South Korean sci‑fi thriller ‘Hope’ enters Cannes competition and secures US release

Director Na Hong‑jin’s upcoming South Korean action‑sci‑fi film “Hope”, set in a remote village near the DMZ, follows police chief Bum Seok (Hwang Jung‑Min) and hunter Sung Ki (Zo In‑Sung) as they confront a mysterious creature. The cast also includes Jung Ho Yeon as officer Sung Ae. The film has been invited to the main competition at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, generating strong buzz and being dubbed a Korean “Fury Road”. Neon has scheduled a North American theatrical release for 9 September, while the Korean release is set for 15 July. In interviews, Hwang said the project was “very refreshing” for blending a familiar rural setting with an “unfamiliar extraterrestrial being”.