SBS’s new Friday-Saturday crime thriller "The Mantis: Original Sin" (directed by Byun Young-joo; written by Lee Young-jong) is set more than 20 years after the capture of the notorious serial killer nicknamed “Mantis.” When a copycat surfaces, a detective who’s spent his life despising the Mantis―his own mother―is forced into an uneasy alliance to stop the killings.
Jang plays Cha Soo-yeol, the son of the Mantis who rejects his bloodline and becomes a cop. Fueled by rage toward a mother who murdered five people, he’s the kind of detective who will put his body on the line to catch criminals. The role marks Jang’s return with sharpened intensity and charisma.
On Sept. 3, the production unveiled first-look stills from the premiere that spotlight Jang’s transformation. It’s a striking departure from the softer image audiences know―and a teaser for the white-knuckle tension to come.
In the images, Jang arrives at what appears to be a crime scene, his laser-focused stare and locked-in expression signaling trouble. Another still shows him urgently trying to talk someone down; in the next, he draws his gun even as a fellow officer holds him back. The photos raise the stakes―and plenty of questions about the dangerous situation unfolding.
What stands out most is his presence: with just his eyes and tightly coiled expression, Jang channels the urgency of the moment and Cha Soo-yeol’s do-or-die resolve. The gentle persona is gone; what’s left is a fearless, unflinching cop.
“The premiere on the 5th throws Cha Soo-yeol into a chaotic shootout,” the producers said. “With his life on the line, he charges in without hesitation. It’s a defining, high-impact moment for the character, and Jang Dong-yoon went all-in physically to land it. His energy stunned the crew. We hope viewers will tune in and feel that intensity.”
"The Mantis: Original Sin" premieres Friday, Sept. 5 at 9:50 p.m. KST on SBS, showcasing Jang’s full-throttle turn and a pulse-pounding story built to grip viewers from the first episode.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)