“Nambal” Lee Byung-hun Confirmed for Casting! Anticipated to Deliver an Overwhelming Presence as ‘Im Eok,’ Leader of the Warriors!

The film 〈Nambal〉 has confirmed Lee Byung-hun’s casting and is pushing forward with full pre-production. 〈Nambal〉 is a hard-boiled martial arts action story set in the early Joseon era, where nine warriors—each with different skills and social standing—set out for Tsushima to rescue a captive kidnapped by Japanese pirates. In particular, 〈Nambal〉 is drawing even more attention as the third collaboration between Lee Byung-hun and comprehensive content production company Hive Media Corp, following 〈Insiders〉 and 〈The Chief of Mount Namsan〉. With both prior works having earned recognition for box-office success and artistic merit, expectations are high that this time, too, will create a powerful synergy. 

In the film, Lee Byung-hun will play ‘Im Eok,’ the leader who commands the warriors. ‘Im Eok’ is a figure defined by cold-blooded judgment honed across countless battlefields and an unshakable conviction. He leads a journey risked with his life to rescue Joseon people held captive on Tsushima. 〈No Way Around It〉, 〈A Matter of Victory〉, 〈Concrete Utopia〉, 〈The Chief of Mount Namsan〉, 〈Insiders 〉, 〈Gwanghae, The Man Who Became King〉, and Netflix original series [Squid Game], among many others—Lee Byung-hun has continually transformed his acting without limits in every project. Through this film, he is expected to once again refresh his “life character” with even deeper acting craft and overwhelming charisma. 

〈Nambal〉 is garnering a great deal of attention as the directorial debut of cinematographer Im Eo-gae, who has showcased an unmistakable sense of mise-en-scène across bold works such as 〈Spring in Seoul〉, 〈Exhuma〉, 〈Hunt〉, 〈The Opposition〉, and 〈Emergency Declaration〉. Having won awards including the Art Award (Film Division) at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards and the Best Cinematography Lighting award at the 43rd and 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards, as well as the Best Cinematography award at the 31st and 29th Blue Dragon Film Awards, he has been recognized for his exceptional instincts. In this project, he plans to deliver outstanding direction by bringing intense action and visuals to a grand narrative. 

Meanwhile, 〈Nambal〉 is produced by Hive Media Corp, a comprehensive content production company that has consistently delivered well-made works combining both entertainment and artistic value, including film 〈Spring in Seoul〉, 〈Harbin〉, 〈Deliver Us from Evil〉, 〈The Chief of Mount Namsan〉, 〈Insiders〉, and Disney+ original series [Made in Korea], further adding to the sense of trust. 

With Lee Byung-hun’s joining, 〈Nambal〉 has kicked off its lineup, and it is currently in pre-production with plans to begin principal photography in the second half of 2026.