SOUTH KOREA (ANN/KOREA HERALD) – “Parasyte: The Grey,” directed by South Korean filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho, known for the successful Korean Netflix series “Hellbound” and “The Bequeathed,” is set to stream on Netflix starting April 5, as announced by the streaming platform on Wednesday.
Derived from the popular Japanese manga series “Parasyte,” which has sold over 25 million copies globally, “Parasyte: The Grey” ventures into a narrative that deviates entirely from the original manga. The manga follows Shinichi Izumi, a high school student partially infected by a Parasyte, an alien entity.
The 6-episode drama series unfolds in the context of Parasytes invading South Korea, introducing Jeon So-nee as the lead, Jung Soo-in, who undergoes infection by a Parasyte, transforming into a hybrid creature.
Koo Kyo-hwan portrays Seol Gang-woo, on a quest to find his younger sister, while Lee Jung-hyun takes on the role of Choi Joon-kyung, the leader of the Grey team, a military unit tasked with eliminating the Parasytes.
Expressing his enthusiasm for adapting “Parasyte,” Yeon stated in a press release, “Turning ‘Parasyte,’ which was like a textbook of comics at the time I was studying comics and animation, into visual content was like realising a dream.”
Iwaaki Hitoshi, the author of “Parasyte,” shared his excitement, considering the adaptation as the birth of a new “grandchild” in Korea. He noted the evolution of the original work as a ‘child’ branching into the world, combining with the wisdom, experiences, and technologies of many people.
“As another ‘grandchild’ is being born in Korea as well, I am extremely delighted. Moreover, I believe (this adaptation) will guide me into a world far beyond my imagination, particularly as it presents a ‘new story’ in different settings,” said Hitoshi.
