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Newtopia: Everything we know About the Upcoming Zombie Thriller Starring BLACKPINK’s Jisoo
The highly anticipated zombie thriller Newtopia just dropped its official trailer, and it's already sending chills down viewers' spines. Starring BLACKPINK’s Jisoo and award-winning actor Park Jeong-min, the series brings an intense mix of horror, action, and romance, set against the backdrop of a Seoul overrun by the undead.
With gripping visuals, heart-pounding suspense, and a haunting remix of Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 11, the trailer teases a desperate fight for survival—one that fans won't want to miss.
So, what’s Newtopia all about? Who else is starring alongside Jisoo? And when can you finally watch it? Keep reading for all the latest updates on this thrilling new series. We’ll keep this page updated as more details emerge, so stay tuned!
Release date & Where to Watch
Newtopia is an eight-part series set to premiere on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. It will be available in South Korea on Coupang Play and stream globally on Prime Video in over 240 regions. New episodes will be released weekly every Friday at 8 p.m. KST, with the finale airing on March 21, 2025.
What is the plot of Newtopia?
Based on Han Sang-woon’s novel Influenza, Newtopia follows Lee Jaeyoon, a soldier in the midst of his mandatory military service, and his girlfriend Kang Youngjoo, an engineer navigating the early stages of her career.
Struggling with the strain of long-distance, the couple abruptly breaks up—only for a zombie outbreak to sweep across Seoul that same day. Determined to reunite, they must each fight their way through the chaos.
Set in an air defense unit in Seoul, Jaeyoon faces anxiety about his future, having enlisted later than most. Meanwhile, Youngjoo grapples with her own struggles in the workforce. As she heads to see Jaeyoon, she witnesses the zombie rampage firsthand and quickly adapts to survive.
The series explores their desperate journey through a city overrun with the undead, showcasing their resilience and the strength of their connection.
Director Yoon Sung-hyun teased what makes Newtopia stand out in the zombie genre, saying, “I think this series has a lot of elements that overseas fans who like zombie movies will enjoy. There are many zombies without eyeballs or missing body parts, and I think fans of traditional zombie series will like this part.” (via The Korea Times)
He also highlighted the global appeal of the cast, adding, “Of course, I also expect it to be a big draw for global fans who like Jisoo and Park Jeong-min.”
Who’s in the cast of Newtopia?
- Kim Jisoo as Kang Young-joo
In an interview with iMBC, via Soompi, Jisoo shared why she chose Newtopia for her K-drama return: “I was drawn to Young Ju’s charm from the start, and I wanted to portray her as authentically as possible. I hope viewers enjoy watching her grow in many ways.” (via Soap Central)
Director Yoon Sung-hyun also praised Jisoo’s performance, stating, “Her quirky and humorous traits aligned 99 per cent with the Young Ju I envisioned in the script, and she brought the character to life beyond my expectations.”
Sung-hyun emphasized her crucial role in the production, saying, “I felt lucky to work with Jisoo. I felt that the character of Young-joo could not have been done without her. There were points where she needed to express the character humorously, and Jisoo is a very humorous actress, so it was a good fit.” (via The Korea Times)
Yoon also commended her dedication to physically demanding scenes, adding, “There are also many physically challenging action scenes, and I am very grateful that she silently handled those scenes well.”
- Park Jeong-min (Uprising, Hellbound, The 8 Show) as Lee Jae-yoon
- Kang Young-seok as Seo Jin-wook
- Im Sung-jae as Ra In-ho
- Hong Seo-hui as Oh Soo-jeong
- Kim Jun-han as Aaron Park
- Kim Jeong-jin as Hwang Kyeong-sik
- Kim Chan-hyung
- Lee Hak-joo
- Jung-Min Park
Is There a Trailer for Newtopia?
The trailer opens with a phone call between Kang Young-joo and Lee Jae-yoon. As Jae-yoon stands in his Republic of Korea Army tracksuit, Young-joo’s voice delivers a heartbreaking message—she’s breaking up with him. Suddenly, the screen fades to black, and ominous text appears: “The day we broke up, the world came crashing down.”
Set to a haunting remix of Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 11, chaos unfolds as South Korea is overrun by a zombie outbreak. In the midst of the destruction, a fellow soldier asks Jae-yoon, “Are you going AWOL to look for your girlfriend?” Determined, Jae-yoon navigates a collapsing Seoul, dodging hordes of the infected as he fights to find Young-joo.
The 1-minute, 26-second trailer teases an emotional reunion, but with danger at every turn, their fate remains uncertain. Will love survive the apocalypse? We’ll have to watch Newtopia to find out.
Episode Schedule
- Season 1 Episode 1 (Friday, Feb. 7, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 2 (Friday, Feb. 7, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 3 (Friday, Feb. 14, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 4 (Friday, Feb. 21, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 5 (Friday, Feb. 28, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 6 (Friday, March 7, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 7 (Friday, March 14, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 8 (Friday, March 21, 2025)
Behind the Scenes
Newtopia is directed by Yoon Sung-hyun, making his TV debut after helming Bleak Night (2010) and Time to Hunt (2020). The screenplay is co-written by Han Jin-won, known for co-writing Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning Parasite (2019), and Ji Ho-jin, who wrote A Shop for Killers (2024). The series is based on the novel Influenza by Han Sang-woon and is produced by Bound Entertainment and Billions Plus.
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