Lee Byung-hun to Lead Joseon-Era Martial Arts Film 'Nambeol'

Lee Byung-hun has been cast in the lead role of 'Nambeol' (working title), a martial arts action film set in the early Joseon Dynasty, according to reports from Variety, Deadline, and The Korea Herald. The project will mark the feature directing debut of veteran cinematographer Lee Mo-gae.

The Details

South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun will portray a battle-hardened commander leading a rescue mission in the film, which is being produced by Hive Media Corp. The project reunites the production company with Lee following their previous collaborations on 'Inside Men' and 'The Man Standing Next'.

The story follows nine warriors who are dispatched to Tsushima Island. Their objective is to rescue Koreans who have been taken captive by Japanese pirates. While the narrative is fictional, it draws inspiration from the instability of the early Joseon era and the pirate incursions that affected Korea's southern coast during that period.

Production on 'Nambeol' is expected to begin in the second half of 2026.

Context

Lee Byung-hun is internationally recognized for his performance in the Netflix series 'Squid Game' and recently appeared in Park Chan-wook's 'No Other Choice'.

For Lee Mo-gae, 'Nambeol' represents a transition from cinematography to feature film direction. His previous credits as director of photography include 'A Tale of Two Sisters,' 'I Saw the Devil,' '12.12: The Day,' and 'Exhuma'.

Hive Media Corp. has backed several commercially successful Korean films and maintains an ongoing working relationship with Lee Byung-hun.

What's Next

Production is slated to commence in the second half of 2026. No additional casting announcements or distribution details have been disclosed.