Third 'Along with the Gods' film confirmed, with filming targeted for late 2027
In short
Dexter Studios (덱스터스튜디오) said on 20 October that director Kim Yong-hwa (김용화) has confirmed 'Along with the Gods: Life and Death' (신과함께-생과 사) as his next film. Filming is targeted to start in the second half of 2027. No cast has been announced.
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Dexter Studios (덱스터스튜디오) said on 20 October that director Kim Yong-hwa (김용화) has confirmed 'Along with the Gods: Life and Death' (신과함께-생과 사) as his next film. The company said preparations are under way with a target of starting filming in the second half of 2027. Newsis reported that the cast has not been disclosed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
The film is set in Gucheon (구천, 九天), described as a place where souls that could not leave for the afterlife because of attachments stay. According to the reports, the lead character Sol-i (솔이), stopped between life and death, crosses nine worlds in search of a song never sung. Maeil Business and Chosun Ilbo noted that the earlier films dealt with seven trials judging the sins of the dead and with a bond between the three afterlife guides lasting a thousand years. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Dexter will again take part as an investor. Asia Economy reported that it will handle post-production, including visual effects, digital colour grading, sound design and mixing, and that visual effects were applied to more than 90% of scenes in the first two films. The outlet said Dexter plans to use the technology that rendered seven hells to build the nine worlds of Gucheon. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
Dexter chief executives Kim Wook (김욱) and Kang Jong-ik (강종익) said the series showed how widely loved a film can be when Korean visual-effects technology is combined with strong intellectual property. They said they would deliver a Korean film with enough fun and artistry to be a mega hit in the global market. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
The series is based on a webtoon by Joo Ho-min (주호민). The first film drew about 14.41 million admissions, and the second about 12.27 million according to Maeil Business, Asia Economy and Chosun Ilbo; Newsis put it at 12.28 million. The outlets said this made it the first Korean film series with both of its first two films passing 10 million admissions. Asia Economy and Chosun Ilbo added that the two films ranked first and second among Korean films in Taiwan. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
OSEN, carried by Chosun Ilbo, noted that the announcement comes eight years after the second film's release. It said the lead lineup of Ha Jung-woo (하정우), Ju Ji-hoon (주지훈) and Kim Hyang-gi (김향기) could change considerably and that new faces seem likely. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
The outlets present the film as a continuation of a series whose first two films each passed 10 million admissions, a first for Korean cinema. The coverage is based on a company announcement, and the cast and release plans remain open.
Key facts
- Dexter Studios said on 20 October that Kim Yong-hwa has confirmed 'Along with the Gods: Life and Death' as his next film. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Dexter is aiming to start filming (crank-in) in the second half of 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The film is set in 'Gucheon' (구천, 九天), where souls that could not leave for the afterlife stay; the lead character Sol-i (솔이) crosses nine worlds in search of a song never sung. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Dexter takes part as an investor and, according to Asia Economy, will handle post-production including visual effects, digital colour grading, sound design and mixing. [ 3 ]
- The first film drew about 14.41 million admissions and the second about 12.27 million, according to three outlets; Newsis gave 12.28 million for the second. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The series is based on a webtoon by Joo Ho-min (주호민). [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Dexter Studios announced on 20 October that Kim Yong-hwa has confirmed 'Along with the Gods: Life and Death' as his next film, with filming targeted for the second half of 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Dexter is taking part in the third film as an investor, as it did for the first two. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- The first two films were the first Korean films in a series to each pass 10 million admissions. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Who will star in the third film. Newsis said the cast has not been disclosed. OSEN, carried by Chosun Ilbo, said the lead lineup of Ha Jung-woo, Ju Ji-hoon and Kim Hyang-gi could change considerably and that new faces seem likely; this is the outlet's assessment, not an announcement.
- The second film's admissions total. Maeil Business, Asia Economy and Chosun Ilbo gave 12.27 million; Newsis gave 12.28 million.