Netflix’s Black Knight Director Cho Ui-seok Talks About Adapting the Webtoon Series to Live Action

Black Knight is Netflix’s upcoming Korean series based on Korean Webtoon Delivery Knight created by Lee Yoon-gyun, which premise is set in a dystopian future devastated by air pollution, and the survival of humanity depends on your not so average deliverymen.

We had the opportunity to speak with the Director of the upcoming Black Knight series Cho Ui-seok in an interview. Joining us are some of the actors and actresses as they talk about their respective roles in the series are: Kim Woo-bin, Song Seung-heon, Kang You-seok, and Esom.

[Interview is edited for clarity]

Black Knight Rank #1, 5-8 (played by Kim Woo-bin)

After his debut as a fashion model back in 2008, Kim Woo-bin rose to popularity with his portrayal of a character bearing an unrequited love for the female lead in A Gentleman’s Dignity. His role as a high schooler and heir to conglomerate in The Heirs won him a Popularity Award at the SBS Drama Awards. He also acted in several other works such as Twenty, Uncontrollably Fond, Our Blues, Master and Alienoid.

Kim Woo-bin now steps into the shoes of legendary Black Knight 5-8, who delivers means of survival in the dystopian world of Black Knight, which is swamped in sand.

Ryu Seok, CEO of Cheonmyeong Group (played by Song Seung-heon)

Song Seung-heon risen to stardom as one of the most iconic actors that led the K-wave from his sensitive and heart-wrenching performance in the romantic drama Autumn in My Heart. His outstanding performance in East of Eden won him three awards, including the Grand Prize at the MBC Drama Awards.

In Black Knight, Song Seung-heon will be playing the role of Ryu Seok, the CEO of Cheonmyeong Group, who is set on ruling the world in chaos, and driving the story forward.

 

Yoon Sa-wol, a refugee dreaming to become a deliveryman (played by Kang You-seok)

Ever since his debut in 2018, Kang You-seok has built a strong filmography, performing across genres and roles such as in Melting Me Softly where he played a handsome physical education university student, and in Start-Up, where he played the role of a talented developer with a dazzling career.

Now in Black Knight, he will mesmerize audiences as Yoon Sa-wol, who dreams of becoming a deliveryman and seeks to bring a new world.

 

Jung Seol-ah, a major at the Defence Intelligence Command (played by Esom)

Since her debut as a model in 2008, Esom had broadened her spectrum as an actress between various characters across genres. Her roles comprises of a character who starts out innocent but eventually becomes consumed by revenge in Scarlet Innocence, and a down-to-earth girl who is unafraid to speak her mind in This is My First Life. Esom also won several awards from various Film Awards including Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, etc.

Next performance in Black Knight will have her fill the role of Seol-ah, the major of the Defense Intelligence Command who seeks justice.

 

What was your decision to take part in the series?

Kim Woo-bin: The most important factor in making up my mind was director Cho Ui-seok. He was still developing the ideas for Black Knight when I told him I would love to work with him in whatever role he would offer because it would be a great way to reunite with him after a long break.

 

Song Seung-heon: I found the premise of the story fascinating, but the biggest reason why I joined the cast was my faith in Director Cho Ui-seok. He was still developing the ideas for Black Knight when I told him I would love to work with him in whatever role he would offer because it would be a great way to reunite with him after a long break.

 

Kang You-seok: The script was so engaging. I was also drawn to the scale of the project, which was unheard of in Korea, and the sci-fi elements. But most importantly, I was drawn to the character of Sa-wol.

 

Esom: What I found the most fascinating was the idea of deliverymen, who are such an integral part of our daily lives in reality, being reinterpreted as a special group of people who are responsible for keeping people alive. I was also curious to find out how Director Cho Ui-seok would translate the world of the original webtoon into a series.

 

What was it like to work with Director Cho Ui-seok?

Kim Woo-bin: We kept in touch after we were done with Master so we knew each other quite well and he knew from the get-go how I was going to portray this character. Chemistry with him was just effortless and I felt like we were one team from a long time ago.

