Director Na Hong-jin, the visionary behind the film Hope, recently connected with North American audiences at San Diego Comic-Con.
Plus M Entertainment reported that Na attended the event on July 23, engaging with fans and industry professionals alike.
Comic-Con, the world’s premier pop culture extravaganza, showcases the latest in movies, television (TV) series, comics, and gaming. This global phenomenon is where Hollywood’s biggest studios traditionally unveil their upcoming blockbusters. Joanna Robinson, a renowned podcaster and pop culture critic from The Ringer, hosted the event in Ballroom 20, Comic-Con’s second-largest venue. The turnout of over 4,000 attendees underscored the immense anticipation surrounding Hope.
The event kicked off with a special reel highlighting Na’s previous works, including The Chaser, The Yellow Sea, and The Wailing. Taking center stage, Na shared that while Hope carries forward themes from my earlier films, it’s a complete departure in terms of style and narrative. He encourages viewers to approach it with fresh eyes, setting aside any preconceptions based on his previous work.
Hope unfolds in Hopo Port, a fictional outpost in the Demilitarized Zone. The story follows Bum-seok, the local office chief, as he investigates reports of a tiger sighting from local youth. As the village descends into panic, Bum-seok faces an unimaginable reality. Since its domestic release on July 15, the film has captivated 3,415,707 viewers as of July 26, maintaining strong box office momentum. North American audiences can catch Hope in theaters starting September 9th.
This marks Na’s triumphant return to filmmaking after nearly a decade, following his acclaimed works The Chaser (2008), The Yellow Sea (2010), and The Wailing (2016). Hope competed in the main selection at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, further cementing Na’s status as a cinematic powerhouse. His entire directorial oeuvre has now graced Cannes, with The Chaser and The Wailing previously featured in non-competitive sections, while The Yellow Sea earned a special mention in the Un Certain Regard category.