Park Seo-joon (left) and Park Hyung-sik (right). Photos: Netflix and SBS, courtesy of Han Cinema.

Some of the biggest names in Korean entertainment are switching things up for their next movie roles, and leaving their usual characters behind for some pretty intense new scripts. Here is everything we know about the plots of these highly anticipated films, plus a closer look at the specific characters our favorite Hallyu stars are playing.

Firefly – Starring Park Seo-joon

Firefly (aka I Am a Firefly) is a period film that flips between two distinct moments in history: the mayhem of the Korean War that broke out in 1950 and the tense atmosphere of the military dictatorship in 1974. The story centers on Hwayong Village and a dark past it kept buried for years. It turns out the villagers are actually the survivors of the Bodo League Massacre, a political execution of civilians by the government. To escape, the residents ended up faking their deaths to live in complete isolation. The secret holds until a detective arrives in the village and threatens to expose everything.

Park Seo-joon plays Seol Jun-kyung, a detective working in the Public Security Bureau. But his career is stuck because his father was blacklisted, leaving Jun-kyung trapped by a government system that punishes family members by association. Desperate for a way out, he takes a risky offer from Kim Man-seop (Park Hae-il), the village’s former police chief who leads him toward the truth. In the process, he also clashes with Tae-sik (Choi Dae-hoon), the ruthless KCIA (Korean Central Intelligence Agency) chief.

Expected Release: Late 2027 / Early 2028

Family Force – Starring Park Hyung-sik

This family action drama follows a household where military discipline is the norm. Both the grandfather and the father are tough former Marines, and the youngest son is currently serving on active duty. Things get messy when this family suddenly faces a terrorist attack, forcing all three generations to use their military training to survive.

Park Hyung-sik leads the story as the youngest son, an active-duty Marine. For the actor’s long-time fans, this role is reminiscent of his appearance in the popular military reality show Real Men in 2013, where participants are put through an actual army boot camp. At the time, Park was still a rookie in the industry, fumbling through the challenging drills in the show. Yet, viewers fell in love with his innocence and clumsy charm, affectionately calling him “Baby Soldier.” Long after becoming a household name in Korea and a Hallyu star, it’s fun to see him back in uniform as he juggles Marine duties and his chaotic family, joining forces with his family members to take down the terrorists.

Expected Release: Mid-to-Late 2027

The Generals – Starring Ji Chang-wook

The Generals is a political thriller set during South Korea’s military regime era and the power struggle between two of its most infamous military rulers. Roh Tae-woo (Son Suk-ku) is the long-time second-in-command to dictator Chun Doo-hwan (Ha Jung-woo), who rules the country. The catch is that while Tae-woo appears to be just doing his duties and following orders, he’s scheming and preparing to step out of his boss’s shadow for good.

Interestingly, both went to the same military academy and were close friends. But their relationship turns sour as Tae-woo pushes for the top spot. The situation is intensified by Ji Chang-wook’s Heo Hak-seong, a junior officer from the academy who gets in his way as Tae-woo becomes increasingly caught in a game of power between loyalty, camaraderie, and ambition.

Expected Release: Late 2027 / Early 2028

Veteran 3 – Starring Lee Jun-ho

Following the huge box office success of the first two movies, this hit crime-action franchise is officially coming back for a third round. The basic setup stays true to what made the series so popular: a violent-crimes detective refuses to quit when tracking down powerful criminals. This time around, the risks are higher as a newer, smarter opponent threatens to push the entire police department to its breaking point.

Lee Jun-ho (2PM), for the first time in his career, takes on the role of the villain. Stepping away from the heroic, charming characters he usually plays, he’ll be seen as someone cold, heartless, and evil to the core, being hunted by the iconic Detective Seo Do-chul (Hwang Jung-min), the tough cop who’ll break every rule to make sure justice gets served. About this new character, Lee told Rolling Stone India, “It’s definitely a meaningful milestone for an actor in his 30s, marking a new chapter in his career and embracing new challenges.” He added, “The exciting part of acting comes from adopting new roles that I haven’t tried out before and discovering a new side of myself.”

Expected Release: 2027

The Sword: A Legend of the Red Wolf – Starring Park Bo-gum

Set in 668 AD, this period action film takes place after the tragic collapse of the Goguryeo Kingdom, a once-mighty ancient Korean empire that fell after its capital city was destroyed. With their homeland ruined and occupied, the displaced Goguryeo people are left adrift and scattered. The story unfolds in Yodong Fortress, a lawless place that hosts a bloody gladiatorial tournament where warriors from different tribes are forced to fight for the mythic Sword of Godumak-han, a legendary relic from the lost empire that serves as the final beacon of hope and a rallying symbol for the surviving citizens desperate to rebuild their fallen kingdom and future.

Park Bo-gum stars as Chil-seong, a former Goguryeo warrior who lost his memory during the war and was sold into slavery. Forced into the dangerous arena to stay alive, his buried combat skills start to awaken with every brutal match he fights. As he gradually remembers who he truly is, he becomes the valiant soldier known as “Red Wolf” and partners with Heuk Su-gang (Jung Jae-young), the leader of a secret Goguryeo restoration army and other rebel fighters, all while gearing up for a face-off with his strongest rival, Gyepil Ha-ryeok (Joo Won), a Göktürk warrior famous for his ruthless fighting style.

Expected Release: 2027