Fresh reports have reignited speculation that actor Yoo Ah In is preparing for his acting comeback after his name resurfaced in connection with director Jang Jae Hyun's upcoming occult action film 'Vampire.' However, distributor NEW says no casting has been finalized.
According to a report by MyDaily on July 3, Yoo Ah In has been cast as the lead in Vampire, the latest project from Jang Jae Hyun, the director behind the blockbuster occult hit 'Exhuma,' as well as 'The Priests' and 'Svaha: The Sixth Finger.'
The report quickly renewed interest in Yoo Ah In's potential return to the big screen after he suspended his entertainment activities following his drug conviction.
However, shortly after the report was published, distributor NEW denied that Yoo's casting had been confirmed. "Nothing regarding the casting has been finalized," the company said in a statement.
The latest report has also revived a rumor that first surfaced in December last year. At the time, both Jang Jae Hyun's production team and Yoo Ah In's former agency, UAA, denied that he had been cast, saying no decision had been made and that the project was not under discussion. The new report has now brought the speculation back into the spotlight, despite NEW maintaining that no casting has been confirmed.
'Vampire' is an occult action film centered on vampires, following a vampire hunter, a priest, and the people whose lives become intertwined with them. The film is expected to feature both Korean and Russian characters as part of its large-scale production.
According to the report, Yoo Ah In has been offered the role of the vampire hunter, while Lee Sung Min is attached to play a priest. Yoon Kyung Ho is also reportedly in talks to join the cast, with additional casting still underway.
The production aims to complete its financing and distribution before entering pre-production, with filming tentatively scheduled to begin in October.
Interest is also high in director Jang Jae Hyun's next film after the enormous success of 'Exhuma.' Having established himself with 'The Priests,' 'Svaha: The Sixth Finger,' and 'Exhuma,' audiences are eager to see how he approaches the vampire genre in his latest occult thriller.
If production proceeds as planned, 'Vampire' is expected to begin filming in October, with industry attention focused on Yoo Ah In's first leading performance since his legal controversy.
If Yoo Ah In ultimately joins the project, it would mark his first major acting role since his legal troubles.
The actor was indicted on charges of repeatedly receiving illegal medical propofol injections between September 2020 and March 2022. He was also accused of unlawfully obtaining sleeping pills under another person's name and using marijuana while in the United States.
Yoo Ah In was initially sentenced to one year in prison and taken into custody, but an appeals court later suspended the sentence for two years, resulting in his release. Since then, he has largely remained out of the public spotlight, making any potential return to acting a closely watched development.
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