South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin made his San Diego Comic-Con debut to showcase footage from his latest project, an alien action film titled “Hope” distributed by Neon. The director presented clips from his previous work before discussing the new film, which marks a significant departure from his earlier productions despite maintaining thematic continuity.
“Hope” is set in a remote coastal village where residents face an unidentified creature threat. The plot follows police officers and local hunters who pursue the mysterious being, only to find themselves in danger. The ensemble cast includes Hoyeon, who gained international recognition through her Emmy-nominated role in Netflix’s “Squid Game,” alongside Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell, and Cameron Britton. Hwang Jung-min leads the international cast.
Na discussed the casting process, explaining that Hwang Jung-min recommended Hoyeon for the role of a police officer. The director arranged a meeting with the actress, and after reading the script together over takeout, she accepted the role. Na characterized the casting choice as one of his best decisions for the project, which he has been developing for a decade. He also highlighted Hoyeon’s dedication to her role, noting that she spent six months training to drive a manual transmission vehicle and performed difficult driving sequences herself under challenging angles.
During the presentation, exclusive footage showed action sequences including a confrontation with the alien creature and a highway chase scene. Na indicated that a forest chase on horseback proved to be the most challenging sequence to film. When asked about character survival, Na suggested that approximately 90% of the film’s characters may not survive, though he refrained from providing specific details.
“Hope” previously screened in competition at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Na has already indicated interest in developing a sequel, noting that a script is completed and he would pursue the project if circumstances permit. Neon plans to release the film in the United States on Sept. 9.
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