Na Hong-jin's Hope barrels into North America with NEON on Sept. 9
Na Hong-jin's Hope, starring Hwang Jung-min, Zo In Sung and Jung Ho-yeon, secures a Sept. 9 North American release through NEON.
NEON Confirmed for North American Distribution and September Release
Director Na Hong-jin's new film 'Hope' has confirmed its North American release for September 9. NEON, which handled the North American distribution for the film 'Parasite', will be in charge of distributing this work in North America.
The released North American trailer showcases Na Hong-jin's signature directing style, set in Hopo Port, which is attacked by an entity of unknown identity. The trailer includes a chase sequence unfolding in broad daylight and a car chase involving aliens, with the production team focusing on enhancing realism by minimizing artificial elements such as CG and sets.
A Meeting of Hwang Jung-min, Zo In Sung, Jung Ho-yeon, and Michael Fassbender
'Hope' centers on Beom-seok, the head of the Hopo Port branch office located near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Following news of a tiger appearing in the village, the once-peaceful town falls into a state of emergency, depicting the desperate struggle of characters facing an unbelievable reality.
The cast features Hwang Jung-min, Zo In Sung, and Jung Ho-yeon working together, while Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander join to complete a global lineup. Before its domestic release, the film has already surpassed 250,000 pre-booked tickets.
Cannes Film Festival Invitation and International Acclaim
Having completed its world premiere after being invited to the competition section of the 79th Cannes International Film Festival, 'Hope' has received acclaim from international critics. TheWrap evaluated it as "the highest level action cinema can reach," while The Hollywood Reporter stated that the film's level of completion overwhelms Na Hong-jin's previous works.
Carlos Delos Santos of The New York Times described it as "an SF action thriller infused with Korean-style black comedy," and Justin Chang of The New Yorker described it as "100% pure, relentless blockbuster adrenaline."
With a production budget of approximately 50 billion won and a running time of 156 minutes, 'Hope' will be released in Korean theaters on July 15.
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