'Deepfake' technology behind childhood versions of 'A Killer Paradox' actors

Scenes from Netflix original series ″A Killer Paradox,″ with actor Son Suk-ku, left, and the child version of his character realized using ″deepfake″ technology [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The childhood face of actor Son Suk-ku in the Netflix original series “A Killer Paradox,” which attracted much attention for its amazing similarity to the adult actor, was realized through "deepfake" technology.

Series director Lee Chang-hee revealed the fact during a group interview with reporters at a cafe in Jung District, central Seoul, on Wednesday.

“A child actor played Son’s part and the face was recreated by collecting photos of Son when he was younger and adding special effects – 'deepfake,' to be precise – to it,” said Lee. “We didn’t have many photos of him when he was younger, so we drew image models.”

A lot of the budget for “A Killer Paradox” was spent on the "deepfake" technology for the child version of Son, said Lee, to the point that the producers asked if it was necessary, but the director decided to so “for the sake of reality.”

All of the characters’ scenes from the past were created using "deepfake" technology, and that is why there was no dialogue spoken by the child actors. Supporting character Gyeong-ah, played by actor Lim Se-joo, who has undergone plastic surgery in the series, was also depicted in a past version through special effects.

“A Killer Paradox” is based on an original webtoon of the same name by author Kkomabi, and tells the story about a seemingly ordinary college student who commits an accidental murder and becomes a killing machine after discovering that he has the ability to identify evildoers. Actors Choi Woo-shik and Son star in the main roles, and the series has topped Netflix’s rankings of non-English shows globally at No. 2 as it landed in the top 10 in 19 countries.

BY HAN JEE-HYE, LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]