Netflix Is Making 'Solo Leveling' Live-Action Show, but Fans Are Sure It Won't Work for 1 Big Reason
It was only a matter of time before a live-action version of Solo Leveling was created, but could Netflix pull off such an ambitious task? Fans are convinced that it can't, and here's why.
Solo Leveling has become a phenomenon in the anime world. The series premiered in 2024 and received a very warm reception. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 100% score from critics and 76% from viewers. A live-action adaptation was bound to happen.
According to Variety, production of the Solo Leveling live-action adaptation has already begun. South Korean actor Byeon Woo-seok will play Sung Jinwoo.
However, fans of the original anime are skeptical of the news and doubt that the live-action series will be a success, and there is one main reason for this.
'Solo Leveling' Fans Doubt That Netflix Is Capable of Transferring the Anime's Visuals to a Live-Action Version
Fans are concerned that live-action adaptations rarely capture the visual aesthetics of anime and manga.
Solo Leveling features dynamic fights, supernatural powers, and large-scale scenes that appear natural in an animated format. However, such moments often look awkward or even comical in live-action.
Redditor turkeygiant wrote:
“The only way I could imagine it being as good as the comic/anime in a live action medium is if they give every single episode the equivalent of a tentpole blockbuster budget which we know isn't going to happen.”
'Solo Leveling' Can't Be Adapted the Same Way 'One Piece' Was
We can try and oppose this opinion by an example of one of the few successful anime adaptations on Netflix – One Piece. In this case, however, the original anime allows to devote a large part of the live-action adaptation's running time to exposition and character stories.
In contrast, Solo Leveling is a title that literally consists of spectacular action, and fabulous budgets will be needed to recreate its semblance in a live-action format. Reddit user foxfoxal commented:
“One Piece has more world building and things like that to spend time, Solo Leveling is non stop action changing location and enemy every 5 minutes and it gets big way too fast.”
Why Do Live-Action Adaptations of Anime Often Fail?
Animation and cinema are two different mediums that represent and convey ideas in different ways. Animation offers limitless possibilities – creators can easily experiment with styles, levels of detail, and depictions of movement.
At the same time, creating a live-action version of anime is more difficult than adapting a literary source or video game. Creators must completely rethink what happens on screen and adapt it to the language of cinema.
Even the depiction of superpowers, such as the stretching of the hand in One Piece, becomes a difficult task for filmmakers. What could easily be animated must be worked out using special effects – and yes, gigantic budgets.
