The live-action adaptation of the popular webtoon Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint has finally released its first trailer, offering a glimpse of the cast and visual style while revealing a July 2025 release window. The movie, officially titled Omniscient Reader: The Prophet, is part of a five-feature film project by Munpia, originally announced in September 2019. Since the confirmation of a 2025 release, there had been little information until now, making the recent trailer a major milestone for eager fans.
Omniscient Reader: Trailer
The 32-second teaser, uploaded by Korean film distributor Lotte Entertainment, highlights stunning visual effects and introduces the main characters. While it promises a visually striking cinematic experience, the trailer also hints at some creative deviations from the original storyline, sparking mixed reactions among fans.
Weapon Change Sparks Debate Among Fans
The storyline of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint revolves around Kim Dokja, an ordinary office worker whose reality merges with the dystopian novel he has been reading. He becomes the only person aware of the future events described in the book. The live-action adaptation will reportedly cover the “Proof of Value” and “Geumho Station” arcs two pivotal storylines from the webtoon.
However, fans quickly noticed a major change in the adaptation: characters are shown using firearms instead of swords, which were central to the original narrative. This alteration led to backlash from fans, with some jokingly renaming the film “Omniscient Reader’s Gunpoint.” Critics argue that the use of modern weapons clashes with the post-apocalyptic setting, where acquiring firearms would be both impractical and ineffective against the novel’s monstrous threats.
Despite the criticism, some speculate that the inclusion of guns may be a creative decision to enhance the film’s action sequences and offer a fresh cinematic approach.
Concerns About Missing Key Story Elements in Omniscient Reader
Another point of concern is the absence of certain iconic elements from the original story. The trailer does not depict the “status window” feature that highlights the presence of mystical beings called constellations. Additionally, the absence of Bihyung, a mischievous dokkaebi (a goblin-like creature central to the plot), has raised concerns that these key aspects might be excluded from the adaptation.
Given the significant role constellations and dokkaebis play in the narrative, fans worry that omitting them could dilute the essence of the source material.
Producer Addresses Fan Concerns
In response to the growing backlash, Won Dongyeon, the producer of Omniscient Reader: The Prophet, addressed these concerns through a statement shared via PopBase’s X (formerly Twitter) account. Dongyeon assured fans that the original author, SingNsong, had been consulted throughout the production process and approved the changes.
“We showed the script to the original author and explained all the adaptations,” he stated. “The author fully understood and accepted them. While some changes were necessary for cinematic reasons, the film preserves the core message, characters, and worldbuilding.”
He also confirmed that Yoo Joonghyuk, one of the main characters, will wield both a sword and a gun, and that the dokkaebis will indeed make an appearance. Drawing a comparison to his previous work on Along with the Gods, Dongyeon expressed confidence that fans would appreciate the film once they experience the final product.
A Global Phenomenon in the Making?
With over 425 million readers worldwide, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint stands as one of the most successful web novels of all time. Given the massive popularity of other Korean adaptations like All of Us Are Dead and Sweet Home, there are high expectations for Omniscient Reader: The Prophet to achieve similar international acclaim.
As the release date approaches, fans remain divided between excitement and skepticism. However, the production team’s commitment to preserving the story’s core elements suggests that the film could deliver an ambitious adaptation that balances faithfulness with cinematic spectacle.
For now, fans of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint can mark their calendars for July 2025 and look forward to seeing how this beloved story unfolds on the big screen.
