Netflix’s new film "Mantis" has dropped character stills spotlighting three rising assassins―each with a distinct edge.
Set in a hitman underworld where the rules have completely unraveled, "Mantis" follows A-list assassin Han-ul (aka “Mantis”) as he returns from a long hiatus and locks horns with his trainee-turned-rival Jae-yi and a retired legend, Dok-go, in a ruthless race for the top spot. The film is a spin-off of the 2023 release "Kill Boksoon."
The Sept. 2 character stills cut straight to the intensity, capturing the steely faces of players desperate to claim No. 1. First up, Han-ul (Yim Si-wan) is seen taking a call about the sudden death of the head of the company he once worked for―an ominous hint that the prodigy assassin is walking back into a storm.
Another shot shows Han-ul locked in a brutal fight, wielding a signature weapon worthy of the name “Mantis.” It’s a clear tease that Yim Si-wan is gearing up for balletic, high-impact action.
Jae-yi (Park Gyu-young)―Han-ul’s long-time friend and fiercest rival―exudes charisma as she keeps sharpening her skills. She’s every bit Han-ul’s equal, yet repeatedly finds herself overshadowed, stoking a volatile mix of envy and drive. How their push-and-pull evolves is poised to be one of the film’s juiciest threads.
Then there’s Dok-go (Jo Woo-jin), the legendary assassin who once ruled the scene. Clutching a file with a grave expression, he radiates an unmistakable presence. Returning to restore order in a shaken ecosystem, his razor focus suggests he’s about to reshape the game in a big way.
Yim Si-wan says, “He’s a next-gen hitman who gets courted by major firms but decides to launch a new outfit with his friend Jae-yi to become No. 1. The director and I talked a lot about Han-ul and Jae-yi’s dynamic,” hinting at a top-tier assassin tested by a complicated friendship-turned-rivalry.
Park Gyu-young adds, “It’s the most combat-ready character I’ve played. I felt she expresses emotion more through action than dialogue, and I worked closely at action school to nail the details,” raising expectations for fight scenes that carry real feeling.
Jo Woo-jin, who plays Han-ul’s mentor and the legendary hitman Dok-go, shares, “I wanted Dok-go to be an old-school figure with a certain charm―a man setting off the last fireworks of his life,” noting the effort to craft a veteran determined to hold his ground among fast-rising killers.
Director Lee Tae-sung calls the trio “the perfect combination,” adding, “The casting felt like a stroke of luck,” and teasing the fresh chemistry and range the three leads bring to the table.
"Mantis" premieres Sept. 26 on Netflix.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)