# Canvas of Blood (몽유도원도)
**Canvas of Blood** (몽유도원도, Mongyudowondo) is an upcoming South Korean historical drama film directed by Jang Hoon, starring [Kim Nam-gil](https://www.edgepedia.org/kim-nam-gil), Park Bo-gum, and [Lee Hyun-wook](https://www.edgepedia.org/lee-hyun-wook)[14](https://mydramalist.com/797274-dream-journey-to-the-peach-blossom-land). Set during the [Joseon dynasty](https://www.edgepedia.org/joseon-dynasty), it centers on the famed landscape painting *Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land*, commissioned by Grand Prince Anpyeong after he described a utopian landscape he saw in a dream, and on the clash between Anpyeong and his brother Grand Prince Suyang over opposing dreams of power and paradise[15](https://sbsstar.net/article/N1008295636/kim-namgilpark-bogumlee-hyunwook-team-up-for-dream-journey-from-a-taxi-driver-director-jang-hoon). The film will be released by Plus M Entertainment in South Korea in 2026[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38125927/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Korean title | 몽유도원도 (Mongyudowondo), literally "Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land"[14](https://mydramalist.com/797274-dream-journey-to-the-peach-blossom-land) |
| Director | Jang Hoon, known for *A Taxi Driver* (2017), *The Front Line*, *Secret Reunion*, and *Rough Cut*[2](https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/entertainment/filming-begins-for-period-drama-canvas-of-blood/12295445) |
| Lead cast | Kim Nam-gil as Grand Prince Suyang; Park Bo-gum as Grand Prince Anpyeong; Lee Hyun-wook as the painter An Gyeon[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38125927/) |
| Setting | Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), around the completion of the painting in 1447[2](https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/entertainment/filming-begins-for-period-drama-canvas-of-blood/12295445) |
| Production support | 1.5 billion won under the Korean Film Council's 2025 Mid-Budget Korean Film Production Support project[3](https://www.kofic.or.kr/kofic/business/noti/findNewsDetail.do?seqNo=55718) |
| Filming | Began October 14, 2025[4](https://www.soompi.com/article/1791146wpp/kim-nam-gil-park-bo-gum-and-lee-hyun-wook-confirmed-to-lead-upcoming-historical-film); principal photography ended in January 2026 |
| Release | Plus M Entertainment, South Korea, 2026[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38125927/) |
## Premise
The film follows two royal brothers and sons of King Sejong, Prince Suyang (Kim Nam-gil) and Prince Anpyeong ([Park Bo-gum](https://www.edgepedia.org/park-bo-gum)), who begin to dream of vastly different paradises and ambitions after the creation of the painting *Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land*[4](https://www.soompi.com/article/1791146wpp/kim-nam-gil-park-bo-gum-and-lee-hyun-wook-confirmed-to-lead-upcoming-historical-film). According to the promotional synopsis, the brotherhood between the two princes is tested by clashing ideals for their kingdom[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38125927/).
The historical backdrop is the Gyeyu Jeongnan, the 1453 coup planned by Prince Suyang to secure the throne after King Sejong's death[5](https://rollingstoneindia.com/kim-nam-gil-and-park-bo-gum-face-off-in-canvas-of-blood/). Rather than focusing solely on the succession struggle, the film is positioned around clashes between ideals and reality, and between art and power[6](https://news.sbs.co.kr/english/article.do?news_id=N1008438565).
## The historical painting behind the title
*Mongyudowondo* is a landscape painting made by the early Joseon painter [An Gyeon](https://www.edgepedia.org/an-gyeon) in 1447[7](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0018824). An Gyeon's devoted patron, [Grand Prince Anpyeong](https://www.edgepedia.org/grand-prince-anpyeong) (Yi Yong), dreamed of visiting the Peach Blossom Land and described the dream to An Gyeon so that he could paint it[7](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0018824). According to Anpyeong's own colophon (a note at a scroll's end naming author/scribe), An Gyeon completed the work in only three days[7](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0018824). The scroll carries Anpyeong's inscription and a poem, together with 23 eulogies written by leading scholars of the day and one eminent monk, which gives the work value as calligraphy as well as painting; it is held at Tenri University in Japan[7](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0018824).
In the film, An Gyeon, Anpyeong's artistic partner who created the painting, is portrayed by Lee Hyun-wook[6](https://news.sbs.co.kr/english/article.do?news_id=N1008438565).
## Production history
The project spent years in development before reaching the screen. In 2001, the production company Big Bang Creative announced a period film based on the Domi tale and Choi In-ho's novel *Mongyudowondo*, with the Chinese director Chen Kaige attached to direct and [Lee Jung-jae](https://www.edgepedia.org/lee-jung-jae) confirmed in the main cast; shooting was planned for early 2002 with release at the 2003 [Lunar New Year](https://www.edgepedia.org/lunar-new-year)[8](https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2001/07/07/2001070770019.html). In 2016, a version directed by Cho Chul-hyun with Jo Jin-woong, Sul Kyung-gu, and [Oh Dal-su](https://www.edgepedia.org/oh-dal-su) in talks to appear was under review at CJ ENM, but the company ultimately decided not to proceed, and production was postponed indefinitely in early 2017[9](https://www.spotvnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=113599).