 

Song Seung-heon: I worked with him on his first film. We were both in our early 20s. Having the opportunity to work with him again after so many years was such a moving experience throughout the whole of the production process. We were newbies as an actor and a director back then, but I was proud that we were reunited as more mature people. It was such a pleasure to work with him again, and we also agreed that we should perhaps continue to talk about other opportunities together after this series.

Kang You-seok: I was very grateful and happy to have had the opportunity to work with Director Cho Ui-seok, who I have admired as a director watching his films like Master and Cold Eyes. We went over the script together before filming and had many conversations to shape the character of Sa-wol. But somewhere along that process, I could sense that he began to trust me to develop and build this character.

 

On set, he would reassure me, saying, “I know You-seok can handle his part,” and often tell me how much he liked my performance. I wanted to express my gratitude, which motivated me to work harder to portray this character better.

 

Esom: Director Cho Ui-seok always told me, “As long as you are okay, I am okay.” Then, I would reply to him, “As long as you are okay, I am okay.” I tend to have many questions on set, and he was always so thoughtful in addressing my questions.

 

On that same note, what was it like to work with the other members of the cast?

Kim Woo-bin: Whenever I had scenes with Song Seung-heon, he would kindly lead the way so I thankfully felt very at home when acting opposite him. He’d always ask for my opinion which made the whole process much enjoyable and effortless.

Kang You-seok is so upbeat and tenacious. I was very grateful for that and his performance is far from being formulaic. I loved working with him. We didn’t have that many scenes together but I’d ask to monitor his scenes on set so I could feel like we’re really working in harmony. Because I monitored so many of his scenes I felt like we were really close.

For the Black Knights, we became really good friends as we hung out a lot. They are all great people and since we have lots in common we just hit it off right away. We went to work out together after shooting, had dinner, and spent a lot of time together. Even recently, we got together to just chat and dine out together. I owe it to them for transforming me into 5-8.

 

Song Seung-heon: I must say that Woo-bin is not only a great actor but also such a wonderful person with great manners. I had already been told stories about how great he is, but I was very moved to actually experience it firsthand while working with him.

As for You-seok, I heard that he worked very hard to prepare for his role in the series. He had a lot of action scenes to film, which must have been physically demanding, but I never saw him complain. I look forward to seeing more of his performance.

As for Esom, she looked like a very shy girl behind the camera, but she instantly turned into a military officer once the camera started rolling, which I found absolutely professional.

Jin Kyung is very charismatic on camera, but once we wrapped up shooting, I could see how fun and humorous she is. I am very happy that I got to work with great people in the series.

Kang You-seok: I have always been a fan of Woo-bin’s work, so I was thrilled to learn that we would be working together. He was so welcoming when we first met, and on set, he looked after me both as his junior colleague and a friend, which I am very grateful for. We had a great time filming together.

My first shoot was an action scene with Esom. I was very nervous because it was our first time coordinating the movements, but she was very considerate and helped me relax as a more experienced actor. She was very charismatic on screen, and off camera, she took good care of me like an older sister.

Lee Ju-seung, Jung Eun-sung, and Lee Sang-jin are my friends and brothers in the series, so it was crucial that we build a strong bond and chemistry. We would go over the script together before production and meet up outside of work to hang out. We became close friends in real life, which naturally translated on set. I am so glad that we still get to meet up often, and I made these wonderful colleagues-turned-friends who always support each other.

 

Esom: Woo-bin is such a cool person and an incredible actor. He was so considerate of others on set, and I understood why so many people love him.

As for Seung-heon, it was my first time working with him. He was very fun to be around, and I loved working with him because he has a great sense of humor and lifted up the mood for everyone on set.

With You-seok, I actually worked out with him and prepared for our roles for the series in the stunts training center. Since my character takes care of Sa-wol in the series, and You-seok really felt like a little brother to me, I was a little worried about him pulling off all the action scenes. But seeing him successfully complete every scene, I thought he was a reliable colleague even though he is younger than I am.

 

What was the biggest focus in portraying your character?

Kim Woo-bin: I put a great amount of emphasis on the mindset of 5-8 when portraying him. He dreams of a world where everyone is equally treated and respected so I kept reminding myself why he goes to such lengths. I also tried to constantly think of those who are marginalized and hurt. I believe everyone deserves to be loved. That’s why I was delighted to meet 5-8 and put myself in his shoes.

