Korea's Most Expensive Film 'Hope' Premieres at Cannes, Highlighting Film Industry's Ambition

(Cannes, May 17, AFP) Renowned South Korean director Na Hong-jin is set to release 'Hope,' the most expensive film in South Korean history. This sci-fi thriller, depicting a deadly alien invasion of Earth, stars real-life couple Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander. According to AFP, Na, who achieved a domestic box-office miracle a decade ago with the low-budget horror film 'The Wailing,' has now fully unleashed his dark and wild imagination to create this bloody alien invasion story. 'Hope' premiered tonight at the Cannes Film Festival. In an exclusive interview with AFP, Na stated, 'This is the most expensive film in Korean cinema history. It truly required a very, very large budget because of the extensive special effects, production design, and cast.' Although the film, which blends thriller, sci-fi, horror, and comedy elements, was initially difficult to pitch, Na eventually secured support from South Korea's Plus M Entertainment and a budget of about €30 million (approximately NT$1.1 billion). The production cost of 'Hope' highlights the growing resources available to South Korean directors. In recent years, with the success of hit films like 'Parasite,' 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' and series like 'Squid Game,' South Korea has emerged as a global entertainment powerhouse. 'Hope' is planned as the first installment in a film series and is one of the 22 films competing for the prestigious Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The 79th Cannes Film Festival is being held from May 12 to 23. This year, famed Korean director Park Chan-wook serves as the President of the Jury for the main competition, which includes 22 films from around the world. The festival, the highest temple of global art cinema, will hold its awards ceremony on the 23rd.