Pictured: Byeon Woo Seok and Solo Leveling
Following the big announcement that Netflix is producing a live-action adaptation of Solo Leveling, the reaction online has been mixed to say the least, and has also been met with plenty of skepticism. So are fans right to worry? Is Netflix making a colossal mistake? Here’s our thoughts on the matter.
First, let’s introduce Solo Leveling to readers who are unfamiliar with the franchise. Solo Leveling is an action-fantasy web novel created by author Chugong, who has published a total of 14 books between July 2016 and December 2021. While the books are popular in their own right, what captured readers’ attention was the webtoon adaptation of the story, famously illustrated by Jang Sung-rak. Better still, what brought the franchise into the mainstream media was the fantastic anime adaptation by A-1 Pictures.
Thanks to the anime, the popularity of Solo Leveling has exploded. The two seasons of the Solo Leveling anime made such a huge impact that Crunchyroll reported it as the “most watched anime on the platform ever.” Considering that Crunchyroll also streams popular titles such as One Piece and Demon Slayer, that’s an extremely high bar to meet.
So what is it about Solo Leveling that everyone loves? Why is it so popular? The short answer is a straightforward one. It’s cool as fuck.
The story centers on a young man named Sung Jin-woo, who lives on an alternate Earth where, after mysterious portals began opening around the planet, magical powers are awakened within members of humanity to fight the hordes of monsters that endanger entire cities. These “Hunters,” defined by their rank, make a living defending humanity and delve deep into the dungeons of the portals. As for Sung Jin-woo, an E-Rank Hunter, the lowest rank possibly given, puts his life on the line even in the weakest of dungeons. But, after barely surviving a double dungeon that claimed the lives of many of his party members, Sung Jin-woo is chosen by “the System” and granted a mysterious power that allows him to level up his strength and intelligence by carrying out missions and completing dungeons, changing his life forever.
Picture: Byeon Woo Seok will play Sung Jinwoo in the live-action adaptation of Solo Leveling
So the story? Super easy to follow. The action? Incredible, and both super fun to read and watch. The main character? Overpowered to the point of absurdity at times, yet in a super fun way that gamers especially love. The art? Both wonderfully drawn and animated, which has helped Sung Jin-woo aura farm his way into becoming one of the coolest fictional characters in years.
So why are fans of Solo Leveling so skeptical of a live-action adaptation? Unfortunately, history speaks for itself on that front, but we’ll get a little more into that debate soon. If the point hasn’t already been driven home yet, what makes Solo Leveling so popular is the action and its aesthetic. Both of which are going to cost any studio tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars for a live-action adaptation. There are moments in Solo Leveling that depict levels of destruction to environments and cities that could make a Power Ranger blush. It cannot be understated enough that the one thing with Solo Leveling you cannot afford to do is go cheap on the production.
Before you even get into the diverse number of creatures that Sung Jin-woo will fight throughout the series, the characters shown around him are armed to the teeth with weapons and armor straight out of a high-fantasy novel, especially as we are introduced to stronger characters. Which brings us back to the creatures Sung Jin-woo will fight. There’s an incredibly diverse number of monsters seen throughout the series, from Orcs, Dragons, Snow Elves, Giants, Demons, and more. Will the studio go all out on CGI? Or will they attempt practical effects? The wrong decision can swiftly turn something as cool as the orcs shown in Solo Leveling from seriously cool to stupidly lame.
Picture: Demons, Snow Elves, and Orcs are just a few of many different dangerous creatures Sung Jinwoo fights in Solo Leveling
There’s only so much a studio can do practically before turning to special effects, but the adaptation must capture the magic of the fights from the webtoon/anime. Anything less than their best (and expensive) will be viewed as a cheap imitation, which will ultimately result in a swift cancellation.
Poorly made live-action adaptations of webtoons/manga and anime predate Netflix. But has Netflix done anything to improve the reputation of live-action adaptations? Yes and No.
Let’s start with the bad. Death Note, Cowboy Bebop, Zom 100, and Knights of the Zodiac. All of which have been received terribly, and nothing more needs to be said about them than what has already been said many times before.
But.. there have been some shining examples of live-action adaptations done right. Those being:
None of the adaptations listed above is without criticism, far from it. But every series, regardless of how bad or great, how popular or not, is always met with some level of criticism. So that makes these shining examples of the fact that it can be done if given to the right studio. One Piece is arguably the best example of this, despite having one season, with two more seasons on the way. The team at Tomorrow Studios has done an excellent job of adapting the first Saga of Eiichiro Oda’s sprawling and beloved Pirate Odyssey into a live-action adventure. Not to mention, Netflix has done a great job of keeping fans excited for what’s to come.
Picture: the cast of the live-action adaptation of One Piece – Tomorrow Studios
It’s thanks to shows like One Piece that give us hope that Solo Leveling can be a success at Netflix.
The only thing stopping Solo Leveling from becoming a success at Netflix is Netflix itself. For the series to be successful and for fans to fall in love with the live-action adaptation, Netflix will need to invest a significant amount of time and money into the project, and find a studio as passionate about Solo Leveling as the fans. Anything less than 100% commitment will not suffice.
Do you think the live-action adaptation of Solo Leveling will be a success on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!