South Korean actor Yoo Ah In is set to make his return to the big screen with Vampir, an occult mystery thriller directed by Jang Jae Hyun, the filmmaker behind the 2024 blockbuster Exhuma, reports Hindustan Times.
The film, which is being distributed by NEW (Next Entertainment World), marks Yoo’s first major acting project since a drug-related legal case brought his career to a standstill.
Yoo will headline the film alongside Lee Sung Min, Lee Jun Hyuk, Doy, Yoon Kyung Ho and Choi Hyun Wook.
According to The Korea Herald, Vampir follows an unnamed contract killer who is hired by a pastor to investigate a pagan sect.
Yoo will portray the assassin, a character known for remaining calm and fearless even in dangerous situations.
However, his outlook begins to change as he becomes increasingly involved in the mysterious case.
The film marks Jang Jae Hyun’s first major project following Exhuma, which became one of South Korea’s biggest box-office hits in 2024.
Yoo’s career was disrupted in 2023 after he was accused of repeatedly using propofol, marijuana and other controlled substances.
Investigators alleged that he received propofol illegally at hospitals in Seoul on 181 occasions between 2020 and 2022, reportedly under the guise of undergoing cosmetic procedures.
He was also accused of misusing other medical anaesthetics, including midazolam and ketamine.
In February 2025, Yoo was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, and fined 2 million won (around US$1,420).
The Supreme Court later upheld the sentence, with his probation period set to run until July 2027.
The appeals court had previously reduced his punishment, citing the circumstances surrounding the offence and factors following it.
Yoo stepped away from acting after the allegations emerged. He was replaced in the second season of Netflix’s Hellbound, while films including The Match and Hi-Five faced delays before eventually being released in 2025.
His return with Vampir therefore marks a significant moment in his acting career and his first confirmed major project since the legal controversy.
The actor’s agency had previously refrained from confirming any comeback plans, saying that nothing had been decided.
Principal photography for Vampir began earlier this month, with production continuing later this month. The cast has also begun script-reading sessions and workshops.
The film is currently targeting a theatrical release in 2028.
