Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy (2025) Review
Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy (2025) Review
The Movie Partnership is excited to announce that the Korean film adaptation, Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy, based on the global sensation web novel Omniscient Reader, will be available for UK audiences on digital download from 15th December, with both subtitled and dubbed versions.
Since its first publication in 2018, the webtoon has gained global fandom achieving more than 300 million views. Its unique concept of reality and fantasy worlds being merged and the epic storyline in which Kim Dokja, the sole reader of a novel, has to write a new ending with the novel’s main character, Yu Junghyeok and the companions he meets, has captivated readers all over the world.
Kim Dokja, an ordinary office worker in his 20s, seems to be the only reader of an obscure apocalyptic web novel. The day he finishes the final chapter; the story comes to life — and its omnipotent protagonist Yu Junghyeok appears before him. Armed with knowledge of the novel’s every twist and turn, Kim must gather allies and rewrite fate itself if he hopes to survive… and save the world.
Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy assembles a stellar cast, led by Ahn Hyo-seop (K-Pop Demon Hunters, A Time Called You, Doctor Romantic), Lee Min-ho (Pachinko, The Sour), Shin Seung-ho (Weak Hero: Class 1, D.P.), NANA (Im Jin-ah, Mask Girl), Kwon Eun-seong (Concrete Utopia), and JISOO, actress and lead vocalist in Blackpink (Snowdrop).
In researching the film online, it became apparent that fans of the source material, which was written under the pseudonym of singNsong by a Korean duo, were not best pleased with how it has been adapted and consequently resulted in a backlash. From reading their critiques director Kim Byung-woo’s film has not followed the source material’s original plot and that the naysayers also had issues with the film’s casting, characterisation, and pretty much everything else.
Being unfamiliar with the web novel and therefore coming to view this film afresh and having little to no expectations of it, I found myself pleasantly surprised by it. It is TRAIN TO BUSAN meets SQUID GAME, with assorted monsters, and with special powers and/or weapons bestowed upon those that have successfully completed a challenging task. This fantasy adventure is rumoured to be the first in a five-part series, however given the amount of vitriol unleashed upon it, it now remains to be seen whether any others get made.
OMNISCIENT READER: THE PROPHECY packs in plenty of action sequences that never tire in their inventiveness, its structure is not dissimilar to that of a video game. The CGI is sometimes a little rough around the edges, but the stunt work constantly dazzles. As I mentioned before I am unfamiliar with the web novel upon which this is based however as a freshman I really enjoyed the time I spent watching this film, and if they do ever decide to film any follow-ups then I will very much look forward to watching them.
Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy | Global hit web novel adaptation available NOW on digital download in the UK.
Watch the trailer here:
