A report claiming that actor Yoo Ah In would make his acting comeback in director Jang Jae Hyunโs new film has been officially denied by the director himself and the actorโs agency. The rumor, which spread quickly online, suggested Yoo Ah In would star in the upcoming occult movie Vampire.
On December 17, a media outlet reported that Yoo Ah In had been cast in the new project from the director of the hit film Exhuma. The report stated the film would begin shooting in the second half of 2026 and would mark Yoo Ah Inโs return to acting after his legal troubles.
However, both sides involved have clearly stated the rumor is not true. A representative from UAA, Yoo Ah In’s agency, said, โNothing has been decided yetโ. Director Jang Jae Hyun gave a more detailed denial, explaining that not only is the casting false, but the project itself is in a very early stage.
Director Jang Jae Hyun was direct in his response to the rumor. He confirmed he is preparing a new film with the working title Vampire but stated the report about Yoo Ah In is โcompletely untrueโ.
He provided specific context about his recent contact with the actor, which appears to have been the source of the misunderstanding. โI have also never officially approached Yoo Ah In about the project,โ Jang said. โItโs true that I recently asked how he has been doing and briefly talked about future schedules, but it seems that this was blown into something entirely different. He also mentioned that he wants to spend about a year quietly without any scheduled activitiesโ.
The director also explained the current status of the Vampire project is very preliminary. โThe script for โVampireโ hasnโt been completed or even fully drafted. Only a synopsis exists at this point, and even the production company has not yet been finalizedโweโre still in discussionsโ. He added that the production timeline could extend into the year after next.
Yoo Ah Inโs agency, UAA, echoed the sentiment with a brief statement: โNothing has been decided regarding Yoo Ah-inโs appearance in Vampire. There are no confirmed plans for his return to actingโ.
Although the casting rumor is false, director Jang Jae Hyunโs next project is a real film in development. Titled Vampire, it is described as a vampire-themed occult movie. The film is expected to expand the supernatural universe the director has built through his previous works, which include The Priests, Svaha: The Sixth Finger, and the massively popular Exhuma.
Director Jang has previously shared some of his vision for the film with media. He stated the project is inspired by Bram Stokerโs classic novel Dracula and that he wants to โcreate a vampire film set in the Russian Orthodox Churchโ. He had noted that developing the original Korean story and screenplay could take about two years, with a full release potentially four years away.
The film was reported to be in the script development stage, with filming initially eyed for the second half of 2026. However, following the directorโs latest comments, that schedule appears fluid and uncertain.
The rumors of a comeback are significant because Yoo Ah In has been absent from the entertainment industry for approximately three years due to a serious legal case. The actor faced charges for violating South Koreaโs Narcotics Control Act.
His charges included the habitual use of the anesthetic propofol 181 times between 2020 and 2022, illegally obtaining prescription sleeping pills under other peopleโs names, and smoking marijuana in the United States in early 2023. After a lengthy trial, his sentence was finalized by the Supreme Court in July 2025. He received a sentence of one year in prison, suspended for two years, along with a fine of 2 million won (about $1,350).
This legal situation forced him to pause his acting career in 2022. He was dropped from his role in the second season of the Netflix series Hellbound and was replaced by another actor. Other completed projects, like the film The Match, were released belatedly while he was not actively promoting.
Following the initial report, a significant portion of the online reaction from the South Korean public was negative. Many netizens expressed their displeasure at the idea of Yoo Ah In returning to a high-profile project so soon after his legal conviction.
Also Read:
Comments on related news articles included statements like, โCasting Yoo Ah-in is an insult to the public,โ and โA suspended sentence is still a convictionโ. Some even called for a boycott of director Jang Jae Hyunโs new film if Yoo Ah In were to be cast. This public sentiment highlights the ongoing debate about accountability and comebacks for celebrities involved in scandals within the Korean entertainment industry.
The widespread interest in this casting rumor is largely due to the profile of director Jang Jae Hyun. His most recent film, Exhuma, released in 2024, was a major cultural and box office hit in South Korea. The occult horror film, starring Choi Min-sik and Kim Go-eun, attracted over 10 million viewers, a rare milestone for a horror film in the country.
Exhumaโs success solidified Jang Jae Hyunโs reputation as a leading director in the occult and supernatural genre. Therefore, any news about his next project automatically draws substantial attention from media and fans eager to see what he will do next.
Also Read: Heated Rivalry Episode 6: Season Finale Release, Ending Predictions and More
