Drama Series Diverges from Original Manga, Bringing a New Narrative to the World of "Parasyte"

Courtesy of Netflix

Netflix announced on Wednesday that "Parasyte: The Grey," directed by South Korean filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho, will be available for streaming on the platform starting April 5. Yeon Sang-ho, known for directing the Korean Netflix horror series "Hellbound" and "The Bequeathed," takes on the world of the popular Japanese manga series "Parasyte."

Based on the hit manga that sold over 25 million copies globally, "Parasyte: The Grey" deviates entirely from the original plot. The manga revolves around Shinichi Izumi, a high school student partially infected by an alien being known as a Parasyte. In the 6-part drama series, the narrative unfolds as Parasytes invade South Korea. 

▲ A scene from "Parasyte: The Grey" / Courtesy of NetflixJeon So-nee leads the cast as the protagonist Jung Soo-in, who becomes infected by a Parasyte, transforming into a part monster, part human. Koo Kyo-hwan takes on the role of Seol Gang-woo, on a quest to find his younger sister, while Lee Jung-hyun portrays Choi Joon-kyung, the leader of the Grey team, a military task force assigned to eradicate the Parasytes.

In a press release, Yeon Sang-ho expressed his excitement in turning "Parasyte" into visual content, describing it as realizing a dream. Iwaaki Hitoshi, the author of "Parasyte," conveyed enthusiasm for the adaptation, likening the original comic to a 'child' and the adaptations to 'grandchildren.' Hitoshi believes this Korean adaptation will open new narrative dimensions in different settings, expanding the legacy of the original work.

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Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com