Love in the Time of Zombies: A Fresh Take on the Genre in “Newtopia”
In Prime Video‘s “Newtopia,” love doesn’t just survive the apocalypse — it thrives in it. The Korean series pairs Blackpink‘s Jisoo and acclaimed actor Park Jeong-min in a romantic comedy with undead twists that’s being billed as a fresh take on the zombie genre.
The series follows Lee Jae-yoon (Park), a late military conscript, and Kang Young-joo (Jisoo), a rookie professional, whose relationship is tested first by a breakup and then by a zombie outbreak in Seoul. Under the direction of Yoon Sung-hyun, “Newtopia” aims to blend heart-pounding action with light-hearted romance.
“It’s more adorable, humorous and light-hearted — a true zombie romantic comedy, a ‘zom-com,’” Park tells Variety. “That uniqueness was what made me want to be part of this project.” The actor, who admits to being a Blackpink fan with signed albums to prove it, found instant chemistry with his co-star. “From the very first moment, the chemistry between us was great and it was easy to form a close bond.”
For Park, the role offered unique creative opportunities. “Being placed in situations that I have never experienced — and likely never will — was the most intriguing aspect of working on this series,” he explains. “It opened up endless possibilities for imagination, allowing me to reflect on the various choices I might make if I found myself in those situations.”
The collaboration between the two leads was enhanced by Jisoo’s presence on set. “Jisoo is such a wonderful person who never shows any signs of negativity,” Park says. “Working with her helped me stay connected to my character’s emotions throughout the filming process. Thanks to her, it made portraying her romantic partner in the series feel natural and enjoyable.”
For Jisoo, following up her success in Disney+ and JTBC’s “Snowdrop” with “Newtopia” offered new challenges, particularly in the action department. “This was my first time working on a project set in a zombie apocalypse, and I discovered how much I enjoy filming action sequences,” she reveals. The role required nearly a year of filming and extensive physical preparation. “I always worked out on my days off, stretched before filming and stayed focused during rehearsals to prevent injuries,” she says.
The K-pop star-turned-actress faced demanding action scenes, including a particularly taxing sequence featuring zombies. “One of the toughest scenes involved fighting and running from zombies in a single take,” she says. “It demanded a lot of physical strength, and keeping up with all the running was a challenge.” Her dedication extended beyond filming hours: “On days with a lot of action scenes, I followed recovery routines like warm baths and stretching to prevent muscle soreness, no matter how late we finished on set.”
Park likens the series to a “fairytale disguised as a zombie series” and draws comparisons to 2013 zombie cult film “Warm Bodies,” suggesting viewers might find similar fresh appeal. He credits director Yoon Sung-hyun’s innovative approach, noting how the creator “steps slightly away from traditional formulas to present a fresh story and an innovative narrative style.”
Jisoo underlines the show’s unique balance of elements: “A zombie apocalypse can feel like a heavy theme, but ‘Newtopia’ balances the grimness with characters who navigate the chaos in unique ways, all while keeping a sense of humor.”
The series will premiere globally on Prime Video and Korean streamer Coupang Play on Friday.
