After almost a decade, Na Hong-jin, the director behind 'The Chaser' and 'The Wailing', is making his comeback count with 'HOPE'. Mounted on a record-breaking budget and boasting a massive Hollywood-Korea crossover cast, the sci-fi action thriller now has a confirmed release date for Indian theatres.
The film releases on September 25, 2026 for the Indian audiences, that's a little more than two months after the film's South Korean debut on July 15. The American release followed on September 9. The film will have language options to be viewed in, this includes English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and the original Korean, making it accessible for many. Distribution in India is being handled by Star Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
The movie has an amazing star cast and that is one of the most amazing features of it. The ensemble mixes incredible Korean talent Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and "Squid Game" breakout Hoyeon with Hollywood actors: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell and Cameron Britton.
It's rare for a Korean production to pull in this level of international star power, and reports suggest the film's price tag makes it the most expensive Korean movie ever produced.
Set in the isolated village of Hope Harbor near the Korean Demilitarized Zone, the plot follows a small-town police chief and his inexperienced deputy who find themselves fighting to protect their community after wildfires knock out communication with the outside world, right as a mysterious, lethal creature begins stalking the area. In a parallel thread, a local hunting party heads into the mountains expecting to track the beast, only to realise the roles have flipped and they're the ones being hunted.
The film runs at roughly 156 minutes in its final theatrical cut (a slightly longer version screened at Cannes). Adding to the hype surrounding it, the film premiered in the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival, marking Na Hong-jin's fourth consecutive Cannes selection.
For fans who've waited a decade for Na Hong-jin's next move, this is shaping up to be worth the wait and worth a big-screen watch.