Na Hong-Jin Debuts 'Hope' Footage at Comic-Con
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- Na Hong-Jin made his San Diego Comic-Con debut to preview his new alien action film 'Hope,' emphasizing it diverges stylistically from his previous horror-thriller works despite thematic continuity.
- Hoyeon was cast in 'Hope' on Hwang Jung-min’s recommendation, and the director called hiring her one of his best decisions, noting she spent six months mastering manual stick-shift driving to perform her own stunts.
- Na Hong-Jin revealed that a forest horseback chase was the most difficult scene to shoot, surpassing even the highway and town-shooting sequences shown at Comic-Con, which featured characters fleeing a fanged alien creature.
- 'Hope' premiered in competition at Cannes, where Na confirmed a completed sequel script exists and expressed intent to film it if given the opportunity, building anticipation for its Sept. 9 U.S. release by Neon.
- Hwang Jung-min recommended Hoyeon for her role despite never having met her, a fact Na highlighted during the panel, adding that their script reading over takeout led to her immediate commitment.
Why it matters: Neon is betting on international genre appeal with a high-profile Cannes premiere and Comic-Con rollout, positioning 'Hope' as a tentpole release on Sept. 9. The film’s success could reshape how Korean auteur-driven action projects access global markets, especially with a confirmed sequel already in the wings.
