First 4 Minutes of Viral Hit Live-Action Series Released
Viral Hit fans have an exciting development! The Netflix adaptation of Naver Webtoon's hit series has released its first four minutes of footage ahead of the official premiere. The trailer includes the scene where the main character, Shimura, is bullied at school and forced to have white makeup smeared on his face during a live broadcast. This preview clearly sets the tone of the series and Shimura's initial helplessness.
Viral Hit (originally titled How to Fight) is a manhwa created by renowned author Park Tae-joon and published on Naver Webtoon since 2019. The series has reached over 1 billion views worldwide and stands out with its unique method of combating bullying: Yoo Hobin (named Shimura in the Japanese adaptation), a weak and introverted high school student, learns to defend himself and gain popularity by filming fight videos that go viral online. The story combines action, comedy, and emotional moments, earning a wide readership.
Netflix's live-action adaptation has been announced as the Japanese version of the manhwa and was filmed with an all-Japanese cast. The director is Yoshihiro Nishimura (director of the famous Tokyo Gore Police and The ABCs of Death 2). Nishimura's background in action and body horror genres suggests that the series will bring a gritty and realistic approach to fight scenes. The first four minutes of footage already show hints of this harsh style: Shimura's humiliation immediately draws the viewer into the story.
This live-action production proves once again how popular a webtoon adaptation like Viral Hit can be. We have previously seen how successful webtoons can be in the series and film world with productions like Sweet Home, All of Us Are Dead, and The Uncanny Counter. Viral Hit offers a story that particularly appeals to young audiences and directly references today's social media and viral culture. The entire series is expected to be released on Netflix in the summer of 2026. Although the exact date has not been announced yet, this first four-minute preview has already raised expectations.
