What would happen if parasitic life-forms infiltrate Korea? This chilling premise comes to life in sci-fi thriller series Parasyte: The Grey, premiering April 5, with the launch poster offering a peek into this eerie reality.

Parasyte: The Grey draws inspiration from the legendary manga “Parasyte” by Hitoshi Iwaaki, which sold over 25 million copies in more than 30 regions and countries. Set in a new locale with fresh characters, the series charts its own unique course while maintaining the imaginative world and profound message of the beloved manga. At the center of the story is Su-in, portrayed by Jeon So-nee (Our Blooming Youth, Scripting Your Destiny, Soulmate, Bad Police), as she grapples with her newfound coexistence with a parasite. The series also tracks the efforts of “Team Grey,” a group dedicated to fighting mysterious parasites that live off humans.

Parasyte: The Grey is brought to life under the direction of Yeon Sang-ho, known for sparking the global K-zombie frenzy and acclaimed projects such as The King of Pigs, The Fake, JUNG_E and The Bequeathed. Notably, Yeon has demonstrated a knack for bringing comic book stories to life on screen, as he did with the globally praised Hellbound.

Both Hitoshi Iwaaki and Yeon Sang-ho have the deepest respect and support for each other’s work. A fan of Yeon’s film Train to Busan, Iwaaki shares, “I am most excited that this is ‘a new story’; while I am the author of the original manga, I could also be a member of the audience that experiences thrill and awe. Thinking back to when the original manga was adapted in Japan, “Parasyte” the manga is like a ‘child’ to me, born from my own work in a small room, while the animation and live action film were like ‘grandchildren’, born from my child going out in the world and meeting many people and their wisdom, experience, and technology. I am overjoyed that another ‘grandchild’ is being born in Korea. I believe that this ‘new story’ taking place in a different location will lead us into a world beyond my imagination.” Director Yeon says, “In my twenties, “Parasyte” was a staple for those of us who were passionate about manga and animation. Having the opportunity to build upon it and create something new is not only a great honor, but also a dream come true from my younger years.”

The strong cast includes Koo Kyo-hwan (D.P., Kingdom: Ashin of the North, Kill Boksoon, Escape from Mogadishu) as Kang-woo, a man driven to fight parasites in his quest to find his missing sister. Lee Jung-hyun (Limit, Decision to Leave, Night of the Undead) portrays Jun-kyung, the determined leader of the anti-parasite task force, “Team Grey.” Kwon Hae-hyo (D.P., Forecasting Love and Weather, Peninsula) plays Chul-min, a senior detective committed to protecting Su-in, while Kim In-kwon (The Cursed: Dead Man’s Prey, The Battle of Jangsari) steps into the role of Won-seok, Chul-min’s junior colleague.

With the eye-catching visuals of the launch poster already turning heads, Parasyte: The Grey is set to thrill viewers with its premiere on April 5, only on Netflix.

Overview

Title: Parasyte: The Grey
Original Work: Kiseiju (Parasyte) by Hitoshi Iwaaki published by Kodansha
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Screenwriter: Yeon Sang-ho, Ryu Yong-jae
Cast: Jeon So-nee, Koo Kyo-hwan, Lee Jung-hyun, Kwon Hae-ho, Kim In-kwon, and others.
Production: Climax Studio, WOW POINT
Distribution: Netflix
Release Date: April 5, 2024

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About Kodansha

KODANSHA Ltd. is Japan’s leading publishing house based in Tokyo, having delivered stories into ready hands across the globe with a wide variety of content from manga to novels, fashion magazines, news journals, and picture books for children, as well as TV anime, movies, series, and video games since 1909 in the spirit of “Inspire Impossible Stories.” KODANSHA is globally recognized as the licensor of some of the world’s most loved manga IPs, such as AKIRA, Attack on Titan, and Ghost in the Shell.