasyte: The Grey is set to thrill viewers with its premiere on April 5, only on Netflix.
*Press Release
