Solo Leveling live-action just blew everyone out of the water. Netflix is taking a completely different approach with its adaptation. Instead of following the same format as the anime adaptation, where each chapter was given one episode, Netflix is opting for fewer episodes, but making those episodes packed with high-quality content.There will be seven total episodes for season 1 of this series, which is totally different from what we've seen in the past, where it had 12 episodes. Each episode will be between 40-75 minutes, so technically, we might get more story out of the 7 than the 12 that we had in the anime.Jinwoo riding his shadow beast (Image Source: A-1 Pictures)The Solo Leveling live-action adaptation creates a good product with their first season (that's why there's only 7), and that is what they mean by "quality over quantity" when it comes to their debut. Seven episodes sound low compared to a typical anime series.Because there are fewer episodes, the longer format allows for more space in which the show can explore a larger area. Yu Yu Hakusho, for instance, was made as five 44 to 55-minute episodes; One Piece had at least eight 60-minute episodes in its first season.The extended run-time of Solo Leveling live-action may include storylines from the anime's second season. The extra-long runtimes allow for character growth and create a wider world than would normally be possible with shorter episodes.Production Timeline and Cast Details of Solo Leveling Live-ActionCha Hae-in as seen in the anime (Image Source: A-1 Pictures)The Solo Leveling live-action series is set to begin in April 2026, and several main cast members have already been confirmed for this much-anticipated project.Byeon Woo-seok takes on the lead role of Sung Jin-woo, an E-rank Hunter who obtains superhuman powers. Byeon Woo-seok has appeared in the dramas Record of Youth and Strong Girl Nam-soon, showcasing his versatility across various styles.Cha Hae-in's character is played by Ahn So-hee, who has previously starred in the movie Train to Busan. K-drama actor Kang You-seok is also on board as Jinho of the cast, but there are still a lot of major roles to fill.The directors of the Solo Leveling live-action series are Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo, who have directed films such as Ashfall, Castaway on the Moon, and Cold Eyes. The production companies for this ambitious adaptation are Kakao Entertainment and SANAI PICTURES.Source Material's Massive SuccessShadow soldiers of Jinwoo (Image Source: A-1 Pictures)The Solo Leveling live-action movie is an expansion of a well-established multimedia franchise. The creator Chugong started writing his first web novel in 2016 and later enlisted the artist Jang Sung-rak to create a webtoon based on that novel. This franchise has grown tremendously, with over 14.3 billion total views on the KakaoPage platform worldwide. Then in 2024, Studio A-1 Pictures produced and released the first season of 12 episodes, followed by the second season of 13 episodes in 2025, and went on to take home nine awards at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, which was a historic first for the anime.What Fans Can Expect from Solo Leveling Live-ActionThe plan is for a seven-episode season that'll kick everything off with characters and their world. We'll do our best to tell the story of how Jin-woo came from just a kid to where he is at the start of episode one.The extra time will allow the Solo Leveling live-action series to have more exciting action and emotional scenes than previous adaptations. Netflix has focused on creating realistic monster designs and great fight choreography to change the way people see these types of adaptations.As filming is set to start shortly, everyone is expecting more cast announcements and promotional material. The community remains cautiously optimistic about Netflix's new anime project.