 

Song Seung-heon: From a black-and-white perspective, he would be someone you consider evil. He is devoted to his own beliefs and thinks that small sacrifices are inevitable to achieve great goals, but I would not necessarily dismiss his goals and beliefs as being purely evil.

I figured that whatever his beliefs are, they isolate him to the extent that he seemed even sympathetic and desperate. I tried to focus on that aspect of my character. I think it was my mission to portray these aspects of Ryu Seok, and I tried my best to bring authenticity to this character so that he can become a convincing character that people can relate to.

 

Kang You-seok: Sa-wol often finds himself at a crossroads. As he is someone who has immense drive once he sets his mind to something, I focused on portraying his growth as he pursues his goals. After I got my part through an audition, Director Cho Ui-seok told me that he wanted me to “become an action monster” for the role. And the role did require me to do a lot of action scenes.

Three months prior to production, I worked out everyday with the stunt team. I built a lot of physical strength through that process, and when it came time to shoot the action scenes, I could see all that hard work paid off. I worked from the ground up to prepare thoroughly for this role.

 

Esom:  What I found the most fascinating was the idea of deliverymen, who are such an integral part of our daily lives in reality, being reinterpreted as a special group of people who are responsible for keeping people alive.

I was also curious to find out how Director Cho Ui-seok would translate the world of the original webtoon into a series.

 

What did it feel like to step into the dystopian world that Black Knight presents?

Kim Woo-bin: The more I imagined the easier it was for me to get a sense of how everything was going to be, so I really tried to immerse myself into the world. I thought the way I think, the way I breathe and even my level of energy would be different depending on whether I have my ventilator on or not, so I made sure that I added that distinction when portraying my character.

When I imagined the buildings around Hannam Bridge deserted and collapsed, I felt uneasy. I thought 5-8 would have felt the same way too in the past when he saw everything. I really can’t wait to see how the polluted air, the main setup behind this series, would be brought to life.

 

Song Seung-heon: It piqued my interest that we would be portraying people who survived an apocalypse and live in a dystopian world, which was one of the reasons why I really wanted to join the cast. As intriguing as it was, it was challenging to rely solely on our imagination to perform because the world is not physically there.

It was difficult to film scenes where I had to perform in front of a blue screen or a white wall before the CGI was completed. But at the same time, I was also excited at the prospect of Black Knight bringing great entertainment to viewers once the production was completed.

I look forward to watching every single scene of Black Knight because it will visualize a destroyed version of everything we are familiar with now, from the 63 Square to N Seoul Tower and the Han River Bridge, in a world that has been transformed into a desert.

Kang You-seok: The thought of everything that I know, from the Hannam Bridge to this city, being reduced to ruins one day was terrifying. As we were filming, I thought I would love to pass down a beautiful Earth to the future generations.

For the scenes set in the Special District, we filmed with the blue screen in the background after seeing images of what it would eventually look like on screen. Even as we were shooting, I was so curious to see how the lives inside the dome would be portrayed on screen.

I also found the idea of a QR code for social status identification quite intriguing. Having a QR code embedded under the skin for identification purposes was a pretty cool device for the story.

 

Esom:  It was intriguing to see all the familiar spaces in the middle of a desert, but I also could not help but think that this is a future that we must prevent. In terms of makeup and costumes, they were all pretty dark to be consistent with the tone and the destructive mood of Black Knight.

For makeup, I wore a fair amount of freckles on my face. The QR code, which serves as an access code, was drawn on the back of the hand for every shoot. The masks and uniforms were impressive because I felt that they were modern and futuristic at the same time. The design of the masks, in particular, was very cool, and so, it lent itself well to shaping my character.

 

What do you think the audience should look forward to in Black Knight, and what are your thoughts on global streaming?

Kim Woo-bin: The characters have their own rationale for their actions. If you think about why a character acts a certain way and about what’s behind their actions, I bet you’ll be able to fully immerse yourself in the show. New sides of Song Seung-heon, Kang You-seok and Esom of course will be another enjoyable element of the show.

