When star power meets storytelling Jisoo’s cameo in Omniscient Reader is stealing hearts and stirring controversy.
The upcoming fantasy thriller Omniscient Reader: The Prophet is making waves but not all for the right reasons. What should have been a celebration of a much-loved story coming to life has stirred controversy online, especially among loyal fans of the original web novel.
At the center of the storm? BLACKPINK’s Jisoo and how her role in the film is being promoted.
When the film’s posters dropped, eagle-eyed fans noticed something odd. Jisoo’s character, Lee Ji-hye, originally a sword-wielding warrior in the webtoon is seen holding a gun instead. That alone sparked debate. But what really ruffled feathers was how prominently Jisoo was being featured in the promos, despite her reportedly limited screen time.
Some fans feel her global stardom is being used more as a marketing tool than a narrative necessity. Are they changing the story just to fit the cast?” one user asked online.
Director Kim Byung-woo has stepped in to cool things down. He admitted that while Jisoo's role isn’t central in this first film, she’s still an important character in the bigger picture.
“If someone less famous played her, audiences might overlook her importance,” he said, adding that the creative liberties like swapping the sword for a gun were part of adapting the story for the big screen.
Meanwhile, at a promotional event, Lee Min-ho and co-star Ahn Hyo-seop called Jisoo their “ally,” a term that got people talking even more. Some found it sweet, while others saw it as further proof the film’s promo strategy leans heavily on her star power.
Lee also confessed that he was hesitant to take on the project at first, given the webtoon’s cult following. But he ultimately believed in the story and its cinematic potential.
Not everyone’s buying it. Long-time readers of the webtoon feel the film’s direction is veering too far from the original. Hashtags calling for boycotts and rewrites are already floating around social media.
Still, with a star-studded cast and a huge fanbase, Omniscient Reader: The Prophet is one of the most buzzed-about releases this year even if the buzz is a little messy.