The current film took shape through state support. In 2025, the Korean Film Council selected nine films under its newly created Mid-Budget Korean Film Production Support project, with Jang Hoon's *Mongyudowondo* receiving 1.5 billion won, the largest grant in the cohort alongside *The Target*[3](https://www.kofic.or.kr/kofic/business/noti/findNewsDetail.do?seqNo=55718) • [10](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/ko_pick.jsp?blbdComCd=601029&mode=VIEW&seq=164).
On October 17, 2025, the production company confirmed the main cast and announced that filming had begun on October 14[4](https://www.soompi.com/article/1791146wpp/kim-nam-gil-park-bo-gum-and-lee-hyun-wook-confirmed-to-lead-upcoming-historical-film). Supporting cast members announced at the same time include Park Won-sang, Choi Deok-moon, Ryu Seung-soo, Cha Soon-bae, Kim Byung-cheol, Kim Tae-hoon, Park Myung-hoon, and Kim Nam-hee[11](https://news.nate.com/view/20251017n26239). The film is co-produced by Doodoong Pictures and Sanai Pictures[6](https://news.sbs.co.kr/english/article.do?news_id=N1008438565). [Principal photography](https://www.edgepedia.org/principal-photography) ended in January 2026, and the film was in post-production as of spring 2026[12](https://www.screendaily.com/features/cannes-2026-the-hot-projects-from-south-korea/5216642.article).
## Release
Canvas of Blood is slated for release in South Korea by Plus M Entertainment in 2026, listed among the distributor's 2026 lineup titles[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38125927/) • [13](https://www.hankookilbo.com/news/article/A2026062316310000169). A premiere date is to be announced[2](https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/entertainment/filming-begins-for-period-drama-canvas-of-blood/12295445).
## References
1. [Canvas of Blood (2026), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38125927/)
2. [Filming begins for period drama 'Canvas of Blood', The Korea JoongAng Daily (October 17, 2025)](https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/entertainment/filming-begins-for-period-drama-canvas-of-blood/12295445)
3. [2025 영화진흥위원회 중예산 한국영화 제작지원 사업 결과 발표, 영화진흥위원회](https://www.kofic.or.kr/kofic/business/noti/findNewsDetail.do?seqNo=55718)
4. [Kim Nam Gil, Park Bo Gum, And Lee Hyun Wook Confirmed To Lead Upcoming Historical Film, Soompi (October 17, 2025)](https://www.soompi.com/article/1791146wpp/kim-nam-gil-park-bo-gum-and-lee-hyun-wook-confirmed-to-lead-upcoming-historical-film)
5. [Kim Nam-gil and Park Bo-gum Face Off in 'Canvas of Blood', Rolling Stone India (October 24, 2025)](https://rollingstoneindia.com/kim-nam-gil-and-park-bo-gum-face-off-in-canvas-of-blood/)
6. [Kim Nam-gil & Park Bo-gum's 'Canvas of Blood' Shoot Hype Sky-High with Just Two Stills, SBS News](https://news.sbs.co.kr/english/article.do?news_id=N1008438565)
7. [몽유도원도, 한국민족문화대백과사전](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0018824)
8. [[첸카이거 감독] 한국영화 '몽유도원도' 연출 맡아, 조선일보 (2001년 7월 7일)](https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2001/07/07/2001070770019.html)
9. [조진웅-설경구-오달수 물망 '몽유도원도', 제작 중단, 스포티비뉴스](https://www.spotvnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=113599)
10. [Between Masters and New Voices: Can Mid-Budget Films Rebuild Korean Cinema?, KOFI / Korean Film Biz Zone](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/ko_pick.jsp?blbdComCd=601029&mode=VIEW&seq=164)
11. [영화 몽유도원도, 김남길·박보검·이현욱 캐스팅 확정, 네이트/알파경제 (2025-10-17)](https://news.nate.com/view/20251017n26239)
12. [Cannes 2026: The hot projects from South Korea, Screen Daily](https://www.screendaily.com/features/cannes-2026-the-hot-projects-from-south-korea/5216642.article)
13. ['호프'보다 차기작이 문제… 메가박스중앙 사태, 어디까지 번질까, 한국일보](https://www.hankookilbo.com/news/article/A2026062316310000169)
14. [Canvas of Blood (2026) - MyDramaList](https://mydramalist.com/797274-dream-journey-to-the-peach-blossom-land)
15. [Kim Nam-gil·Park Bo-gum·Lee Hyun-wook Team Up for 'Dream Journey,' from 'A Taxi Driver' Director Jang Hoon, sbsstar.net](https://sbsstar.net/article/N1008295636/kim-namgilpark-bogumlee-hyunwook-team-up-for-dream-journey-from-a-taxi-driver-director-jang-hoon)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › War and historical films (individual works) › Historical dramas and epics › Titles symbols to L › Titles 1 to Em*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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