It was a delight working on this show and I sincerely hope the global audience can truly enjoy what we’ve created. I hope you can savor every moment of the show and I will definitely be looking forward to talking to all of you about the show.

 

Song Seung-heon: The premise of the story is intriguing as it unfolds in a near-future dystopia where the Earth has been hit by a comet. What is even more fascinating is that it is a story about deliverymen who transport oxygen, which has become a critical commodity to sustain life in a world where oxygen has become very scarce.

I am thrilled and happy that the series will be reaching audiences all around the world. This is a series that features a lot of great actors and tells a very engaging story. Please stay tuned to Black Knight.

 

Kang You-seok: This series not only has a fascinating premise but also features a lot of amazing actors, who will bring their respective characters to life with unique charm and depth. There are a lot of sci-fi elements and action involved, so it will be an incredible visual feast.

I am thrilled that the series will be streamed in over 190 countries around the world. I am confident that, no matter where you are, you will find Black Knight exciting and engaging. I hope you love the series as much as we loved making it. It is coming soon, so please stay tuned.

 

Esom: The highlight of Black Knight is that it is a new future that Netflix presents and directed by Cho Ui-seok, who has always impressed audiences with his tightly-knit stories and outstanding ability as a director. I am nervous and excited at the same time because this is my first Netflix series, and I hope you stay tuned.

 

Director Cho Ui-seok

At the age of 25, Cho Ui-seok grabbed the attention of the Korean film industry as its youngest director to debut his feature film with Make it Big (2002), a story about three-high schoolers who discover a large amount of cash. Following his debut, he had directed many beloved films such as The World of Silence, Cold Eyes, and Master.

 

What made you decide to direct the series – Black Knight?

Cho Ui-seok: When I first read the original webtoon, I found the premise of the story very unique. I was captivated by the idea of deliverymen serving one of the most crucial roles in the lives of people who survived, fighting hunters to transport oxygen and other necessities.

 

How did you envision each character to be portrayed?

Cho Ui-seok: I wanted 5-8 to be strong and level-headed. I thought Woo-bin would be the perfect actor for the role, and indeed, he did an amazing job portraying the character.

As for Seung-heon, who happens to be a friend of mine, I wanted to see him use his handsome face to portray the evil acts that his character commits. He was on board with this new challenge, and not surprisingly, he delivered a performance that exceeded my expectations.

For the character of Sa-wol, we auditioned many actors. I thought of Sa-wol as someone who is unpredictable like a bouncing ball and innocent, and whose innocence would sometimes shine through in certain situations. You-seok had such an accurate understanding of the character that he reassured me that he was the one I wanted for the role, and his performance was outstanding.

As for Esom, who played Seol-ah, the moment I saw her in her military uniform, I knew that I had Seol-ah standing in front of me.

 

What was your focus when depicting the world of Black Knight?

Cho Ui-seok: We decided to turn the Gangnam area, where the affluent population is concentrated now, into a district where refugees find shelter in the ruins of destroyed apartment complexes, while the selected few go underground to build a safe hiding place.

The world in the story is divided into the General, Special, and Core Districts, ironically forming an inverted triangle in shape. It was important to make the contrast between different districts clear in order to establish this world, and we had immense help from concept artists from the production design and CGI teams.

 

VFX accounts for a significant portion of the Black Knight series, but do you have a particular scene that you consider to be your favourite?

Cho Ui-seok: Post-production took a long time because every single scene above ground required CGI. In the editing phase, we could only see the blue screen in the background, so I had extensive conversations with the CGI team to create the right images for the background.

I am glad that many of the scenes have turned out better than what I expected, including the bird’s eye view of Seoul, the N Seoul Tower in ruins, and the dome-shaped gate leading to the underground path in Gwanghwamun.

 

How do you feel about Black Knight being streamed across over 190 countries around the world?

Cho Ui-seok: I hope you enjoy the series and help spread the word. I am so thrilled and look very much forward to its premiere as it will be released worldwide on the same day, which is different from films. I think it will be an exciting experience for me.

We would like to thank Director Cho Ui-seok, and the rest of the actors and actresses for taking the time to answer our questions in regards to Black Knight. Black Knight is set to release on 12th May 2023 on Netflix.

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