Jump to content

Portraits of Delusion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Portraits of Delusion
Hangul
현혹
Hanja
眩惑
Lit.Delusion
RRHyeonhok
MRHyŏnhok
Genre
Based on
Delusion
by Hongjacga
Written byHan Jae-rim
Directed byHan Jae-rim
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
Production
CinematographyHong Kyung-pyo
Production companies
Budget₩45 billion
Original release
NetworkDisney+

Portraits of Delusion (Korean: 현혹) is an upcoming South Korean television series based on the eponymous graphic novel by Hongjacga,[1] directed by Han Jae-rim, and starring Bae Suzy and Kim Seon-ho. It is co-produced by Showbox and Magnum Nine, and scheduled for release on Disney+ in the second half of 2026.[2][3]

Premise

[edit]

Set in 1935 Gyeongseong, the story follows struggling artist Yun I-ho, who is commissioned by the reclusive elderly Madam Song Jeong-hwa to create a portrait. In a rare moment, she allows him to see her, revealing a young woman before him. However, she requests that he paint an elderly version of herself. Hidden among the previous artist's paint tubes is a troubling letter. Yun I-ho discovers that no artist has left Madam Song Jeong-hwa's home alive or in a sound state of mind. The mystery deepens as he contemplates what she is concealing and the potential consequences of completing the portrait.

Cast

[edit]

Main

[edit]

Supporting cast

[edit]

Special appearance

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]
Director Han Jae-rim (pictured)

In June 2021, Showbox announced plans to produce drama adaptations of several webtoons, including Delusion.[11] On September 2, 2021, a film industry insider reported that director Han Jae-rim had begun development on the series. The specific platform for release and the timeline for filming had yet to be determined at the time.[12]

On May 23, 2025, Disney+ confirmed that it would release Delusion as an original series in 2026.[13] The project has an estimated production budget of ₩45 billion.[14] During the Disney+ Originals Preview 2025 event held on November 13, 2025, at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel Conference Center, the official English title was revealed as Portraits of Delusion.[15]

To adapt the webtoon for the screen, the production team opted to move away from the original Shanghai setting in favor of a fictional location referred to as "K's City." This space was designed to reflect the worldview and desires of the character K through its specific aesthetic, texture, and atmosphere. To offer a unique perspective on the vampire genre, production designers blended the cold, architectural textures of medieval Europe with a mysterious, humid ambiance. The narrative structure for the past sequences was designed to move beyond a standard flashback format. Instead, these segments are structured to allow the audience to track the emotional progression of Jeonghwa’s transformation. The city functions as a pivotal setting for this evolution, serving as the threshold where Jeonghwa loses her innocence and transitions into a vampire.[16]

Regarding the adaptation process, the original webtoon author Hongjacga expressed strong support for director Han Jae-rim's creative vision, specifically noting Han's accurate understanding of the story's final scene. The author welcomed creative expansions of the source material for the screen adaptation, stating that "as long as the core essence that runs through the work remains intact."[17]

Casting

[edit]
Kim Seon-ho (left) and Bae Suzy (right)

Ryu Jun-yeol and Han So-hee were initially considered for the lead roles of Yun I-ho and Song Jeong-hwa respectively. However, they withdrew from the project following the end of their relationship in March 2024.[18][19]

On July 30, 2024, a representative from Management Soop confirmed to Sports Chosun that Bae Suzy was reviewing an offer for the lead role Song Jeong-hwa. Although she had been approached for the role prior to Han So-hee, she initially declined due to scheduling conflicts.[20] In August, reports emerged that Kim Seon-ho was in talks to star opposite Bae, marking a reunion for the pair after their 2020 collaboration in Start-Up.[21][22][23] Their casting was officially confirmed on May 23, 2025, when Disney+ released photos from the script reading.[2]

Director Han Jae-rim noted that Jeonghwa is defined by a beauty that serves as both a narrative driver and a personal burden. Conversely, I-ho hides deep-seated conflicts and past trauma beneath a calm exterior. The director sought actors capable of navigating the subtle asymmetry between these characters' outward appearances and inner lives.[16]

Filming

[edit]

In October 2025, the production team canceled its scheduled on-location filming in Shanghai, China, due to local conditions. Production shifted entirely to provincial locations within South Korea to represent the series' setting.[24] In December 2025, leads Bae and Kim were spotted running near West Lake, Hanoi, sparking speculation that they were filming in Vietnam.[25]

Release

[edit]

