Netflix is abuzz with excitement as it prepares for the highly-anticipated release of Parasyte: The Grey, one of its most-awaited K-dramas this year. The recent press conference for the series was a star-studded affair, with the cast, including Jeon So-nee, Koo Hyo-hwan, Lee Jung-hyun, Kwon Hae-hyo, and Kim In-kwon, in attendance. And, of course, the show’s director, Yeon Sang-ho, was there too, unveiling his plans for the live-action adaptation and promising to expand upon Hitoshi Iwaaki’s acclaimed manga, Parasyte.
Sang-ho admitted to being a big fan of Parasyte, making it his bible when he was still a student. Now that he had the chance to direct its live-action adaptation on Netflix, the South Korean filmmaker aimed to dig deeper into the original manga’s universe while featuring its main theme of humans and parasites’ co-existence.
“I often envisioned what could unfold in the expanded universe of the original Japanese setting,” he said, via The Korea Times.
Parasyte: The Grey materialized when Sang-ho reached out to the manga creator by writing a letter expressing his desire to make a live-action adaptation. Fortunately, Iwaaki found the idea interesting and allowed him to expand upon the manga’s original story as long as he deemed fit.
“Bringing Parasyte to life on Netflix feels like the ultimate fan endeavor,” the screenwriter added. “It's truly special to expand upon the universe of my favorite comic.”
In addition, Sang-ho revealed he wanted to explore the theme of co-existence, whether within companies, religious institutions, or society at large. So, as fans are about to see the deepening understanding between the protagonist Jung Su-in and the parasite, Heidi, that will enter her brain, Sang-ho explained that this storyline will embody the series’ overarching theme.
Who is Jung Su-in in Parasyte: The Grey?
Jung Su-in will be the lead character in Parasyte: The Grey, played by So-nee. After getting into a near-fatal accident, a parasite named Heidi enters her body, making her undergo a disturbing transformation. But compared to other humans whose brains have been taken over by these parasitic creatures, Heidi fails to gain complete control of Su-in, turning her into a hybrid being of half-parasite and half-human.
“I am the parasite inside of you,” Heidi tells Su-in, as seen in the series’ official trailer. “Had we not combined as one, we both would have died.”
So-nee said Su-in had a “very lonely life” before encountering Heidi while discussing her role. Despite being confused about her transformation, the actress revealed that Su-in would eventually accept Heidi’s presence within her, resulting in a mysterious connection between the two and giving Su-in a will to live.
“I find that dynamic really fascinating,” she added.
What is Parasyte: The Grey about?
Parasyte: The Grey tells the story of the mysterious parasites’ arrival on Earth after suddenly falling from the sky. These creatures aim to conquer the universe by entering human brains to make them their hosts and order them to kill people. As the parasites build their own group, humans must do everything to stop them.
You can read the synopsis below:
One day, mysterious parasites fall from the sky. They enter humans as their hosts and also murder other humans. The parasites begin to create their own force. Humans must now fight to stop the invading creatures from taking over the world.
The K-drama series is based on the horror manga titled Parasyte by Hitoshi Iwaaka. It was first serialized in Kodansha’s Morning Open Zokan in 1989 and was later published in Monthly Afternoon from 1989 to 1994. With over 25 million copies in circulation as of August 2022, it’s considered one of the best-selling manga of all time. It was first published in English by Tokyopop, then by Del Rey, and lastly by Kodansha USA.
It was also adapted into two live-action movies in Japan in 2014 and 2015. Madhouse produced its anime adaptation, Parasyte – the maxim, released between October 2014 and March 2015 in Japan. It was released in English by Adult Swim on the Toonami programming block in the US between October 2015 and April 2016.
What are the release date and times of Parasyte: The Grey?
Parasyte: The Grey is slated to release on Netflix on Friday, April 5, at 12 AM PT/ 3 AM ET. For other release times based on your region, you can check the list below:
12:00 AM Pacific Time
3:00 AM Eastern Time
3:00 AM (Toronto), 12:00 AM (Vancouver) Canadian Time
4:00 AM Brasilia Time
8:00 AM Greenwich Mean Time
9:00 AM Central European Time
10:00 AM Eastern European Time
3:00 PM (Perth), 5:00 PM (Sydney) Australian Time
7:00 PM Coordinated Universal Time
2:00 PM (Jakarta), 12:30 PM (New Delhi) Indian Time
3:00 PM Philippine Standard Time
3:00 PM Hong Kong Time
3:00 PM Singapore Standard Time
4:00 PM Japan Standard Time
9:00 AM Central Africa Time
Sang-ho is known for being behind some acclaimed Korean movies and series, like Train to Busan, Hellbound, and the recently released The Bequeathed. So, his interesting take on Parasyte: The Grey makes the series more promising.
