The upcoming film “Kalki 2898 AD,” starring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, and Deepika Padukone, stirred controversy when a South Korean artist accused the filmmakers of plagiarism.
Directed by Nag Ashwin, the movie’s trailer was released on June 10 and quickly gained attention on social media due to its extensive use of visual effects.
Fans noted similarities between “Kalki 2898 AD,” set in a post-apocalyptic world, and Hollywood blockbusters like “Dune” and “Mad Max.”
The storyline revolves around a contemporary incarnation of the Hindu deity Vishnu, who descends to Earth to protect it from sinister forces.
Reportedly the most expensive Indian film ever made, with a budget of $72 million, “Kalki 2898 AD” is scheduled to premiere globally on June 27 in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and English.
However, controversy arose after Sung Choi, a South Korean concept illustrator and designer with credits from Marvel Studios, Disney, and Warner Bros., accused the film’s producers of using his artwork without permission.
 In a now-deleted Instagram post, Choi shared a comparison of his original illustration, published on his website a decade ago, with a still from the movie’s trailer. He criticized the unauthorized use, stating concerns about artistic integrity in such an environment.
Following Choi’s post, social media users expressed support for him and condemned the alleged plagiarism.
 Some called for legal action against the filmmakers, while others pointed out resemblances between the film’s designs and those from other popular sci-fi franchises like Halo and Death Stranding.
The ensemble cast of “Kalki 2898 AD” includes Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan, and Disha Patani.
