Ha Jung Woo in Talks to Lead “Inside Men” Prequel Trilogy as Netflix-Era Franchise Expands

Actor Ha Jung Woo is reportedly in talks to take a leading role in a new prequel film trilogy for Inside Men, as South Korean media reports emerged June 17 and the project’s talent pipeline continued to shift. According to a statement from Ha Jung Woo’s agency, WALKHOUSE COMPANY, the actor has received an offer to star in Inside Men (working title) and is currently reviewing it.

The development marks another potential expansion of the crime franchise that originally captivated audiences with its ruthless depiction of power networks inside South Korea’s late-1980s underground ecosystem—where politics, capital, and media influence collide.

From Webtoon to the Big Screen: Why “Inside Men” Matters

Inside Men is based on the webtoon of the same name by Yoon Tae Ho, creator of the acclaimed drama Misaeng. The story is a crime action narrative that scrutinizes corruption and collusion among powerful insiders operating through a cartel formed by overlapping media, financial, and political interests in the late 1980s.

The original 2015 film also stands out in box office history: it went on to become the highest-grossing R-rated Korean film at the time, a rare feat for a franchise defined as much by tension and intrigue as by action. That track record is part of what makes the prequel trilogy strategically significant—franchise extensions in Korean cinema are often treated as serious bets rather than routine follow-ups.

A Restructured Project: From Series to Trilogy

While the prequel project has been in motion, its format has changed. The films were initially prepared by director Mo Wan Il as a series project, with a cast rumored to include Song Kang Ho, Koo Kyo Hwan, Soo Ae, and Lee Sung Min. However, following a reorganization and major casting overhaul, the project has been restructured as a film trilogy.

In the current iteration, the three-part effort is expected to unfold in the late 1980s, functioning as a prequel that predates the events of the original 2015 film. The franchise is thus positioned to deepen the backstory around how the cartel’s influence developed, while potentially introducing new character arcs that support the world established in the first movie.

Directorial Team Confirmed for the Trilogy

According to the report, two directors are set to co-direct the trilogy: Kim Min Bum and Kim Jin Suk. Kim Min Bum previously served as assistant director for films including 12.12: The Day, while Kim Jin Suk is known for adaptation work on Made in Korea. The pairing suggests the production may blend experienced high-stakes filmmaking with a measured approach to adapting source material into a multi-part narrative.

For audiences, the key question is how the trilogy will expand the franchise’s signature themes—particularly its focus on the way institutional systems can be gamed by those with access and leverage. The prequel format also raises expectations around how the story will connect to the original film’s timeline and what new clues it will provide about motivations behind the cartel’s most consequential moves.

Ha Jung Woo’s Role: Timing, Casting Logic, and Star Power

Ha Jung Woo’s potential involvement is a major development on its own. While details of his character or the trilogy’s story beats have not been specified in the reporting, his agency’s response confirms the offer stage rather than a finalized contract. WALKHOUSE COMPANY said the actor has received an offer to star in Inside Men (working title) and is currently reviewing it.

If Ha ultimately joins, it would add considerable star power to a project already shaped by its earlier cast reshuffling and format pivot. The franchise’s previous success—and the reputation of Yoon Tae Ho’s source—means casting decisions are likely to be as consequential as plot design.

At the same time, the trilogy’s history of changes signals a production still in refinement. With the shift from series plans to feature-length installments, the creative team may be aligning pacing, action design, and character development to fit a long-form cinematic structure rather than episodic storytelling.

What Comes Next for the “Inside Men” Prequel

For now, the immediate takeaway is that Ha Jung Woo is negotiating a potential lead while the trilogy’s creative direction is already in place through its co-directing team. The next update fans and industry observers will likely look for includes a final casting confirmation, a clearer description of the trilogy’s central characters, and any timeline details regarding production start and release scheduling.

More broadly, the project’s evolution—from planned series to film trilogy—will serve as a bellwether for how Korean studios treat mature, crime-driven IP in an era where audiences are accustomed to both bingeable dramas and expansive franchise filmmaking. If the prequel trilogy delivers on its promise to extend the franchise’s late-1980s power struggle, it could become one of the most closely watched Korean crime properties of its release cycle.