Na Hong-jin’s “Hope” Unveils Trailer, Cannes Buzz, and Global Release Plans

The official trailer for Na Hong-jin’s sci-fi monster film “Hope” premiered on Thursday, showcasing a remote coastal village near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) besieged by alien creatures and a mysterious beast. The two-minute cut was unveiled ahead of the film’s competition screening at the Cannes Film Festival in May, where it earned a six-minute standing ovation. South Korean distributor Plus M Entertainment will open the film domestically on July 15, while Neon has secured North American, U.K., and Australian rights for a September 9 theatrical release.

Deadline Hollywood

Na, known for the crime thrillers *The Chaser* and *The Yellow Sea* and the horror hit *The Wailing*, returns after roughly a decade with his most ambitious project to date. Partnering again with cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo (who shot *Parasite* and *Burning*) and composer Michael Abels (of *Get Out* and *Nope*), Na expands his genre repertoire by drawing on classic Hollywood action influences such as *Jaws* and *Die Hard*. The film is produced by Na’s Forged Films and Plus M Entertainment, which also handles international sales.

Hollywood Reporter

• Director / Writer: Na Hong-jin

Neon’s ‘Hope’ Trailer Unleashes Giant Alien Monsters, Space Chaos, and a Brutal Sci-Fi War

• Cinematography: Hong Kyung-pyo

Hollywood Reporter

• Score: Michael Abels

Hollywood Reporter

• Korean Leads: Hwang Jung-min as police chief Bum-seok, Hoyeon (Jung-ho yeon) as officer Sung-ae, Zo In-sung as hunter Sung-ki

Variety Magazine

• Hollywood Supporting Actors: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell, Cameron Britton (all portraying alien antagonists)

Deadline Hollywood

• Runtime: 160 minutes (reported as two-hour, 40-minute running time)

Deadline Hollywood

• Pre-sales: Plus M pre-sold the film to roughly 200 territories, recouping nearly half of the net production budget before release.

Hollywood Reporter

• Budget Claim: Some reports describe *Hope* as “the most expensive Korean film ever made,” though independent verification is absent.

Hollywood Reporter

Plus M announced that pre-sale deals have already covered a substantial portion of the film’s costs, positioning *Hope* as a commercial milestone for Korean genre cinema. Neon highlighted the film’s “crossover potential” and confirmed its September 9 U.S. opening. Speaking at Cannes, Na disclosed that he has already written a script for a sequel, indicating intent to develop the property into a franchise.

Variety Magazine

Critical response is sharply divided. Positive appraisals praise the relentless pacing and visual spectacle, while detractors point to uneven plotting and unfinished visual effects in the Cannes cut. The disparity underscores ongoing debate over the film’s artistic balance between high-octane action and narrative coherence.

The Wrap

• “It’s a great feeling to know from a movie’s first frames that you’re in the hands of an assured genre auteur,” — David Rooney, chief film critic, *The Hollywood Reporter*

Hollywood Reporter

• “The rare action thriller that takes place almost entirely in broad daylight, Hope pulls you in immediately with its virtuoso camerawork, pulse-pounding score, adrenalized pacing and sharply drawn characters.” — David Rooney, *The Hollywood Reporter*

Hollywood Reporter

• “a sci-fi alien monster mash… that never lets up for a minute of its two-hour, 40-minute running time and out-Hollywoods anything of its kind made by Hollywood.” — Pete Hammond, chief film critic, *Deadline*

Deadline Hollywood

• “the all-time great new action film from writer-director Na Hong-jin, is a glorious genre romp that contains more magnificent moments in its opening act than most do in their entire runtime.” — The Wrap critic (unnamed)

The Wrap

• “Speaking in Cannes, Na said he’d already written a script for a “Hope” sequel.” — Na Hong-jin, director (Cannes interview)

Variety Magazine

*Hope* represents a convergence of Korean storytelling and global star power, signaling a growing appetite for high-budget Asian genre cinema in Western markets. Its pre-sale success and planned franchise suggest a new model for Korean productions to secure international financing and distribution early in the development cycle.

Neon’s ‘Hope’ Trailer Unleashes Giant Alien Monsters, Space Chaos, and a Brutal Sci-Fi War

Sources differ on the exact runtime, citing both 160 minutes and two-hour, 40 minutes. The claim that *Hope* is the “most expensive Korean film ever made” appears in only a few outlets and lacks independent confirmation. Additionally, while the trailer hints at extensive alien set pieces, the final visual-effects polish remains unverified following reports of unfinished work in the Cannes screening.

Deadline Hollywood