Tazza 4: The Song of Beelzebub is bringing the iconic Korean gambling franchise to a close after two decades. The film stars Byun Yo-han and Roh Jae-won as two best friends turned bitter rivals in a high-stakes revenge story set on the global poker stage. Directed by Choi Kook-hee, the movie is set to hit theaters on September 23, 2026, right before the Chuseok holiday in Korea. New stills released ahead of the premiere show intense card table showdowns, blood-splattered characters, and the kind of tension that has defined the series since 2006.
What Is Tazza 4 About
The story follows Jang Tae-young (Byun Yo-han), a man who built a thriving online casino empire and believed he had everything. His world collapses when his closest friend, Park Tae-young (Roh Jae-won), betrays him and takes away everything he owns. The two share the same name but are complete opposites in personality.
Byun described his character as “lucky, optimistic, sociable, bold and unrestrained,” traits he sees as the opposite of Roh’s Park Tae-young. Park is a talented poker player who has always lived in Jang’s shadow, and his jealousy eventually consumes him.
When fate brings them back together in the world of global gambling, the former friends face off in a fierce game of revenge. The film moves beyond Korea’s underground gambling dens and into international casinos, sports Hold’em, and sophisticated betting games involving massive amounts of capital.
A Standalone Story in the Tazza Universe
Unlike the first three films, which shared a connected world over 20 years, Tazza 4: The Song of Beelzebub unfolds in an independent universe. Byun confirmed at a press conference in Seoul that the new film tells a completely standalone story.
“Even if you have not seen the earlier series, all viewers will be able to focus on the film’s story,” Byun said, adding that he hoped both longtime fans and newcomers would enjoy the movie.
Director Choi Kook-hee explained that while gambling remains the core subject, the film shifts focus toward the characters’ inner lives and human emotions, such as envy, jealousy, and betrayal. The story centers on two friends with the same name whose relationship is shattered by betrayal and revenge.
The franchise began with Tazza: The High Rollers in 2006, followed by Tazza: The Hidden Card in 2014 and Tazza: One Eyed Jack in 2019. In Korean, “Tazza” refers to a master gambler or card shark skilled in deception. The fourth film marks the final chapter of the series based on Huh Young-man’s popular comic book.
Full Cast and Characters
Byun Yo-han leads the film as Jang Tae-young, a natural-born gambler who instinctively attracts money. Byun prepared foreign language dialogues for the role, saying, “Since it’s a global story, I had to speak English”. He also lost more than 10 kilograms for the role and abstained from alcohol until filming ended.
Roh Jae-won plays Park Tae-young, a poker genius who always falls behind his rival. Roh shared that this is his first leading role in a major commercial production, calling it “deeply meaningful and like a dream come true”. He kept poker chips in his hands constantly, even handling them first thing in the morning to get used to the feel.
Ayaka Miyoshi makes her Korean film debut as Kaneko, a managing director at a Japanese company with ties to a yakuza organization. Kaneko designs a massive gambling game involving influential figures from Japan and Vietnam. Director Choi cast her after seeing her performance in the Netflix series Alice in Borderland Season 2.
Jo Woo-jin plays Gwak Dong-wook, a legendary gambler who becomes Jang Tae-young’s mentor and teaches him the art of poker. Yoon Kyung-ho takes on the role of Jo Joong-hwan, an international fixer who handles jobs for clients and cleans up afterward. Yoon contributed his own ideas to the character, including a distinctive Pyeongyang dialect to add depth.
Kim Min-ho plays Hama, while Lim Se-mi portrays Jang Tae-hee. Moon Ji-hoon, known as the rapper Swings, makes his big screen acting debut as Abraham, a high school classmate of the two main characters. He started acting just six months before filming after making music for 20 years.
The Meaning Behind the Title
The subtitle “The Song of Beelzebub” comes directly from the original comic and carries deep symbolism. Director Choi explained that religious figures in medieval Europe viewed playing cards as the devil’s tools.
“The 13 spade cards were each named after a devil. The ace of spades represents Lucifer, and the two of spades represents Beelzebub,” Choi said. The title reflects the original comic’s lore of a high-stakes gamble between the two characters.
Roh Jae-won added that the film unfolds as Park Tae-young tells the story of two demons gambling with everything they have, with the defeated Beelzebub turning into a dung fly.
Production and Filming Details
The cast underwent rigorous preparation alongside professional Texas Hold’em players. Byun practiced card tricks constantly and went through mind games and betting size verification training with top domestic poker players. Roh practiced nonstop from the moment he woke up until he went to sleep.
The movie marks the first time the franchise shot key sequences abroad, with some scenes filmed in Vietnam. “Even though we were working in a foreign setting with crew members speaking different languages, I felt that emotions connected naturally through acting,” Byun said.
Director Choi is known for the 2018 financial drama Default and the 2022 musical film Life Is Beautiful. He said during a press conference that it was “an honor and a heavy responsibility to wrap up a 20-year journey”.
Release and Streaming Information
Tazza 4: The Song of Beelzebub opens in South Korean theaters on September 23, 2026, the day before the Chuseok holiday begins. The film is distributed by CJ ENM and produced by CIDES.
For international audiences, Well Go USA is giving the film a U.S. release later in 2026. Streaming details for platforms like Disney+ or Netflix have not been confirmed as of the current date. The 2019 film Tazza: One Eyed Jack is available to watch on Viki for those who want to catch up on the series.
“The director told me that Jo Joong Hwan is an important character who carries the beginning and end of the story, and that he really wanted me to play the role.” — Yoon Kyung-ho
You May Also Like:
What Makes This Film Different
The fourth installment sets itself apart by moving the action from Korea’s underground gambling scene to a global stage. Previous films focused on “hwatu,” a Korean card game, while the new entry expands to international casinos and sports Hold’em.
Director Choi explained that the original comic book creator, Huh Young-man, told him The Song of Beelzebub was his favorite story in the series. “I remember him asking why such a good comic wasn’t being adapted. That made me think I had to make it even better,” Choi said.
The film also brings a powerful female character back to the franchise. Ayaka Miyoshi’s Kaneko joins the lineage of memorable women in the series, following Kim Hye-soo in the first film and Shin Sae-kyeong in Tazza: The Hidden Card.
Byun reached out to Cho Seung-woo, who starred in the original 2006 film, after deciding to join the cast. Cho replied with a line from Madam Jeong, played by Kim Hye-soo: “What’s past is past.” Byun said it was Cho’s way of encouraging him to have fun with the new film.
Also Read: Kim Ji Seok Makes Second Proposal to Lee Min Jung in OK, Lets Get Divorced Episode 10
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more updates on Korean cinema, streaming releases, and the latest entertainment news from around the world.
Source (1)
Leave a Reply