"Badland Hunter" was released on Netflix on January 26th. This film is a sequel and spin-off to the 2023 film "Concrete Utopia." "Concrete Utopia" is considered a masterpiece that achieved both commercial and critical success, and while "Badland Hunter" is a little simpler action film, it is receiving a lot of attention on Netflix.

"Climax Studio," which produced both films, seems to be trying to create a cinematic universe based on "Concrete Utopia." In addition to these two films, two spin-off TV series are already in the works. Both works have finished filming and are preparing to announce their release dates and begin marketing.

Cheerful Bully (Working Title)

While the two films were set in an apartment that survived the collapse, this series is set in a school. It depicts the stories of students trapped in a collapsed school as their true natures are revealed in the disaster situation.

The main cast includes actors Seong Yu-bin, Won Ji-an, and Jo Hyun-chul. Actor Seong Yu-bin appeared as "Seo Dae-gil" in "The Witch: Part 2," and Won Ji-an made her debut in the Netflix original "D.P." Actor Jo Hyun-chul also appeared in Season 1 of "D.P."

This TV series is practically the first commercial work for director Min Seung-hyun. He has directed several short films, mainly dealing with queerness and poverty. He directed a short film called "Bicycle Thief," which appears to be a title influenced by Vittorio De Sica's "Bicycle Thieves" (1948).

"Bicycle Thieves" (1948) depicted the economic difficulties of Italians immediately after World War II. Most of the film was shot in Italian cities that were in ruins at the time, following the war. Therefore, it seems likely that "Cheerful Bully" will also be a social satire, following the director's tendencies, similar to "Concrete Utopia."

This series is known to have finished filming in January 2023. However, the specific release date or method is not yet known.

Concrete Market

"Concrete Market" is expected to tell the story of people who survive after the collapse and make a living by bartering in an apartment. Like "Cheerful Bully," this series is director Hong Gi-won's commercial TV series debut. He directed the short film "Tylenol" in 2015. This film is also known to be a short film dealing with the unemployment problem in Korea at the time.

Except for "Badland Hunter," the "Concrete Cinematic Universe" is characterized by independent film directors who deal with social issues. We can also speculate whether it will be a social satire on the economic crisis.

Actor Lee Jae-in has been cast for the main character "He-ro." Actor Lee Jae-in starred in the 2019 Korean film "Sabaha." This series will be produced in seven episodes, and it is the least known of the planned spin-offs. Filming has already been completed, and information is expected to be released soon.