BLACKPINK’s Jisoo is at the center of fan outrage after the trailer for Omniscient Reader:The Prophet showed her character holding a gun instead of a sword. Fans of the original webtoon argue this change disrespects the story’s lore and the historical figure tied to her role. The controversy has sparked calls for the production team to explain their creative decisions.
The film, set to release in July 2025, features a star-studded cast including Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop. It adapts the popular webtoon Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, where characters gain powers tied to mythical “Constellations.” Jisoo plays Lee Ji-hye, whose sponsor is Admiral Yi Sun-sin, a legendary Korean naval hero known for using swords and bows.
Fans were shocked to see Jisoo’s character wielding a gun in the teaser. Many called it a careless departure from the source material. The backlash grew as fans pointed out that Admiral Yi Sun-sin never used firearms, making the change historically inaccurate.
“Lee Jihye isn’t even a main character to begin with, so all these changes make no sense unless it’s just because Jisoo plays her and you’re desperate to use her fame to hype the project. We deserve an explanation because no one’s defending this mess.”
Others criticized the production for ignoring the character’s core identity.
“Lee Jihye must have a bang and use a sword. The director changed the adaptation. It’s not the same as the webtoon.”
The debate intensified as fans accused the team of prioritizing international appeal over authenticity. Some speculated the gun was added to make the film more marketable in Japan, where sword-based action might be less popular.
“Giving Jihye a gun instead of a sword is definitely a choice. Would have loved to see Jisoo, but why did the production not even bother to know about the novel?”
CEO Won Dong-yeon of Realize Pictures defended the changes, stating that adaptations sometimes need adjustments. He confirmed the original author approved the script.
“Cinematic adaptation is necessary when adapting an original work to a movie. We showed the author the entire scenario in advance, and they understood everything. The message, characters, and worldview don’t change.”
Despite this, fans remain skeptical. Many vowed to boycott the film unless Jisoo’s character is corrected. Some even threatened to lower its ratings online.
“We will not promote! We promise to lower the movie’s ratings and bring them down to the lowest level. We need clarification on why Jisoo’s character is not holding a sword, which is the main element that represents the character’s role!”
The film follows Kim Dok-ja, an office worker who finds himself inside his favorite web novel as it becomes reality. Alongside allies like Yoo Joong-hyuk (Lee Min-ho), he battles through apocalyptic scenarios.
Jisoo’s involvement initially excited fans, but the controversy has overshadowed the hype. Some supporters worry the backlash will unfairly target her instead of the production team.
“Your exploitation of Jisoo’s fame to generate hype has negatively impacted her. If Lee Jihye doesn’t use a sword, then what’s the purpose of her character’s existence?”
The film’s budget of 30 billion KRW (about $20.8 million USD) adds pressure for it to succeed. With its July release approaching, the team may need to address fan concerns to avoid box office damage.
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