Third 'Along with the Gods' film enters production with filming target for second half of 2027

Production has officially begun for the third film in the 'Along with the Gods' series, the first Korean film franchise where both the first and second installments exceeded 10 million viewers. On the 20th, Dexter Studios announced the investment for 'Along with the Gods: Life and Death'—the successor to 'Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds' and 'Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days'—and formalized the start of production. Director Kim Yong-hwa will return to direct, with Dexter Studios participating as an investor. The production team is preparing with the goal of starting filming in the second half of 2027. This sequel is being pursued 10 years after the first film was released in 2017 and the second in 2018.

This work continues the story from the previous two films, which dealt with the seven trials judging the sins of the deceased and the connections of the three underworld guides. The protagonist of the third film is Sol-i, who stands suspended between life and death. Set in Nine Heavens, a place where souls who cannot let go of their hearts even after death reside, the film depicts Sol-i's journey across nine worlds to find a song she could not ultimately sing. At the end of last year and the beginning of this year, the production team checked the schedules of some actors who appeared in the previous films.

The third story formalized after 10 years

Dexter Studios announced the investment and the start of production for 'Along with the Gods: Life and Death' on the 20th. The first film, 'Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds', met audiences in 2017, and the second, 'Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days', in 2018. The new film is a series project being pursued for the first time in a full 10 years since those two works, with director Kim Yong-hwa returning to the director's chair. Dexter Studios, which implemented the afterlife on screen in previous films, is also participating as an investor, and the production team is entering full-scale preparations ahead of filming.

There were movements regarding a sequel even before the production discussions were made public. Having previously mentioned the possibility of producing a third and fourth installment, the production team checked the schedules of some actors from the previous films late last year and early this year. During this process, rumors regarding the production of a sequel circulated, but the production was not officially announced. With this announcement, the production of the third film has been confirmed, and the target timing for the start of filming has been revealed. Dexter Studios is aiming for a crew-in in the second half of 2027.

Director Kim Yong-hwa, who handled the previous films, will continue to direct the new work. Dexter Studios, which implemented the afterlife on screen in the previous series, is participating as an investor this time. The production stage announced by the team includes the formalization of investment and production commencement, and preparations aimed at filming.

Crossing nine worlds to find a song in Nine Heavens

The main setting for 'Along with the Gods: Life and Death' is Nine Heavens. The production team described Nine Heavens as a place where souls who cannot let go of their hearts even after death reside and cannot depart for the underworld. While the previous two films covered the trials of the underworld and the connections of the three guides, the third film centers on the journey of Sol-i, who is stopped between life and death. Sol-i will cross nine worlds to find the song she could not ultimately sing.

The stories of each installment and the setting of the new work are presented differently. 'Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds' was implemented as a live-action film depicting a deceased person from the underworld undergoing trials in seven hells over 49 days alongside the three guides who lead them. 'Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days' unraveled the thousand-year connection of the three guides. The third work, rather than the trials judging the sins of the deceased or the connections of the guides, deals with the story of Sol-i and the souls who cannot go to the underworld.

The original work is the webtoon of the same name by author Joo Ho-min. The series constructed its story based on an Oriental view of the afterlife and has visually implemented different hells. In the case of the new film, the core settings announced by the production team are Nine Heavens, Sol-i, and the journey of crossing nine worlds to find a song. Director Kim will lead the new story of the series by directing the third work as well.

The dual 10-million record set by the first two films

The first and second 'Along with the Gods' films both exceeded 10 million viewers. 'Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds' attracted 14.41 million viewers, and 'Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days' attracted 12.27 million viewers. This is the first case among Korean film series where both the first and second installments surpassed 10 million viewers. The two films, based on the webtoon by author Joo Ho-min, translated a fantasy story set in the underworld and hell into live-action.

The first film is a story of a deceased person from the underworld undergoing trials in seven hells over 49 days under the guidance of the three guides. The work attracted audiences by adding humanism to the trials of the afterlife. The second film unraveled the thousand-year connection of the three guides. Although the two works contained different narratives, they all shared the same series worldview and set the first dual 10-million record in Korean cinema. The new film is being produced as the third story following these two works.

The series did not stop at domestic success and was also released overseas. The first and second films ranked first and second respectively among all-time highest-grossing Korean films in Taiwan. The second film, released based on the success of the first, recorded the highest opening score for a Korean film at the time of its release in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Dexter Studios described the series as a project that combines Korean visual special effects technology with film intellectual property.

Director Kim Yong-hwa and Dexter Studios participate again

The third film is the next project for director Kim Yong-hwa. Director Kim directed 'Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds' and 'Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days', and will direct this work as well. Following their participation in implementing the afterlife on screen in previous works, Dexter Studios has its name listed as an investor for the new film.

Dexter Studios CEOs Kim Wook and Kang Jong-ik stated, "The 'Along with the Gods' series is a monumental project that has demonstrated how much of a popularly loved movie can be made by combining Korea's VFX technology with high-quality IP." They continued, "Once again, we will present a K-movie that possesses both the fun and artistry to become a mega-hit in the global market by completing stories and visuals that only we can create." They shared plans to emphasize both the story and visual perfection in the new work.

While the series production team had previously expressed hope for the production of a third and fourth installment, the work officially announced this time is the third one. The protagonist of the new film is Sol-i, and the main setting is Nine Heavens. The central story of the film has been revealed as Sol-i's journey of crossing nine worlds to find the song she could not sing.

Filming preparation targets the second half of 2027

Along with the news of investment, Dexter Studios officially announced the commencement of production for 'Along with the Gods: Life and Death'. With director Kim Yong-hwa directing and Dexter Studios participating as an investor, the production team continues preparations with the goal of a crew-in in the second half of 2027. Sol-i's story set in Nine Heavens is being prepared as the next chapter of the series starting after 10 years.

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