"Along with the Gods" Returns With a Third Film After Eight Years

"Along with the Gods," the first Korean film series to see both of its installments draw more than 10 million moviegoers each, is coming back for a third chapter. Director Kim Yong-hwa, whose first two films drew a combined 26.68 million admissions, is returning to the franchise eight years later. This time, the story moves beyond the seven hells and into a world known as the Nine Heavens.

Dexter Studios said on Oct. 20 that Kim Yong-hwa has confirmed "Along with the Gods: Life and Death" (Singwa Hamkke: Saenggwa Sa) as his next film. Production preparations are underway, with filming targeted to begin in the second half of 2027. Dexter Studios, which handled the visual effects (VFX) on the earlier films, is once again joining the production as an investor.

The series is a fantasy blockbuster based on the webtoon of the same name by Joo Ho-min. Webtoons are digital comics originally designed for online reading, and they have become a major source of Korean films and TV shows.

"Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds," released in 2017, drew 14.41 million moviegoers. "Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days," released in 2018, drew 12.27 million. Together, the two films reached approximately 26.68 million moviegoers.

That made "Along with the Gods" the first Korean film series in which both the first and second films surpassed the 10-million-admission mark. The second film drew 1,246,692 moviegoers on its opening day, setting a new all-time opening record for a Korean film.

The films also performed well overseas. The first two installments took the No. 1 and No. 2 spots among the highest-grossing Korean films ever released in Taiwan. At the time of its release, the second film also set the record for the biggest opening by a Korean film in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Taiwan and Hong Kong, among other markets.

The new film shifts to a different setting. The first two followed the dead as they stood trial in seven hells over 49 days, guided by three grim reapers of the underworld. They also explored the reapers' bond across 1,000 years. "Along with the Gods: Life and Death" instead explores the realm of souls who never made it to the afterlife.

That world is called Gucheon, which means "nine heavens." It is where souls remain when they cannot let go of something, even after death. The story follows Sol-i, a main character caught between life and death, on a journey across nine worlds to find a song she never had the chance to sing.

Along with investing, Dexter Studios will handle most of the film's post-production work, including VFX, digital color grading, sound design and mixing.

On the first two films, the company used VFX in more than 90% of all scenes to bring the afterlife to the screen. This time, it plans to create the Nine Heavens, expanding the fantasy world beyond the seven hells.

Dexter Studios co-CEOs Kim Wook and Kang Jong-ik called the earlier films a turning point. "The 'Along with the Gods' series is a landmark project," they said. "It proved how widely loved a film can be when Korean VFX technology is combined with a strong, well-made IP."

"Once again, we will finish a story and visuals that only we can make," they added. "We will present a K-movie with both the fun and the artistry to become a mega-hit in the global market."

Filming is set to begin in the second half of 2027. The cast and release schedule have not been announced yet. For a franchise that helped demonstrate the potential of Korean VFX at the box office, the next test is whether its new world can capture audiences all over again.