Yoo Ah-in Set for Return in Jang Jae-hyun Occult Thriller 'BAMPIRE'

Actor Yoo Ah-in is returning to the screen with "BAMPIRE," a new occult mystery from director Jang Jae-hyun. The project marks his first major role since a drug case that put his career on hold.

Yoo was sentenced to one year in prison in his first trial on drug use charges and was taken into custody in the courtroom. On appeal, the sentence was reduced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, and he was released after roughly five months behind bars. The Supreme Court later upheld that ruling.

"BAMPIRE" is a mystery occult film about an unnamed hitman who takes a job from a priest and chases a shadowy pagan cult. Jang Jae-hyun directs. He is known for "Exhuma," "Svaha: The Sixth Finger," and "The Priests."

A recent script reading brought together Jang and his main cast, including Yoo, Lee Sung-min, Lee Jun-hyuk, Doi, Yoon Kyung-ho, and Choi Hyun-wook. It was the first time the actors read together, and they began shaping their characters and the relationships between them.

Yoo plays the hitman on the trail of the cult. His character stays calm no matter what happens, but he starts to change once he meets forces he cannot explain. Lee Sung-min plays a priest who breaks a religious taboo for the sake of his beliefs, torn between a sense of duty and guilt.

Lee Jun-hyuk plays a cult member who wants to live forever. Newcomer Doi, cast through an open audition, plays a mysterious young girl. Yoon Kyung-ho plays a smuggling broker who ends up traveling with the cult, and Choi Hyun-wook plays a U.S. Army second lieutenant with an unclear agenda.

"BAMPIRE" is scheduled to open in theaters in 2028.