“Vigilante” Season two is reportedly in the works, with Nam Joo-hyuk expected to reprise his breakout action role. The hit series returns after a successful first season that marked a bold turn in the actor’s career.
Nam Joo-hyuk’s first action series, “Vigilante,” was a major hit when it premiered in 2023. It marked a stark departure from the romantic dramas and romantic comedies he had previously starred in.
Some of his best-known works include “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo,” “Start-Up,” and “Twenty-Five Twenty-One,” cementing him as one of South Korea’s top leading men in romantic comedy dramas.
“Vigilante” was the last series he filmed before enlisting in the South Korean military for his mandatory service. In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve approximately 18 to 21 months in the military, depending on the branch.
Nam Joo-hyuk’s Life After Military Service
Now that he has been discharged and is ready to return to work, buzz around “Vigilante” Season 2 is growing. South Korean media outlet JTBC Entertainment first announced the new season on July 19, 2024.
Even while he was in the military, news of Nam Joo-hyuk’s upcoming projects continued to trend online. Apart from “Vigilante” Season 2, it was reported that he would star in an upcoming fantasy series, “Donggung,” following his discharge.
The fantasy series also features Roh Yoon-seo of “Crash Course in Romance” fame and Jo Sung-woo, among others.
“Donggung” as his first post-military project puts Nam Joo-hyuk in another intriguing role, further expanding his range across multiple genres. The series is scheduled for global release via Netflix in 2025.
As he continues preparations for “Donggung,” fans are eagerly waiting for updates on when he’ll officially announce the return of “Vigilante” Season 2.
News on “Vigilante” Season Two
According to the initial report, Nam Joo-hyuk, along with Yoo Ji-tae and Kim So-jin, is set to reprise their roles for a second season. Meanwhile, casting for additional characters was still underway at the time.
The production company behind “Vigilante,” Studio N, said the show is still in its planning stage. As of now, the actors and their agencies have not officially confirmed their return for “Vigilante” Season 2.
However, JTBC Entertainment reported that the actors have a “special affection” for the series. If there are no programming or scheduling conflicts, they are expected to return without issue.
“Vigilante” Season One was a Worldwide Hit
“Vigilante” premiered in November 2023 as a Disney+ original. It received global acclaim and follows the story of Kim Ji-yong (Nam Joo-hyuk), a police academy student who secretly becomes a vigilante at night to punish criminals who escape proper justice.
His thirst for justice stems from the tragic death of his mother during his childhood. She was beaten to death by a gangster, who received only a light sentence for the crime.
Through it all, Kim Ji-yong does a great job blending in with his peers at the police academy, portraying himself as an average student. However, at night, he shows off his martial arts prowess as he takes revenge on criminals.
Kim Ji-yong’s actions attract the attention of Jo Heon (Yoo Ji-tae), head of the crimes investigation department, who launches a mission to catch the mysterious avenger. The vigilante is also being tracked by news reporter Choi Mi-ryeo (Kim So-jin), who follows his every move.
In his first action thriller, Nam Joo-hyuk trained extensively to bring his character to life. “Since it’s my first action project, I had many discussions with the martial arts team about the details throughout filming. I believed that my character should exhibit a distinct vibe when in a police uniform compared to his vigilante persona,” he explained.
He added that when portraying the vigilante, he focused on going darker and more solemn, avoiding overt emotional displays. “I tried to act by internalizing those emotions,” Nam Joo-hyuk said.
Nam Joo-hyuk’s Versatility
“Vigilante” director Choi Jeong-yeol said Nam Joo-hyuk was the ideal choice for the lead role. “I had hopes to find an actor who could depict a fine line between good and evil, with a spark in his eyes but also sadness in his gaze. Nam Joo-hyuk portrayed those aspects very well, and there were many moments when I was in awe,” he shared.
Nam Joo-hyuk’s versatility has been widely recognized. Born in 1994, he began his career as a model before transitioning into acting.
His first dream was to become a professional basketball player, but a ligament injury and subsequent surgery ended those aspirations.
By 2013, he landed a modeling job with the Korean brand Songzio and soon walked the runway for several major labels.
He made his screen debut in 2014 with the drama “The Idle Mermaid.” A year later, he gained attention in “Who Are You: School 2015,” followed by his breakthrough role in “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo” in 2016.
With the success of “Vigilante,” a second season seemed inevitable. Fans can expect to see Nam Joo-hyuk back in action, once again taking justice into his own hands.
The release date for Season 2 has not yet been announced, and no official trailers have been released.
