Netflix has announced new Korean action film Mantis (working title), a spinoff of the 2023 feature Kill Boksoon.
The film will star Yim Si-wan (Unlocked, Misaeng: Incomplete Life), Park Gyu-young (Sweet Home, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay) and Jo Woo-jin (Narco-Saints, Alienoid).
Mantis is set in the same contract killer world as Kill Boksoon, which premiered at the Berlinale last year. While Kill Boksoon explores the story of Gil Bok-soon struggling to balance her life as a single mother and assassin, Mantis shifts the spotlight to other contract killers, named Mantis, Jae-yi and Dok-go.
Yim will play the role of Han-ul, an ace assassin also known as “Mantis,” working for MK Ent. The character Mantis was briefly mentioned by Kill Boksoon‘s Cha Min-kyu to “have gone on a vacation,” and this spinoff will trace Mantis’ return to the industry in search of new opportunities.
Upon Mantis’ return, he encounters fellow trainee Jae-yi (played by Park). Jae-yi is also Mantis’ old friend and she harbors complex feelings for him. Mantis also crosses paths with Dok-go (played by Jo), a retired legendary killer who is the founding member of MK Ent. Although Dok-go has long retired from active duty, he steps in as the CEO of MK Ent. after Cha Min-kyu’s death and hopes to bring Mantis back.
Mantis will be the debut feature of Lee Tae-sung, who co-wrote the script with Kill Boksoon director Byun Sung-hyun. Lee was an assistant director on Kill Boksoon and The King.
Mantis is produced by SEE AT Film Co., LTD, the company behind Kill Boksoon, Love and Leashes, and Kingmaker.
