The upcoming movie Omniscient Reader: The Prophet has sparked debate after fans noticed BLACKPINK’s Jisoo holding a gun instead of a sword in teasers. The change from the original webtoon has upset many fans, but the director has now explained the reason behind this decision.
Director Kim Byung Woo said the choice was made to make Jisoo’s character Lee Ji Hye stand out in the movie. He wanted her to have a dramatic moment that would leave a strong impact. The original webtoon shows Lee Ji Hye using a sword, but the film version gives her a gun instead.
“I made this decision after a long thought about what can explode the character at the most dramatic moment,” the director said. He knew fans would prefer the original knife version but hoped they would understand the change after watching the film.
The movie is based on the popular web novel Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, where characters fight using special powers given by Constellations, god-like beings. In the story, Lee Ji Hye is linked to Admiral Yi Sun Sin, a famous Korean war hero known for using swords.
Fans were quick to criticize the change, saying it removes the historical meaning of the character. Some also worry that the movie is changing too much from the original story.
“Lee Ji Hye must have a sword. Her whole thing was about inheriting the sword. At this point, this is not ORV,” one fan wrote online. Others questioned why the production team would make such a big change.
The movie’s producer, Won Dong Yeon, defended the changes, saying the original author approved them. He explained that adapting a book into a movie sometimes requires adjustments.
“When adapting an original work to film, cinematic adaptation is necessary,” he said. “We showed the entire script to the original author in advance, and he fully understood and accepted the changes.”
Despite the backlash, some fans are still excited for the movie. The star-studded cast includes Lee Min Ho, Ahn Hyo Seop, Chae Soo Bin, and Nana. The story follows Kim Dok Ja, the only reader of a web novel that suddenly becomes real.
The movie is set to release in July 2025. Fans will have to wait and see if the changes work or if they take away from the original story.
