#SHOWBIZ: From scandal to screen: Yoo Ah-in to star in new occult film 'Vampir'
SEOUL: South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in is set to make his return to the silver screen with the upcoming supernatural thriller Vampir (working title), following a high-profile drug conviction that derailed his career.
South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in is set to star in the upcoming supernatural thriller Vampir, following a high-profile drug conviction that halted his career. The distributor NEW revealed the news on August 18, accompanied by photos from a script reading featuring the 39-year-old star, as reported by the Korea Herald. This marks Yoo's first new project since 2023, when allegations of habitual use of propofol and other illicit substances forced him to step back from the limelight.
Vampir sees Yoo playing a hitman recruited by a priest to track down a shadowy cult. Directed by Jang Jae-hyun, who helmed the 2024 hit occult thriller Exhuma, the film also stars Lee Sung-min, Lee Joon-hyuk, Yoon Kyung-ho, and Choi Hyun-wook. Principal photography began in August, with the distributor targeting a 2028 release.
Renowned for his talent, Yoo gained prominence for his roles in action blockbuster Veteran (2015) and historical drama The Throne (2015). He received international acclaim for his performance in Lee Chang-dong's Burning, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018. However, the drug scandal led to Netflix canceling his role in the second season of Hellbound (2021 to 2024) and major brands severing endorsement deals.
Despite two films, The Match and Hi-Five, released in 2025, both productions had concluded prior to the drug investigation and experienced significant delays before their release.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