Portraits of Delusion is produced as a 12-episode series and is scheduled to be released on Disney+ in the second half of 2026.[26]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Khan, Areeba (April 16, 2025). "This Vampire Thriller Webtoon Has an Upcoming K-Drama You Don't Want to Miss". ComicBook.com. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Kim, Ji-hye (May 23, 2025). 수지X김선호, '현혹'으로 다시 만났다…2026년 디즈니+ 공개 확정 [Suzy X Kim Seon-ho, meet again through 'Portraits of Delusion'... Disney+ release confirmed for 2026]. SBS Entertainment News (in Korean). Retrieved May 23, 2025 – via Naver.
  3. ↑ Jang, In-young (November 14, 2025). 수지, '현혹' 첫 비주얼 공개에…"드디어" 이민정→송혜교 난리 났네 '후끈' [★해시태그] [Suzy reveals her first "dazzling" visuals... "Finally" Lee Min-jung → Song Hye-kyo's popularity is heating up [★Hashtag]]. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved November 16, 2025 – via Naver.
  4. ↑ 수지, 2025년 소처럼 열일한다! 기대작 두편 연이어 촬영 [Suzy, working like a cow in 2025! Two highly anticipated works filmed back-to-back]. 아이즈(ize) (in Korean). January 13, 2025. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  5. ↑ Cho, Wonhee (November 15, 2025). "Live-Action Portraits of Delusion Series to Debut on Disney+ in 2nd Half of 2026". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  6. ↑ Jo, Yeon-kyung (April 11, 2025). [단독] 허준호 '현혹' 묵직한 존재감…수지·김선호 만난다 [[Exclusive] Jun-ho Heo's 'Portraits of Delusion' and heavy presence... Meets Suzy and Seon-ho Kim]. JTBC (in Korean). Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  7. ↑ Choi, Yi-jeong (April 10, 2025). [단독] 최현욱, 문가영 이어 수지X김선호 만난다..'현혹' 캐스팅 [[Exclusive] Choi Hyun-wook, following Moon Ga-young, to meet Suzy and Kim Seon-ho in 'Portraits of Delusion' casting]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  8. ↑ Cho, Hye-jin (October 3, 2025). [단독]이학주, 결혼 후 더 잘나간다..수지·김선호와 '현혹' 호흡 [[Exclusive] Lee Hak-joo's Marriage Proves Even More Successful...Dazzling Collaboration with Suzy and Kim Seon-ho]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved November 13, 2025 – via Naver.
  9. ↑ Choi, Hye-jin (October 3, 2025). [단독]신수현, 450억 투입된 '현혹' 출연..꽃길 걷는 괴물 신인 [[Exclusive] Shin Soo-hyun to star in 'Delusion' with a budget of 45 billion won.. A rookie monster walking on a flower path]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved November 13, 2025 – via Naver.
  10. ↑ [단독] '현혹' 베일싸인 K, 김영광이었다…특별출연 합류 [[Exclusive] 'Portraits of Delusion' Mystery Actor K Revealed: Kim Young-kwang Joins as Special Guest Star]. Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  11. ↑ Development:
  12. ↑ [단독] '관상'·'더킹' 한재림 감독, 웹툰 '현혹' 드라마로 만든다 [[Exclusive] 'Face Reader' and 'The King' director Han Jae-rim to adapt webtoon 'Delusion' into a drama"]. JTBC (in Korean). Retrieved August 15, 2024 – via Daum.
  13. ↑ 수지·김선호 '현혹', 넷플릭스 아닌 디즈니+ 공개 확정 [공식] [Suzy and Kim Seon-ho's 'Hwank' Confirmed for Release on Disney+, Not Netflix [Official]]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). May 23, 2025.
  14. ↑ Sa, Jin (April 11, 2025). 김선호, 아이유 이어 수지 만난다…'현혹'서 5년 만 재회 [Kim Seon-ho, IU, and Suzy meet again… 'Dazzling' reunion after 5 years]. TV Report (in Korean). Retrieved May 23, 2025 – via Naver.
  15. ↑ "Disney+ turns to shamans, a webtoon and action with a tantalizing Korean lineup in store for next year". Korea JoongAng Daily. November 13, 2025. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  16. 1 2 Jo, Hyun-na (January 22, 2026). [인터뷰] 영원에 대한 욕망을 탐구하다. <현혹> 한재림 감독 [[Interview] Exploring the Desire for Eternity. Director Han Jae-rim of Delusion]. Cine21 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  17. ↑ Jeong, So-jin (May 7, 2026). 웹툰 '현혹'의 홍작가가 말하는 아름답고 기괴한 결핍 [The beautiful and bizarre lack spoken of by Hong, the author of the webtoon 'Bewitchment']. Elle Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  18. ↑ Choi, Yun-na (April 2, 2024). 류준열·한소희, 작품도 결별 [공식] [Ryu Jun-yeol and Han So-hee Part Ways, Even in Their Work [Official]]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved November 29, 2025 – via Naver.
  19. ↑ Lee, Da-won (April 2, 2024). 류준열 측 “‘현혹’ 검토 중단, 피해 안 가게 해야”[공 [Ryu Jun-yeol's side: "Review of 'Portraits of Delusion' has been halted, and we must prevent further harm." [Official]식]]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved November 29, 2025 – via Naver.
  20. ↑ [공식] 수지, 한재림 감독 '현혹' 출연할까…"출연 제안받고 검토 중" [[Official] Will Suzy appear in director Han Jae-rim's 'Hypnotic'... "Received offer and under review"]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). July 30, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  21. ↑ 김선호‧수지, 4년 만에 뭉치는 '현혹'... 어떤 작품? [Kim Seon-ho and Suzy reunite after 4 years in 'Portraits of Delusion'... What kind of work?]. Max Movie (in Korean). Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  22. ↑ 김선호, 자유롭고 편안한 모습이 돋보이는 디지털 커버 공개 [Kim Seon-ho, a digital cover that highlights a free and comfortable look]. Arena Korea (in Korean). December 23, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  23. ↑ '같지만 다른' 김선호, 새로워진 그를 만날 시간 [Similar but different' Kim Seon-ho, time to meet the renewed him]. Max Movie (in Korean). Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  24. ↑ "[단독] 수지X김선호도 중국행 막혔나...'현혹' 측 "촬영지 검토 단계" (공식)". 조선일보 (in Korean). October 15, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  25. ↑ ""집 앞에서 수지를 봤다"… 베트남서 찍힌 수지·김선호 러닝 현장 (영상)". 동아일보 (in Korean). December 1, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  26. ↑ 김나혜 (June 5, 2026). "송혜교·공유·수지·이동욱 총출동! 2026 하반기 OTT 기대작 3". 에스콰이어 코리아 (in Korean). Retrieved July 18, 2026.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Portraits_of_Delusion&oldid=1364765177"